The 5 Best Coastal Towns in Puglia
Polignano a Mare
One thing about me is that I am in love with the sea. Nothing brings me more calm or peace of mind than taking a walk along the beach or going for a swim on a hot summer day. And if you combine that with a historic town and good food, well, you have me completely over the moon.
At the beginning of November, I left my little station in Rome and went on a family trip to Puglia, a region in the south of Italy that forms the heel of the boot. Puglia is special because it has coastal towns on two different seas: the Adriatic and the Ionian. So in just one region, you can admire two incredibly beautiful coastlines.
In this blog post, I will tell you all about the most stunning coastal towns in Puglia, both on the eastern and the southwestern coast. If you are a sea lover like me (or a history one, or a food one, or honestly just an Italy person in general), these towns are absolutely worth visiting.
Otranto
The first coastal town we visited in Puglia, and the one I instantly fell in love with, is Otranto. This town is located on the east coast of the region, on the Adriatic Sea, and I have been told that on a clear day you can actually see Albania on the other side. Otranto is pretty small, with not even 6,000 people living there, which makes it a really charming, cute place, perfect for a day trip or even a slightly longer vacation.
What I love about Otranto is that the historic centre is still located within the defensive walls, and together with the Castello Aragonese it forms the most perfect setting. Castello Aragonese was originally built in the late 15th century, and today the castle is often used for art exhibitions, so I can highly recommend checking their website before your visit.
The historic centre of Otranto is filled with cute souvenir shops, gelaterias and restaurants, and especially in the evening everything comes to life. The harbour of Otranto is lovely too, and if you walk a bit further after leaving the historic centre, you’ll reach a more modern beach boulevard where you can relax and find restaurants, bars, and an amazing viewpoint.
Santa Maria di Leuca
When I heard that Santa Maria di Leuca is called “the end of the world” I was immediately sold. And when you see the location, it actually makes total sense because this town sits right at the very tip of southern Italy. Here the Ionian Sea meets the Adriatic Sea, and I must say, being there in November without any other tourists around, it truly did feel like the end of the world.
Santa Maria di Leuca is even smaller than Otranto, and if you visit outside of tourist season it can feel a little deserted. Still, there are beautiful sights to see, such as the famous lighthouse, and the town has a lovely promenade lined with palm trees, perfect for a walk.
If you have a car, I highly recommend stopping by Ponte del Ciolo. This famous bridge (which is kind of ugly, let’s be honest) overlooks a stunning canyon and sea cave. The bridge itself, at around 30 metres high, is popular with extreme sports enthusiasts who apparently dive straight into the water. For me, this sounds absolutely insane, but to each their own.
Gallipoli
I think that from all the coastal towns in Puglia, Gallipoli might be my favourite. I don’t know if it’s just because I love organised things, but the fact that this town has such a clear distinction between the historic part and the modern one makes my heart very happy.
Gallipoli is a city of around 20,000 people, making it the biggest coastal town I’ve mentioned so far. It is located on the west coast of Puglia, on the Ionian Sea. While there are multiple hypotheses about the origin of its name, it is most probable that Gallipoli comes from the classical Greek Kallípolis, meaning “beautiful city,” which honestly fits perfectly.
As I mentioned above, Gallipoli is divided into an older and a newer part of town. The historic centre is beautifully and very picturesquely set on what is essentially an island, fully fortified with ancient walls. This historical “island” is roughly 1.5 kilometres in diameter and is connected to the newer city by a seventeenth century bridge.
Like Otranto, Gallipoli also has a stunning fortified castle, whose origins date back to the Byzantine period, with the first fortifications built somewhere between the fifth and eleventh centuries. In the future, I might write an entire blog post dedicated solely to Gallipoli, but in the meantime, just know that this city is absolutely worth visiting.
Polignano a Mare
Going to the other side of Puglia again, on the Adriatic Sea, you will find Polignano a Mare. If I think of the perfect Italian Instagrammable coastal town, I think of Polignano a Mare. From the moment I arrived, it just felt a bit fancier than all the other coastal towns. We were there in November, but there were still quite a few tourists, so I can only imagine how busy it gets during high season. Of course, it is absolutely stunning, but if you like to steer away from crowds, I don’t think this is the place for you in summer.
Having said that, I can totally see why it is such a popular destination for tourists. With its little beach surrounded by cliffs, it looks like the perfect postcard, and I felt very grateful to witness such beauty. The historic centre is also incredibly charming, with plenty of restaurants, gelaterias and souvenir shops.
Monopoli
Last but not least is Monopoli. This town is only eight kilometres from Polignano a Mare, so if you ask me, it works perfectly to combine both towns in one day. Of all the coastal towns, I think Monopoli has the most relaxed, laid-back atmosphere. Time really felt slower while I was here. Combine that with a beautiful historic centre and the cutest harbour, and you have a perfect Puglia destination.
Monopoli has loads of sights worth visiting, such as the Castle of Charles V, the Church of Santa Maria Amalfitana, Palazzo Palmieri and of course the Old Port, just to name a few. To enter the old port, you go through a low, medieval arch, and in the harbour you will find rows of colourful fishing boats. It is really interesting that while Polignano a Mare and Monopoli are so close together, they both have a totally different atmosphere.
Conclusion
I hope this blog post has inspired you to visit these coastal towns in Puglia. Each of them has a different atmosphere and history, which makes them so unique, even when some are very close together. If I had to choose right now, I would pick Gallipoli as my favourite, but it is definitely a close call. I hope to return to all of these beautiful towns in the future, and if you have different favourites in Puglia, please let me know in the comments!
While we are all gathered here anyway, I would like to mention that this is already my 50th blog article! I am so grateful to everyone who has ever read something on my blog. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I can’t wait for more adventures to come!
With much love,
Juliëtte
