Tours and activities
If you are looking for some advice on what to do in Puglia, based in the Valle d’Itria, you are in the right place!
The first stop, obviously, will be the historic center of Ostuni followed by a typical Apulian dinner in Ceglie Messapica.
Our tour of the White City, Ostuni, starts from Piazza Sant’Oronzo, under the spire of the Patron Saint. From here we enter the historic center, taking the road that goes up towards the Cathedral, the building that dominates the hill on which the old city of Ostuni is built.
Ice cream break in front of the Cathedral, or better yet sitting on the wall with a panoramic view next to the famous Salento gate, where you can take a photo that cannot be missing from your social albums upon returning from holidays in Puglia. For a typical meal, whether lunch or dinner, our advice is to move towards the village of Ceglie Messapica, renowned for its food and wine tours and its typical and cheap restaurants. By doing so you will also be able to visit one of the most beautiful historic centers of the Valle d’Itria.
Alberobello, Locorotondo, Cisternino historical center… and bombette!
Even if in the middle of august the call of the beaches and fresh waves is irresistible, take a day’s break from the seaside routine to visit the villages of the Valle d’Itria. In just one day you can visit the 3 most characteristic historic centers of the area: the Trulli of Alberobello and the old cities of Locorotondo and Cisternino.
Let’s start from Alberobello, an unmissable tourist destination on any self-respecting trip to discover the Apulian artistic and architectural heritage. You don’t need more than a few hours to visit the historic center of Alberobello so arrive early and leave late in the morning, heading to Locorotondo for a typical lunch: the restaurants there have lower prices.
The historic center of Locorotondo is very similar to that of Ostuni, white and nestled on a hill in a panoramic position, but with a unique and unexpected peculiarity: the sloping roofs! The last stop of the day dedicated to the villages of the Valle d’Itria will be Cisternino. Here we take a quick tour of the historic center and then head towards the main square of the old city, under the clock tower. If it is already evening, just enter one of the many restaurants in the square, find a seat for a pleasant outdoor dinner, and choose the bowler hats you prefer
Polignano e Monopoli
The historic center of Polignano is very well known, with its houses overlooking the sea now always on the covers of all the magazines that deal with holidays in Puglia; the ideal is to visit Polignano and its famous beach in the months of june or september, when it is hot but there is not yet the boom in tourists typical of the month of august.
It may seem strange but one of the best times to visit Polignano are the Christmas holidays: Christmas in Polignano, evocative and original, has for some years been a fixed appointment for the people of Puglia and tourists, Italian and foreign, who do not miss this magical event in an unusual period.
The historic center of Monopoli is less known than that of nearby Polignano, but equally fascinating. Our advice is to visit both towns on the same day and then, if you are staying in Ostuni or Villanova, on your way back stop for dinner in one of the many fish restaurants on the sea in Savelletri, Fasano marina.
Baia dei Turchi, cava di Bauxite e Otranto historical center
From Brindisi to Santa Maria di Leuca, on the Adriatic coast of Puglia, the most evocative beach is certainly the Baia dei Turchi, in the Natural Oasis of Laghi Alimini.
After parking, you cross a cool pine forest and, suddenly, you find yourself on a not very high cliff and, to the right and left, long and narrow coves of white sand. It is a landscape that not even photos, no matter how well taken, can reproduce. For me, this is certainly the most beautiful beach in Salento. In the afternoon visit the Bauxite quarry, and be enchanted by its colours, before reaching the historic center of Otranto. The castle often hosts exhibitions and, if you are lucky, you will also be able to admire temporary photographic exhibitions in the alleys of the historic centre.
Lecce historic centre, sunset on Spiaggia della Purità in Gallipoli
It is not necessary to describe in detail why a visit to the historic center of Lecce and its baroque monuments represents an obligatory stop for every trip to Salento. What not everyone knows, however, is that, after a day in Lecce, the perfect conclusion will be to sit on the sand of the Spiaggia della Purità in Gallipoli and watch the red summer sun slowly dive into the sea until it disappears. Maybe, if you remembered to bring your swimsuit and beach towel with you, you will watch the sunset directly immersed in the crystal clear sea of Salento.
