Medieval town of Vieste perched on cliff ridge.

©Matt Munro/Lonely Planet

Puglia

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.

Best Time to Visit

Best Places to Visit

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…
Grotte di Castellana
Valle d’Itria
These spectacular limestone caves, 40km southeast of Bari, are Italy's longest natural subterranean network. The interlinked galleries, first discovered…
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…

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Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

From hiking in Gargano National Park to tasting local pastries in Lecce, experience the best of Puglia with these top things to do.

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Things to Know

These top tips on safety and etiquette can help you plan your visit to Puglia in the south of Italy.

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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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