Our Puglia
The Apulian region is one of the most appreciated tourist destinations in the world, celebrated by renowned international magazines such as Lonely Planet, National Geographic and New York Times.
Why visit Apulia
The irresistible charm of its crystal-clear sea with over 800 km of coastline, the presence of some of the most beautiful beaches in Italy, the mild climate throughout the year, the famous historic centers of remarkable beauty where you can breath tradition, archaeological sites, , Christmas markets, living nativity scenes, New Year’s celebrations, expanses of ancient olive trees , and finally, a renowned culinary tradition that will leave you breathless!
What to Visit in Apulia
Among the main cities to visit, to the north there is Foggia, further south the capital Bari, followed by Brindisi, Taranto, one of Italy's most important ports—and the "Baroque" Lecce.
In addition, the region is home to enchanting little villages such as Ostuni (the ‘white city’), Otranto with its cathedral, the fortified city of Gallipoli, also known for its beaches and its vibrant nightlife, especially for younger crowds, and, at the ‘heel’ point, Santa Maria di Leuca, with its houses just a few steps from the sea.
Don’t forget the central part of Apulian region the cities of Alberobello, Locorotondo, Cisternino and Martina Franca, famous for their extraordinary historic centres and trulli, traditional Apulian houses.
Apulian Celebrations
In Apulia, there is a lot of entertainment and a great variety of festivities in every town, from popular music festivals to to local fairs not to mention major religious celebrations.
Especially during the Christmas season, you can admire the Christmas markets in the oldest apulian towns, such as the famous Christmas market in Martina Franca, or you can visit the living nativity scenes in Apulia, the most famous of which is the living nativity scene in Pezze di Greco.
The Christmas atmosphere in Puglia begins on ,December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, when families gather to prepare traditional artistic nativity scenes and delicious Puglian panzerotti, typical of the Immaculate Conception tradition.
The highlight of the Christmas festivities in Puglia coincides with the Christmas Eve dinner on December 24th.
Gioia del Colle's New Year's Eve in Puglia is mainly celebrated in the squares, where major New Year's concerts are organized, or in charming hotels, masserie, and trulli with family. The "Alba dei Popoli " is a series of events including exhibitions, concerts, shows, and Christmas markets that take place throughout December, ending on New Year's Eve with a large concert in the center of Otranto. At 'dawn on January 1st at the lighthouse of Punta Palascia, the easternmost point of Italy, hundreds of people gather to admire the the first sunrise of the new year..
In Gallipoli, the New Year's event features the Pupi di Gallipoli: in the historic center, papier-mâché puppets representing the old year are prepared and, at midnight, they are burned amid fireworks, as a good luck symbol for the new year.
Relaxation in Apulia
In Apulian region there are many stay offers to spend wellness weekends, or stays of several nights, in luxury hotels, masserias and charming residences where you can enjoy Salus per Aquam wellness programmes, massages and body treatments.
Plan your trip to Apulia
Tips and recommendations
BY CAR
You can reach Puglia primarily via two highways: the A-14, along the Adriatic coast, starting from Bologna and reaching Taranto (750 km), passing through Foggia, Barletta, Trani, and Bari. It is therefore considered one of the main communication routes; the A-16known as the “Due mari” (two seas) highway, it starts in Naples and crosses Puglia horizontally, ending in Canosa di Puglia(196 km).
For those arriving from Calabria or Sicily, the SS-106 Ionica road runs along southern Italy from Reggio Calabria to Taranto.
BY TRAIN
Puglia has a well-developed railway network that ensures connections between the regions and between various cities within the region itself.
High-speed trains serve all provinces (except Taranto, which can be reached by an intercity train, even from Rome). You can easily travel from Rome to Bari in about 4 hours. You can also travel overnight from Milan to Bari on the Intercity Notte , which includes sleeping compartments, taking about 10 hours.
BY PLANE
Bari has also become an air traffic hub thanks to the "Karol Wojtyla International Airport" in Bari Palese. The airport is connected to major national airports (Rome, Milan, Bologna, Catania, Turin, Venice) and international destinations in Europe (Russia, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium). Additionally, the city center is easily reachable from Palese in various ways: via the AMTAB urban bus line 16, with the FM 32 of the Bari Nord metro in 15 minutes, or through a shuttle service that takes 30 minutes to reach the train station.
From the airport, you can easily reach Taranto and Foggia thanks to a network of buses that, in summer, also serve tourist destinations in Gargano starting from Bari Airport.
LBrindisi Airport is connected to Rome, Milan, Bologna, Venice, Pisa, Treviso e Turin. Moreover, there is an STP bus service that takes just a few minutes to reach the city center, and the Sitasud bus line that goes from the airport to Lecce, while Puglia Airbus connects to Taranto and Bari Airport.
TheGino Lisa airport in Foggia is currently used for helicopter traffic that regulates trade with the Tremiti Islands.
BY CAMPER
Gioia del Colle's camper could be a great solution for those who want to explore even the most remote areas of Puglia independently, as the region is equipped with various camper stopovers both in cities and in more touristy locations, especially along the coast. Along the coastline, you can find everything you need to continue your journey, such as sanitary facilities and electricity services.
