Puglia

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Medieval town of Vieste perched on cliff ridge.

©Matt Munro/Lonely Planet

Overview

In Puglia, everything the Italophile craves is here in abundance: ancient towns, extravagant churches, seas of olives, olive-green seas and food to equal of anywhere else in Italy.

01 / Attractions

Must-see attractions

Castel del Monte
Puglia
You'll see Castel del Monte, an inhumanly exact geometric shape on a hilltop, from miles away. Mysterious and perfectly octagonal, it's one of southern…
Cathedral
Otranto
Mosaics, skulls, crypts and biblical-meets-tropical imagery: Otranto's cathedral is like no other in Italy. It was built by the Normans in the 11th…
Basilica di San Nicola
Bari
Bari's signature basilica was one of the first Norman churches to be built in southern Italy, and is a splendid (if square and solid) example of Pugliese…
Basilica di Santa Croce
Lecce
It seems that hallucinating stonemasons have been at work on the basilica. Sheep, dodos, cherubs and beasties writhe across the facade, a swirling…
Museo Faggiano
Lecce
Descend through Lecce's rich historical strata in this fascinating home-turned-museum, where sewerage excavations led to the chance discovery of an…
Museo Archeologico di Santa Scolastica
Bari
Housed in a well-preserved 16th-century defensive bastion, this excellent museum reopened in late 2018 and features a superbly curated overview of the…
Museo Nazionale Archeologico di Taranto
Taranto
Sitting unassumingly in a side street in Taranto's new town is one of Italy's most important archaeological museums, chiefly dedicated to the archaeology…
Tempio di San Giovanni al Sepolcro
Brindisi
This 12th-century church, a brown bulk of Norman stone conforming to the circular plan the Templars so loved, is a wonderfully evocative structure,…

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02 / Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

Puglia exemplifies the seductive allure of Southern Italy – plot your sojourn to pristine beaches, woodland trails, local feasts and other top highlights.

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Best Places to Visit

These beguiling places merit inclusion on any itinerary for this fabulous region.

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Best Time to Visit

Whether you're into summer festivals or nativity scenes at Christmas, here is a guide to help you pick the perfect time for your visit to Puglia.

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Things to Know

Follow these travel tips to plan your visit to Puglia in southern Italy and embrace the rhythm of local life.

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Transportation

What’s the best way to get around Italy’s “boot heel”? Read our guide to find out.

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Money and Costs

While on the rise in recent years, Puglia is still a relatively undiscovered destination for foreign visitors. Italians, though, have known for a very long…

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Traveling with Kids

Puglia is an Italian vacation destination that can satisfy the whole family. Here are the region's best things to do with kids.

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Best Road Trips

The best way to get around Puglia is definitely by renting your own set of wheels – here are five of the best drives in Italy's boot heel.

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