Puglia is a region in the southern part of Italy and is also called “the heel of Italy’s boot. More than eighty hundred kilometers of coast surround this wonderful region of Italy from the border of the Adriatic Sea in the east to the Ionic Sea in the southeast. The popularity of this beautiful region of Italy has increased rapidly with tourists during the last years, and there are various reasons to visit Puglia.

If you’re looking for a selection of different locations to choose from Ebooking has the option to search for destinations throughout Puglia. The site also offers the chance to search for properties or hotels with pools, WiFi, parking and pets! This means you can be certain you have the perfect accommodation to suit your dream trip.

So let’s learn more about the great reasons to visit Puglia…

To visit the Trulli in Alberobello

The “Trulli” are seen as the symbol of the area and are “a must-see attraction” in Puglia. The Trulli district around Alberobello is recognized by UNESCO as part of humanity’s historical and artistic heritage. Alberobello houses form a complex of about 1400 trulli, and there is no other place on earth where you can visit these buildings, which are completely made from stone with a cone-shaped roof. The pinnacles of these trulli are in white and grey color and formed by three overlaid rocks. These trulli look like white shaped mushroom houses, and it is really amazing to walk in the center of Alberobello to watch all these beautiful habitats.

To visit the ‘Florence of the South’

The most famous architectural buildings can be found in Lecce, and most are built in baroque style. Lecce is also called “the Florence of the South” and is really the crown jewel of Puglia. This historical city dates back to the times of the Messapi but was conquered by the Romans in the third century BC. A theatre and amphitheater were built in the 2nd century AD, and there are still remains in the main square Piazza S. Oronzo of this beautiful baroque town in Apulia.

It’s best to walk through Piazza Duomo for visiting the most important buildings of Lecce. You can see the Duomo (also called Cathedral of Madonna Assunta) with its magnificent bell tower, the Bishop’s Palace and Seminary, and two baroque monuments are the highlights in this square. This cathedral was originally built in 1144 but restored between 1659 and 1670 by Giuseppe Zimbalo when also the bell tower was constructed. Called a ‘campanile’ in Italian, it has a height of 68 meters and represents, together with the other famous buildings in this piazza, the finest examples of the Lecce Baroque.

Santa Croce can be considered as the emblem of the city Lecce in Puglia. This basilica represents the triumph of the Lecce Baroque. This famous building is constructed between 1549 and 1689 by Gabriele Ricardi, Francesco Antonio Zimbalo, Cesare Penna, and Giuseppi Zimbablo. The façade of this basilica is impressive and decorated with animals, grotesque figures, and vegetables. There are seventeen altars in this church, and you certainly enjoy viewing the masterpieces from 1614 of Francesco Antonio Zimbalo: the painting of Madonna and Child and the Visitation of Mary Elizabeth.

To visit castles

Puglia is also a city of castles, and many can be found inland or in some of the coastal towns. The most famous one is Castel Del Monte, built by Emperor Frederick II of Swabia, near Bari in the 13th century. Its solitary position dominates the Murgia hills with a breathtaking view that embraces an enormous expanse of land stretching from Apulia to Basilicata. The structure of this castle is octagonal with eight towers, which reflect purity, linearity, and harmony. The castle is surrounded by olive trees, flowers, and many other plants. The interior of the castle is a little disappointing as very little remains.

Religious reasons

Puglia is also a region for believers. The Gargano (also called holly mountain) has always been a religious attraction from visitors around the world, this goes back as far as the Middle Ages. Pilgrims came to pray in the grotto of St Michael’s sanctuary at Monte Sant Angelo where this Archangel is supposed to have appeared between 490 and 493 AC. Nowadays, the Sanctuary of Padre Pio is the most visited place in Puglia for believers.

You can visit the tomb of the monk Padre Pio, who lived the last 52 years of his life in San Giovanni Rotondo. Every year, millions of pilgrims from all places of the world come to visit “the Sanctuary of Padre Pio.” Pope John Paul II declared Padre Pio “blessed” because he possesses the gift of bilocation (being at two places at the same time) and because of the stigmata he received when he was praying before a crucifix. You can view paintings of Padre Pio in most churches of Puglia and even other places in Southern Italy.

To visit grottoes

The Castellana Grotte is also a famous attraction in Puglia. It is the biggest series of grottoes in Italy, where you can walk a distance of 2 kilometers and view different grottoes with evocative names. For example, the Monumenti Cavern, the Precipizio, the Albaster Cascade, the Duomo of Milan and the most famous one is the White Grotto. It is amazing to view the entire spectacle of stalagmites and stalactites in forms and colors, which vary from ochre to reddish to pure white.

A beach holiday

Vieste is a popular holiday resort for beach lovers. You can view the amazing beaches with rocks and the splendid seascape. The clear blue sea is really wonderful, and the bright colors are breathtaking. It is also a wonderful place for a snack and eating the best ice-cream in the world.

To visit the white city Ostuni

Ostuni is now an insta-famous beautiful city to visit in Puglia. It lies in a panoramic position across the three hills at the tip of the Murge. This picturesque city was founded by the Messapians but developed only from the Middle Ages and reflects a charming contrast between the pure white houses and the darker monuments of this beautiful town. The cathedral which rises on its hilltop is a Gothic building and especially beautiful for its original tripartite façade, with the central part crowned by a tympanum formed by two ogee arches and decorated with an elaborate rose window in the center. A walk along the sandy beaches of the coast of Ostuni is definitely recommended.

Puglia is a wonderful destination and is still developing as a tourist attraction for travellers. Many tourists have yet to discover this amazing place in southern Italy, and you will not find anything like it on your usual ‘Big Three’ Italy trips!

No matter where you are in Puglia; you are always near a beach with blue crystal clear water. There is also its astonishing landscape with olive trees and a variety of plants and flowers, plus the local dance (pizzica pizzica)!

Not forgetting its excellent cuisine, and certainly a climate with plenty of sunshine. What more could you want from your next holiday?

I hope you enjoyed this list of things to do

and it inspires you to add Puglia to your wish list.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, however all opinions are 100% my own.

Want to read more on Italian travel? Check out our latest articles here…