The Best Towns to Visit in Puglia
Ostuni
It has already been a month since I visited the beautiful Puglia region in the south of Italy, but I am still reminiscing every single day. Between the stunning architecture, the sea and the incredible food, I truly love Puglia with all my heart. Over the past weeks I have been writing all sorts of content about this amazing trip, and for this blog post I thought it would be a good idea to share my personal favourite towns to visit in Puglia. This way, I hope I can inspire you for your own travels, and at the same time I can keep reminiscing for just a little while longer. Dare I say, a win win situation?
Lecce
First on the list is Lecce, the city that definitely surprised me the most during this trip. It is quite a big city, with around 95,000 inhabitants, and it also has a rich history dating back 2,000 years. What is probably most noticeable in Lecce is the colour of the city, since many of the buildings are made with Pietra Leccese, a fine-grained limestone found only in a small area of southern Italy’s Salento peninsula. Pietra Leccese has a beautiful yellowish, creamy, golden tone that makes walking through Lecce a unique experience. Depending on the hour of the day and how the sun hits the stone, you get a completely different version of the city, from soft beige to a sun-kissed golden glow.
Lecce is a city with beautiful Baroque architecture and several must-see landmarks, such as the Roman amphitheatre, Piazza del Duomo and Porta Napoli. I have written a very extensive guide about Lecce, so if you want more information about the city or its must-see landmarks, I highly recommend checking out that post.
Ostuni
We are moving colours here, because from the golden Lecce we are going to “the White City,” Ostuni. Ostuni is located around 40 kilometres from Brindisi and sits atop a hill, offering stunning panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea. The historic centre of Ostuni is enchanting, with narrow streets, hidden alleyways, charming squares, and an overall whimsical, fairytale vibe, made even stronger by the city’s whitewashed look.
Ostuni also has beautiful landmarks, such as the historic centre itself, Piazza della Libertà, the Column of Sant'Oronzo, the Church of San Francesco d’Assisi, the Cathedral of Santa Maria, and Arco Scoppa.
In winter, Ostuni has around 30,000 inhabitants and the town can feel quite peaceful, while in the summer high tourist season it can get very busy. If you want to visit Ostuni, or Puglia in general, this is definitely something to keep in mind.
Polignano a Mare
On the Adriatic Sea, you can find the beautiful coastal town of Polignano a Mare. It is located between Bari and Brindisi, and when I saw this town for the first time, it immediately reminded me of an Italian postcard. The town has a small, picturesque beach surrounded by cliffs, and together with the crystal-clear water, it is truly a stunning sight.
Besides its natural beauty, Polignano a Mare also has a very charming historic centre, filled with cute restaurants, lively squares, souvenir shops, and gelaterias. I have written about Polignano a Mare before in my blog article about the best coastal towns in Puglia, and if you are a sea lover like I am, I think that one might be perfect for you.
Alberobello
Next on the list is maybe the most famous town in Puglia, Alberobello. Before I visited, I wondered if it might be overhyped, and in a way, I think it is. But when it comes to the question, “Is it worth visiting?” my answer would still be yes.
Alberobello has around 10,000 inhabitants and is famous for its trulli buildings. Trulli are traditional dry-stone structures, with the most distinctive feature being their conical stone roofs. The town has over 1,500 trulli, many of which are now shops, restaurants, or small hotels.
Walking through this trulli village, so to speak, is a very unique experience, and I can totally see why loads of tourists come here each year. It feels like you have stepped onto a Hobbit movie set, which, if you know me, is totally my vibe. That being said, I found it a bit too touristy for my taste, even in November, the off-season. For this reason, I would not necessarily go out of my way to return, but in my opinion, it is definitely a place you should see at least once.
Gallipoli
On the west side of Puglia, located on the Ionian Sea, you can find Gallipoli. While there are multiple hypotheses about the origin of its name, it most likely comes from the classical Greek Kallípolis, meaning “beautiful city,” which honestly fits perfectly.
Gallipoli is a city of around 20,000 people, and it is divided into an older and a newer part. 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.
I don’t know if it is because I am a Virgo and like organised things, but this whole concept works wonders on me. Crossing the bridge into this historical part of the city is something I really love about Gallipoli.
There are loads of cute restaurants, souvenir shops, and landmarks in the historical part of town. Together with the colourful fishing boats and nets in the harbour, I think Gallipoli has an amazing atmosphere, and I can fully recommend visiting.
Bonus: Matera
Now, I had to include Matera as a bonus because I am fully aware that it is not actually located in Puglia, but in Basilicata. However, I felt I had to mention it here, because if you are already in Puglia, visiting Matera is more than doable. I have already written several blog articles about Matera, for example this one about the most beautiful viewpoints, because after Rome, it might be my favourite place in all of Italy.
Matera is famous for its ancient cave dwellings called the Sassi di Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Sassi are considered one of the oldest urban settlements in Europe, dating back to prehistoric times. The ancient city is carved into limestone cliffs, with narrow alleyways and breathtaking views at every turn. For me, this town really feels like stepping back in time, and I already cannot wait for the chance to visit again.
Conclusion
I hope this blog post has inspired you to visit the beautiful Puglia region in the south of Italy, and these towns in particular. I really enjoyed my own visit, the food is amazing, the history, the architecture, the sea, and of course the kind people. I hope I will be able to visit Puglia again in the future, and if you have any recommendations for me, please let me know in the comments.
With much love,
Juliëtte
