Puglia, and the Salento in particular, have long been a favourite holiday destination for Italians who flock down from the north of Italy to the Salento peninsula that sits between the Adriatic and the Ionian seas. It is now becoming one of the favourite Italian destinations for visitors from all over the world but still remains unspoilt. Here you will find something for everyone, from sandy beaches, crystal clear seas, rocky coves and grottos to the fantastic historic cities and the fascinating tiny villages. From May to September the weather is good …. blue skies and sunshine are almost guaranteed!
We have been living at the top end of the Salento, south of Brindisi, since December 2005. We love Puglia and want to share it with you, to help you plan your Puglia holiday and to get the best out of it. On this page, dedicated to people coming to Puglia on holiday, we have collected to together all sorts of information about Puglia. If you can’t find what you are looking for or have questions that have not been answered please contact us, if we don’t have the information or answers, we are sure to know someone who does.
Renting a bike in Puglia is a great way to explore the olive groves, countryside and seaside trails. Why not cycle around Casalabate or into Torchiarolo through the olive groves. It’s a great way to enjoy the countryside, get some exercise and fresh air.
Some years ago we met an American who lives and works in Brindisi, he often complained that we don’t appreciate Brindisi and all it has to offer. So we asked him to give us the benefit of his experiences of Brindisi. So you’ve read the usual tourism sites for Brindisi and you’ve basically learned nothing…
“Our beach” ….. a hop, skip and a jump from Casa Mare. A long narrow strip, with no amenities, between Torre San Gennaro and Lendinuso, with sandy bays either end. This beach is constantly changing, sometimes with long expanses of sand, sometimes a mixture of sand, shale and pebbles and sometimes with very high tides leaving only a thin band of stones at the very top of the beach.
“Our beach” ….. a hop, skip and a jump from Casa Mare. A long narrow strip, with no amenities, between Torre San Gennaro and Lendinuso, with sandy bays either end. This beach is constantly changing, sometimes with long expanses of sand, sometimes a mixture of sand, shale and pebbles and sometimes with very high tides leaving only a thin band of stones at the very top of the beach.
Puglia is a food lover’s paradise, so how about cooking in Puglia? While you are on holiday in Puglia you will undoubtedly experience the wonderful Pugliese cuisine, whether it’s in a pizzeria, a trattoria or a ristorante. Imagine learning to cook the traditional Pugliese recipes while you are on holiday in Puglia. Puglia cooking is…
In Puglia olives abound, not surprisingly local Puglia olive oil is everywhere, Olive oil is not a luxury. It is in every kitchen in Puglia and appears on the table at just about every meal. We are surrounded by olive groves
Discover the White City of Ostuni, perched across three hills, shining out like a beacon over the Adriatic seal
The castle and town of Acaya represent an extraordinary example of the work of an important architectural engineer, a master royal engineer to Carlo V, Gian Giacome dell’Acaya. The castle is a tangible testimony to feudal power, contributing to the history of this population, one of great but dignified poverty.
A visit to the Church of Santa Maria di Cerrate is something not to be missed. This old church is located in the isolated countryside between Casalabate and Surbo, among vineyards and centuries old twisted olive trees. It’s one of the best examples of Ramanic architecture in Puglia, dating back to the 12th century. The inside is frescoed with beautiful byzantine paintings.
Torre San Gennaro is a small holiday village popular with the local Italians. There is a nice sandy bay with the cafe-bar-pizzeria “Olindo” right on the beach. New Enjoy, cafe-bar/pizzeria is just across the square from the beach. The beach is sandy, safe for children and, as you walk south along the beach it is…
Puglia and the Salento are fabulous destinations for long, lazy summer holidays but how about an autumn break? Try Puglia in October. Some of our regular summer guests who have become firm friends visit us every year for the last week of October. It’s become a holiday for us, after the end of the main summer…
Castel del Monte was built by Frederick II in about 1240. Because of his intelligence and learning Frederick was known as the “stupor mundi”, the wonder of the world. Some believe that the castle was built as a hunting residence but Frederick never visited it and it’s true purpose remains a mystery. The castle does not have the defences required to make it a fortress, neither does it have the basic amenities to make it a royal hunting lodge.
If you are planning a trip to Puglia, or anywhere in Italy, it might be a good idea to check what days are public holidays. Although most shops and restaurants stay open on Public Holidays these days in some of the smaller towns some or all may be closed. Every town is different and every…
Arrive in Torchiarolo at the wrong time of day and you could be forgiven for thinking that it’s a ghost town. A maze of one-way streets, the houses appear to be closed up and there’s little life on the streets. But come back late in the afternoon and the streets will be full, mainly with the locals
Brindisi is one of my favourite cities to visit. I love to be near water, preferably the sea and Brinidsi has a lovely esplanade, perfect for a stroll along the harbour edge. Even on the hottest days in July and August, it is a pleasant city ramble. There are plenty of coffee shops, bars and…
At the center of the two seas that bathe the Puglia, a majestic ancient and hospitable city where art, legends and traditions are woven into a history spanning three thousand years Oria, a small town, nestling in the hills between the Adriatic and Ionian seas, more than three thousand years old – a town with…
From June to August the farmers’ markets in Puglia are piled high apricots. Delicious eaten fresh, they can be dried for winter use, or used to make a perfect Puglia fruit preserve.
Gallipoli is a great place to visit, stroll along the island town walls and find a fabulous place for lunch. Not to be confused with Gallipoli in Turkey where the Battle of Gallipoli took place during the first Wold War, the Gallipoli in Salento used to be an island and retains some of its faded…
Fagolini are green beans, small and tender, akin to french beans. If I am honest am not a fan of beans, not much of a fan of green vegetables at all. I have to make myself eat green veg from time to time.
Get a real feel for Puglia during your vacation, book an Artisan Market Tour and discover the real Puglia. You will experience the authentic local artistic traditions with visits to local artists and craftsmen in their studios. or visits to the artisans and craftsmen workshops.
Liberation Day, celebrated in Italy on 25th April, is a public holiday that marks the end of the Second World War, 2021 celebrates the 76th anniversary. Many other countries also celebrate the end of World War II, but on different days and with different names. For example, in the Netherlands, the public holiday celebrating Liberation…
Come and explore Monopoli, a beautiful medieval city on the Adriatic sea, soak up the history and charm and find one of the best restaurants for lunch
Cuddura del Salento – a traditional Easter cake served at the end of the main Easter meal, also given as a gift between lovers, in the shape of a heart, a rooster, a doll ….
We love this description of small towns in Puglia. It describes exactly the small towns near us and particularly reminds me of our town, Torchiarolo. Small towns are often overlooked by visitors. They shouldn’t be!
The Zinzulusa Grotto is probably the most well-known grotto located in the Castro area, on the road between Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca, one of the top 10 most beautiful roads in Italy, on the south-eastern side of the Salento peninsula. Reached via a dramatic opening on a limestone cliff, towering above the crystal…
In the olive groves, close to the small town of Torchiarolo, lies the ancient settlement of Valesio where the remains of a sturdy Messapian fortification, architectural feature and tombs can be seen. Taking the scenic route home from San Pietro Vernotico, through the olive groves that lie between San Pietro and Torchiarolo, we accidentally stumbled…
Torre Guaceto is a nature sanctuary and a marine reserve, a stretch of unspoilt coast where time seems to have stood still. The park covers an area of approximately 1000 hectares of land and 2000 hectares of sea, stretching along seven kilometres of the Adriatic coastline. The last man-made construction along this stretch of coast…
March 8 is International Women’s Day, or simply Women’s Day – Festa della Donna. So how is it celebrated in Italy? Although Women’s Day started in the USA in 1909 when it was designated as a day to honour the garment workers’ strike in New York. It wasn’t until 1911. after a horrific fire in…
One of our favourite places for a leisurely shopping trip, we can combine supermarket shopping with a stroll through the streets of San Pietro, stopping for a cappucino or a beer in one of the many cafe-bars. Unlike our other local towns, San Pietro does have a long street of shops. Start at one end as you enter San Pietro and stroll along the olive lined street. From designer clothes to jewellery, ceramic tiles and kitchens, newsagents, hardware shops, supermarket Crai, many cafe-bars and geletarias, hairdressers and barbers – something is sure to catch your eye.
Bari should not be missed out when exploring Puglia, whether on vacation or if you are living in Puglia. In our early years of living in Puglia our experiences of Bari were extremely limited, just travelling between the main railway station and the airport either by bus or taxi. Either way, the views are not…
Homemade Lemonade is a star in our Puglia Holiday Villa welcome baskets. It’s made from fresh Puglia lemons with just the right amount of sugar. Use the peel and make Limoncello at the same time.
There is something very special about Otranto …… You will read this in many places. And there is something very special about Otranto for us. It’s the place we first visited back in 1998, when we first fell in love with Puglia, and the seeds of our dream were sown. Now we want to share Otranto with you.
Whether you live in Puglia or are on vacation, you will soon discover that Puglia’s reputation for excellent food is well deserved. Eating vegetarian in Puglia, even if you are not vegetarian, is a delight. Local farmers’ markets in every town, small or large, all boast their own market day, or days, where you will…
Mino, the Puglia Chef, cooks for our holiday villa guests on a regular basis and he also prepares his famous “Mino’s Meatballs” that are included in our Welcome Basket. Now you can get the recipe.
For us the Zoo Safari was the absolute highlight of the day! As you start to drive around the wild life park you can keep the car windows open. Entrances to the dangerous animal ahead are secured and you close the windows before entering each secure area.
Situated on the Adriatic coast, lies the small market town of Casalabate. Just a few miles south of Brindisi and with Lecce, the Florence of the South, to the south-west, Casalabate is a typical small market town. The population of Casalabate and a 7 kilometre radius is approximately 26000, however this is greatly increased in the summer months when Italians and non Italians alike arrive for their vacation.
International Workers’ Day or Labour Day, is celebrated in many countries around the world on May 1st or a day near it.. In the UK the first Monday in May is a Bank Holiday, known as the Spring Bank Holiday, but is widely recognised as a holiday to celebrate Workers’ Day with marches and other…
A wine tour while you are on holiday in Puglia is recommended. It is a great opportunity to taste, learn and to buy. Take a tour early in your holiday and buy wine for your Puglia vacation.
Although Squinzano is as close to our Puglia villas as Torchiarolo we had nver really explored it (except for visits to the Cantina). A guest entry in the Villa Rosa guest book mentioning Squinzano prompted me to say to friends that we did not really know Squinzano very well. Our friend Mino, the Puglia Chef, is originally from Squinzano and his wife Val offered to show us around.
Within easy reach of both our Puglia villas one of the most famous Puglia attractions are the celebrated Castellana Grotto. They were discovered by speloeologist Franco Anelli in 1938. The Grotto should be on list of Puglia attractions to visit. A day out to this fascinating Puglia attraction makes a change from relaxing by the pool or on the beach.
If you are visiting Puglia, don’t miss out on a visit to Lecce. Voted one of the top ten cities to visit in 2010 by MSN Travel and Lonely Planet, Lecce should be on the top of your must-do list for your Puglia vacation. The first time we visited Puglia, back in 1999, we drove…
No visit to Puglia is complete without a speciality tour designed by YLTour just for us. We encourage all our guests to take a tour to discover things about Puglia that they would not find alone. Several times a year we accompany friends and guests on a day out that has been designed to show…
Searching for your perfect holiday villa in Puglia? Look no further. Check out our two owner-managed villas, both within easy reach of Brindisi airport, and ideally located for exploring the Salento and other parts of southern Puglia. Both villas have solar-heated swimming pools. Our rental rates are fully inclusive and you don’t pay the additional…
The first week of December 2011 saw the sixth anniversary of our arrival in Puglia. Definitely a cause for celebration. It was a bright, sunny and warm December day as we set off for Mesagne. Why Mesagne? It does not feature very heavily in Puglia guides and is completely missing from the Lonely Planet’s “Puglia…
Senza Stile on the outskirts of Torre San Gennaro is a perfect beach bar where you can get drinks, snacks and light meals. The owners explained their concept to us in a mixture of Italian and English.
Lendinuso (also known as Lindinuso) is a small holiday village with a sandy bay, very popular with Italians in July and August. The beach varies from an uncommercialised sandy bay, running south through a holiday centre with pizzerias, fast food, ice-cream parlours etc to Bar Benny Lido. In the main season, the Bar Benny Lido…
There’s no better way to find out if advertised Puglia boat trips stand up to expectations than to try it yourself. This one did … it is probably the best boat trip in Puglia that we have ever been on.
Puglia lemons are in a class of their own. Nothing like supermarket lemons back in the UK. As I write I can smell the perfume and visualise the colour of wonderful fresh Puglia lemons. Imagine yourself on a sunny morning in Puglia. Guests can stroll out into the garden and pick lemons that are almost…
The road between Italy’s Santa Maria di Leuca and Otranto hugs the incredible white stone cliffs of the Southern Italian coastline and offers unparalleled views of the wide-open Mediterranean Sea. The plethora of white sand beaches with friendly, picturesque beach towns make the drive perfect for beach hopping. Part of the Puglia region, the Salento…
Opened in 1989, “Splash!” claims to be the most famous water and amusement park and a major success on the Pugliese coast – “one of the best amusement parks on the peninsula”. Boasting 78,000 square metres set in natural surroundings, you will find water amusements and swimming pools of various shapes and depth, together with many other attractions.
Why should you spend Easter in Puglia? The mild temperatures make it a perfect time to really get out and about and see Puglia. Explore the olive groves, the marine reserves, the beautiful historic town centres – think Ostuni, Otranto, Gallipoli, Bari, Monopoli; but also the less well known such as Oria or Mesagne and…
Two for the price of one! Marmalades made with Puglia lemons and pink grapefruit from our garden. I have tried a number of different recipes but these both work consistently well. Two for the price of one!