Holidays in Apulia - the "Heel of Italy"

Apulia, also known as Puglia (its official Italian name), is one of the great traditional and classical regions of Italy that has sites and attractions which are as good as any of the other regions.

One of the less crowded areas of Italy, the population of Apulia is around 4 million spread over an area roughly the size of Wales. If you are looking to enjoy a holiday in Italy with a wide range of different sights in a less congested and peaceful manner then Apulia is an ideal holiday destination.

Click the images for our Hotels

Flights
Highlights
Cuisine
Itineraries

Travelling to the Puglia region of Italy from the UK used to involve flights to Naples or Rome then another flight or train south. Now fortunately the low-cost airlines fly direct from the UK to southern Italy. Ryanair have daily flights from Stanstead Airport to Brindisi and Bari airport. Flying time is about 2 ½ hours, and the fares are wonderfully inexpensive.

How to get around
If you want to be free to tour and discover the wonders of this region, we strongly suggest you to rent a car.

By car you can live and enjoy the whole of Puglia, the sea and its coasts and its wonderful sea as well as the inland, rich in tradition, culture and history.

Every city and every town of Puglia is well connected with the province and all major centres are all well indicated and the main roads are generally in good condition

If your preferred method is the bus you can find Puglia numerous private and public bus companies.

Public Bus companies
Province of Foggia -ATAF (0881 722605).
Province of Bari - ASTAB (800 450444)
Provinc of Lecce - AUTOLINEE URBANE (0832 2682313)

Private bus companies
FERROVIE DEL GARGANO:Gargano, S.Severo, S.Agata, Accadia, Cerignola, Lucera, Volturino, Torremaggiore, Manfredonia.
FERROVIE DEL SUD EST: Brindisi, Torre Santa Susanna, Francavilla Fontana, Ceglie Messapica, Taranto, Mesagna, Campi Salentina, Lecce.
SITA: Bari, Cassano, Murga, Gargano, S. Giovanni Rotondo, Andria-Barletta-S.Giovanni Rotondo.
STP: Brindisi, Taranto-Pulsano, Taranto-Massafra, Fasano,, Lecce, Grottaglie.
CTP: Taranto, Pulsano, Massafra, Ginosa, Grottaglie.

Using the train

TRENITALIA: Bari, Barletta, Foggia, Brindisi, Lecce, Gioia del Colle, Taranto. S.Agata, Ascoli Satriano, Candela, Rocchetta.
FERROTRANVIARIA BARI NORD: Bari-BArletta, entroterra barese, Bitonto, Terlizzi, Ruvo, Corato, Andria.
FERROVIE APPULO LUCANE:Bari, Matera, Avigliano Lucania
FERROVIE DEL SUD EST: Bari-Conversano-Martina Franca-Taranto e Bari-Casamassima-Putignano, Lecce-Martina Franca, Lecce-Gallipoli, Lecce-Gagliano, Otranto-Maglie.

It 's impossible to enclose a few paragraphs in the infinite wonders and attractions that you can see during a holiday in Apulia.

But not matter how short is your holiday you should visit at least two of the following suggestions to make the most of your holiday in Apulia

The Gargano: In the province of Foggia, has a wonderful sea and luxuriant nature. The main attractions are the beauty of Vieste and Peschici and the religious site of San Giovanni Rotondo linked to Padre Pio, but includes many other stretches of coastline and villages reserving pleasant surprises to those who decide to visit them.

The Subappenino Dauno: It is the mountain area of Puglia bordering with the regions of Campania, Basilicata and Molise. Among unspoiled woods, local products and flavors unique mountain villages that have never changed in years you will discover a Puglia never told.

Park Alta Murgia: Divided between rocky plateaus and fertile plains below, the Murgia is located in the central part of Puglia and offer a must see scenary for nature lovers.
Itria Valley: indicate the area of white trulli and more Masserias. You'll be spoiled for choice between Alberobello, Martina Franca, Gonzales or maybe the Grotte di Castellana one of the wonders of Puglia
The Salento: The area south of the "heel" of Italy. Besides the natural beauty you can find flashes of Greek culture and traditions combined with a baroque style found in every corner of this part of Puglia.
Castel del Monte: The known tourist attraction whose value, universally recognized, have earned the presence on the 1 euro cent coins, was built by the famous Federico II in turn called himself "wonder Mundi" for its knowledge.

If you are looking to combine two or more holiday resorts in Puglia ask our consultants who will provide you with a tailor made quote based on your specific requirements

Pugliese cuisine is based mainly on food supplied from local agricultural and fishery sectors, and is the best to offer the Mediterranean cuisine.

The characteristic of the Pugliese cuisine is essentially the extra olive oil (probably the best in the world), the durum wheat pasta, the always fresh fish, mussels and sea urchins

Also include vegetables such as beans and peas, various kinds of salads, wild rocket and the famous Brussels sprout, which along with the orecchiette (pasta disks of wheat flour processed by hand) are the dish-symbol of the region.

The famous bread of Altamura in Bari, Caciocavallo , Dairy products, scamorza and capocollo, the ham of the Subappennino Dauno should not be missed.

We have selected 10 of the best restaurants in Puglia, these are usually close or within easy reach from your chosen accommodation

Cibus Restaurant - Ceglie Messapica, Brindisi
http://www.ristorantecibus.it/
A Casa Tu Martino - Taviano, near Gallipoli
http://www.acasatumartinu.com/
Corte in fiore, Trani
http://www.corteinfiore.it/
La Vecchia Taverna, Monopoli
http://www.lavecchiataverna.it/
Osteria Giangirolamo, Conversano
http://giangirolamo.com/
Osteria del tempo perso, Ostuni
http://www.osteriadeltempoperso.com/
La Locanda di Don Antonio, Alberobello
Ristorante Sagittario, Martina Franca
Il Bastione, Gallipoli
Ristorante Al Pescatore, Gallipoli

In this section we offer some suggestions that are sure to leave you with a good impression from your holiday in Puglia. Our consultants will be pleased to respond to every request and provide you with a tailor made quote for your holiday

ROUTE 1
Alberobello - Unesco Heritage capital of trulli, old houses that recall a world of fairy tales
Castellana Caves - A world of stalactites and stalagmites, a carnival of nature for over 50 million years.
Locorotondo - living room of the Itria valley where the white houses married to the smell of the flowers ... and wine

ROUTE 2
Castel del Monte - Unesco heritage mysterious octagonal structure; enigma like the secular temples of the Aztecs and the Sphinx
Trani - The Cathedral, a sail aground on the shore, which faces, haughty, the castle of Frederick II
Bari - Santa Klaus protects the medieval casbah and the modern Muratti quarter

ROUTE 3
Matera - Unesco Heritage ''I Sassi'' (the Stones) now like a thousand years ago, frescoed churches and houses carved into the tufa rock
Taranto - National Museum the most effective synthesis of the magno-Greek civilization

ROUTE 4
Lecce - The most beautiful baroque, the Florence of the South
Otranto - Sought by the Turks in the past and by scholars today, the mosaic of the Cathedral:800 sqm of the Middle Ages, worth its inclusion in the Unesco Heritage

ROUTE 5
Gallipoli - The churches, with their colors and bell towers, were and are still today clear benchmarks for the fishermen.
Ugento - Ancient city, with some evidence of megalithic ruins, was known under the Roman as Uzentum.
Santa Maria di Leuca - extreme strip of Italy where the waters of the Ionian and Adriatic meet (the line is visibile on a clear day).

The sea, coastline and landscape of the Salento
For its extraordinarily clear sea, the colors of water, overhanging cliffs, the stretch of coast that runs from Otranto to Santa Maria di Leuca is considered one of the most beautiful and evocative of the entire Puglia and probably Italy, the spectacular nature that has managed to create contrasts and suggestions of extraordinary beauty attracts the traveler over and over again