The most gorgeous hidden gems in Puglia

It’s that time of year when the sights and sounds of Italy start to call your name. But what will it be… the iconic canals of Venice, the ancient architecture of Rome, or the volcanic beaches of Sorrento? These are all great options, however, if you’re looking for something a little less busy, maybe a little bit off the beaten track, Puglia might just be the spot for you.

Pronounced Pool-ee-uh, Puglia is one of the most southern regions in Italy and forms the heel of Italy’s boot. It sits on both the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas and boasts dramatic, rocky coastlines and beautiful beaches. Like most of the regions in Italy, Puglia is unique in its architecture and its rich history and legends, with a Greek and Mediterranean influence that can be seen in its whitewashed buildings and beachside towns.  

The people of Puglia are also unlike the locals you will meet in the larger, more touristy cities. It’s true what they say, everything moves slower in southern Italy. Afternoon siestas are the norm and English is not as widely spoken as in the North. But there are some big pluses to visiting Puglia – the food is truly authentic, the people are friendly, and best of all, it’s much cheaper than visiting Italy’s more touristy areas. 

This really is one of Italy’s most underrated regions to visit, which is why below we’ve listed some of the best hidden gems in Puglia.

1. Monopoli

Monopoli, which means ‘Unique City’ in Greek, is a coastal town with a rich history dating all the way back to 500BC. Having changed hands several times throughout its existence, Monopoli has an ‘old Italy’ charm with its rabbit warren of whitewashed buildings and historic port of iconic blue and red fishing boats. 

Monopoli is a quintessential Puglia beach town, with several great swimming spots, such as the turquoise waters of Spiaggia di Porto Ghiacciolo beach, a 16th century castello keeping watch over the water, and a historic old town seemingly full of secrets.

There’s much to see in the old town, none more impressive than the Basilica of the Madonna della Madia. Legend has it that during the construction of this church in 1117, the builders ran out of materials to finish the roof, that is until one night an icon of the Madonna Della Madia (the Virgin Mother) drifted into the port. It was declared a miracle and the very beams that held the icon were later used to complete the Basilica’s roof. The Madonna Della Madia was later made the patron saint of Monopoli and a feast and reenactment is still reenacted twice a year to celebrate the occasion. 

Monopoli has a number of great spots for a meal and it’s well worth wandering the old town to try the local eateries and many gelato shops. If you need a break from exploring the whitewashed, cacti-lined streets you might also consider popping into the Tuttoapposto Winebar, a quaint bar with a cute picture window overlooking the old port and limestone city walls. Alternatively you could head to Atipico to grab a takeaway cocktail from their streetside window before wandering down towards the water to watch the sunset.

Monopoli is a real hidden gem in Puglia and hasn’t made its way onto too many tourists’ radars yet, so if you want to beat the crowds, now’s the time to visit. 

2. Tremeti Islands

Only 22 km offshore in the north of the region sits another of the hidden gems in Puglia, the Tremeti Islands. 

Most commonly called the Italian pearls of the Adriatic, the Tremeti Islands are known for inspiring both a sense of relaxation and intrigue. There are five islands in total but only two of them are inhabited all of the time. San Nicola is the smaller of the two and is most commonly referred to as an open air museum, with a 9th century fortified abbey built by monks that you can explore. The other inhabited island, San Domino is much larger and covered in lush pine forests. It also boasts the only sand beach on the islands and is the perfect location for a relaxing day swimming in the clear turquoise waters. 

The Tremeti Islands are the perfect place to let your inner explorer out, and if you’re feeling adventurous, it is the ideal spot to book a boat tour of the archipelago, or go diving in the nearby marine reserve.

3. Polignano a Mare

Legends says that one day a piece of Greece broke off and drifted along to merge with the Apulian coastline, and that piece of land is where the city of Polgnano a Mare now sits. Scholars however, will tell you that the city was first settled around the 4th century BC by either Emperor Dionysus the second or Julius Caesar, and was originally the site of the ancient city of Neapolis. 

A small but spectacular town, Polignano a Mare is truly one of the hidden gems in Puglia worth visiting. Perched on limestone cliffs and dotted with sea caves, looking around you might truly believe that you’re on an island in Greece. This is the perfect place to spend the day exploring the town, swimming at the beach, and eating local seafood and pasta. This is one of the busier towns in Puglia, thanks to its famous beach, Lama Monachile – a small pebble beach, protected on both sides by limestone cliffs, this is a picture perfect spot and a good place for a quick dip in the ocean. 

You can’t really go wrong when it comes to food in Italy and the restaurants along Piazza Giuseppe Verdi are a good place to take a break and escape the crowds. One great restaurant I’d recommend, dedicated to serving locally sourced ingredients and dishes that go back generations is Casa Mia & Pic-Nic. This small trattoria serves delicious Apulian pizzas and pastas – and aperol spritzes of course.  

Polignano a Mare is also home to the famous cave restaurant, Grotto Palazzese. Built in one of the sea caves below the town, the restaurant offers fine dining and a truly unique view of the water. This is truly a magical experience, but a meal here will set you back between 195 and 300 euros. 

Alternatively, and for just as unique a perspective, but at a much more affordable price, you can book a two hour speedboat tour of Polignano a Mare, where you can cruise along the coastline with views of the famous Lama Monachile Beach and can even enter the cave beneath Grotto Palazzese. This is your chance to spend a few hours boating around the many sea caves and swimming off the boat. 

4. Alberobello

Much of visiting Puglia is like taking a step back in time, and a great example of this is the small town and UNESCO world heritage site of Alberobello. This Puglian hidden gem is one of the best examples of a very special, traditional Puglian house – the Trullo.

The construction of Trulli dates back to prehistoric times, and Trulli are characterised by their domed or conical roofs built up of corbelled limestone slabs. Many of the Trulli of Alberobello also feature painted symbols – a mixture of Christian, Pagan, and Magic symbols which are meant to ward off demons and bring good luck – an addition that adds to their magical appeal. Trulli were originally of a mortar/cement-free drystone construction and were used in the 1500s as a novel attempt to avoid paying higher taxes to the King, where in the event of a royal inspection the houses could be easily disassembled and hidden.

Trulli can be found clustered along the narrow and winding streets of this curious town, and it is well worth your time to stop in to learn more about this unique part of Puglia’s history. And if simply seeing the trulli isn’t enough for you, you can also book to stay in your very own authentic trulli for a night.   

Alberobello knows its tourist appeal, and many of the trulli have become boutique hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops where you can purchase your own model trulli, and even a traditional good luck cornicello (Italian Horn) to take home. 

Pro tip – cornicello should only ever be bought as a gift as buying one for yourself will bring you bad luck, not good.

5. Bari

The capital of Puglia, Bari has more of a city vibe than most of the other locations on this list, but it’s not without its charms. Dating back to Greek and Roman times, Bari old town is a winding maze of tightly packed buildings, impassable by cars, and just waiting to be explored. 

On the edge of the old town you will find the Museo Archeologico di Santa Scolastica, a true hidden gem for not only history lovers but for anyone wanting to learn a little bit more about the region. Originally a Benedictine monastery, the old building has been refurbished and is now an impressive museum showcasing unearthed 11th century ruins and the rich history of Bari. 

Another place worth visiting is the Castello Svevo di Bari. The imposing fortress sits near the historic town centre, and with its towering yellow walls it’s one of the most eye-catching monuments in the city. Now a museum and exhibition site, a visit to the Castello is a great way to spend an afternoon. 

Puglia is also known for its rich food culture, and for its ‘Cucina Povera’, which translated means ‘Kitchen of the poor’ – a simple but delicious cuisine which only uses seasonal and local Apulian ingredients. You can’t leave Puglia without trying the traditional pasta of the region, and Bari is the perfect city for it. Orecchiette, which translates to ‘little ears’, is used in many traditional dishes. Seafood and pasta make up a large portion of Bari cuisine, and it’s worth trying Puglia’s most iconic dish, Orecchiette Con le Cime di Rapa while you’re here. 

If you’re a seafood lover, you’ll want to head to the old port between the San Nicola and San Antonio piers. Here you can find local fish markets, where the fishermen are ready to serve their incredibly fresh seafood catch right off the boats. 

Bari is also home to the Pasta Nonnas, and from 10am every day you can find local Bari women set up along Bari Vecchia, hard at work making and selling fresh orecchiette pasta in front of their houses. A stroll down Bari Vecchia is a must for anyone visiting Bari, and is an excellent way to gain a better understanding of how traditional pasta is made, and to buy some fresh!

6. Lecce

If you’re a fan of beautiful buildings, Lecce needs to be on your list of hidden gems in Puglia. Built from the pale yellow limestone they’re known for, Lecce is considered the Florence of the south and is renowned for its Baroque architecture and ancient roman amphitheatre, which was astoundingly built in the 2nd century CE.

While Lecce is fairly small, it’s definitely worth spending a day here exploring the heart of the old town and visiting the many churches and piazzas. You can also visit one of Lecce’s 21 museums, such as the Museo Faggiano, the only private museum with an archeological collection dating back over the past 2000 years.

And if you’re planning to spend a night or two, you can even join in on the Lecce tradition of an Evening Passeggiata, where everyone comes together along Via Vittorio Emanuele II for a social stroll before dinner.

7. Matera

Not technically in Puglia but close enough to the border that it gets an honorary mention on this list, is the awe-inspiring city of Matera. The third oldest city in the world, and definitely the most magical place I have ever been, Matera is undoubtedly a bucket list location. The city has existed in some form or another for over 10 000 years, and the honeycomb of caves that make up the town was originally inhabited in the Paleolithic age, before the hills were further hollowed out to create the stone city that exists today.

Most tourists tend to visit Matera as part of a day trip, but I would highly recommend staying at least one night so that you can experience the incredible sunset as the stone city is slowly lit up. This is also a great opportunity to spend a night or two as an honorary troglodyte (cave dweller), and to explore the maze of streets at your own leisure.  

Matera offers no shortage of things to do. You can spend hours getting lost in the streets of the historic Sasso Caveoso, while looking for the right spot for that perfect photo. There are also a number of unique churches worth visiting such as the Church of Santa Lucia alle Malve, the Duomo Matera, and the rock church of Saint Mary of Idris. You can wander in and out of the small boutique shops, spend an afternoon in a cave spa like Aquatio, or hide out from the heat in one of the many restaurants. 

If you’re a bit of an adventurer, you may also enjoy hiking the canyon to visit the remains of Neolithic caves dating back 7000 years. It’s about a two hour round trip and as Matera can be incredibly hot and dry, so it’s best undertaken early in the morning before the sun reaches its peak. 

Any day can be improved with a visit to a rooftop bar, and this is particularly true in an amazing city like Matera. So don’t forget to schedule a stop at a terraced restaurant or bar such as the Quarry Lounge Terrace, where you can grab a cocktail, sit out on the balcony and enjoy the incredible view. 

A hidden gem for now, but not for long, Puglia is the perfect addition to any trip around Italy. With its rich history, mediterranean vibes, and fascinating towns, there’s no doubt that in a few years the region will be teeming with international visitors. So don’t hesitate, it’s time to get out of your comfort zone and start planning your Puglian trip today. 

While Contiki doesn’t go to Puglia just yet, our amazing Italian tours are a great introduction to all things Italy, and would make a great prelude to your Puglia trip. So if you’re looking for an Italian escape without the hassle of planning your own itinerary, head to our trips page, and learn more about how you can travel Italy with Contiki this summer!