As I stepped off the aeroplane in Brindisi on my first visit to Puglia, I was immediately struck by the deep blue colour of the Adriatic Sea, which is clearly visible from the airport. Blue skies with a few white puffy clouds greeted me as I climbed onto the bus to take me to the Baroque city of Lecce.
I was then amazed by all the olive trees, which stretched as far as the eye could see, and further. In fact Puglia produces more than half of Italy’s olive oil; more than any other Italian region.
It is also the second largest wine producing area in Italy after the Veneto, with around 14% of total wine production. The wines that come from this dry, sunny, breezy climate are rich and full bodied, with more than 30 Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) wines available.
Little did I know, on my first visit back in 2011, that this was to be the beginning of a love-affair with an entire region. In fact, the pull of the stiletto heel of Italy’s boot-shape has been so strong, I am planning to move there permanently later this year.
Over several visits, exploring Puglia has been a great pleasure. Now I am going to share with you some of my favourite towns, wines and food.
As you drive down through Puglia, the countryside is mainly flat, except for the Gargano Peninsula in the north, though the Valle d’Itria (Itrian Valley) around Ostuni, Locorotondo and Alberobello consist of the Murgia, a limestone plateau made up of rolling hills dotted with trulli – cone-shaped houses typical of this area – and criss-crossed by dry stone walls, olive groves and vineyards.
After Ostuni, the White City on the hill, the Salento plains begin which stretch down to the southernmost point of Puglia; the tip of the stiletto heel of Italy.
On your journey south, after by-passing the city of Bari, one of the first seaside towns you will see is Polignano a Mare with its horse-shoe shaped bay.
With the blue Adriatic on your left, you will pass by all the wonderful marinas that dot the coast, with Ostuni and the Itrian Valley high on your right hand side.
Circling the beautiful baroque city of Lecce and heading out to the coast, you will arrive in San Cataldo, with its big holiday homes and remnants of its old sea wall…
…while you keep on heading south towards Otranto with its famous beaches.
The coast then becomes more rugged with cliffs plunging towards the sea, interspersed with sandy coves and dotted with fortifications.
Passing the old spa town of San Cesarea………
…..and Castro with its stunning views…….
…you will find yourself arriving at the tip of the stiletto heel of Puglia: Santa Maria di Leuca, where the Ionian and Adriatic Seas collide.
Driving up the west coast along the Ionian Sea you will arrive in the popular town of Gallipoli, with its old fishing village and harbour.
Puglia is an extremely fertile region. As well as olive trees and grape vines, there are also abundant tomatoes, artichokes, aubergines, figs, almonds and wheat fields to be found.
Artichokes in Ostuni
With 800kms of coastline, you can imagine that fish is high on most menus. Seafood restaurants abound. However, meat is eaten in the hills of the Valle d’Itria where sheep are bred.
Foodies certainly won’t be disappointed at the variety of interesting local dishes and wines available. Pastas you will see on every menu are either orecchiette or cavatelli – both small and ear-shaped. Typical dishes from this area are fave e cicorie selvatiche (broad bean purée with wild chicory), orecchiette con polpette (pasta with tomato sauce and meatballs) and bombette (pork meatballs). Of course, one must not forget to try the wonderfully creamy burratina cheese. Accompanied by the local rosato wines, the food flavours are out of this world.
When it’s time for an aperitivo, wherever you go, the snacks are generous and delicious.
Pugliese Wines:
The two most popular and widely available wines from Puglia are Salice Salentino and Primitivo.
Salice Salentino is made from the Negroamaro (Italian for black-bitter) grape, which is dry red wine with a spicy, raspberry flavour and is full bodied, though not too acidic.
Richer and more full-bodied is popular Primitivo, with its blackberry taste. The Primitivo grape ripens early and the result is a wine that is fruity and rich. Apparently, it is the same grape as California’s Zinfandel.
Bombino Nero grapes are late ripening and are mainly used to make the delicious rosato wines that I love so much.
Malvasia, usually blended with Negroamaro, is also used for the rosato wines with their hints of raspberry and cherry.
Malvasia Grapes
Verdeca, blended with Bianco d’Alessano, is used in the making of the Locorotondo and Martina Franca Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) wines, made either still or sparkling, and is considered an important indigenous grape in Puglia. Or indeed a fruity Chardonnay, which rarely fails to please.
If you want a perfect holiday, full of sunshine, fresh fish, excellent wines, sandy beaches, blue seas, beautiful towns and scenery, look no further than Puglia down on the stiletto heel of Italy.
Orna O’Reilly
Italy
Orna O'Reilly: Travelling Italy 
Wow. Stunning. I cannot wait to visit Puglia. Thank you for sharing it through your eyes!
You must visit. It is SO beautiful. Think of your blog when you see it in person! There’ll be no stopping you! 🙂
Love the photos!! Great post 🙂 Cheers!
Thank you. Cheers to you too!
Orna — Your fab photos really bring out the aromas and ambiance of the Puglia region. Well done, you!
Thank you Tom. We’re both besotted with the region and I think it shows. 🙂
Orna, what a beautiful tour. I love the trunk full of artichokes!
Thanks Jeff. We were out early one morning and spotted this carload on the way to market. I couldn’t resist taking a photo and the owner of the car was absolutely delighted. The people are extremely friendly and relaxed in Puglia. Love it!
Orna, I have lived in this wonderful region for 32+ years, your photos and description are perfect. So pleased you had a great time, next time you’re in Puglia come and stay here
villamagnoliaitaly.com
We’ll certainly pay a visit! We move to a new house between Ostuni and Cisternino in September. Thank you for your kind comments.
Orna, now I simply must visit Puglia! Thank you for your fabulous post! Salute!
Well, you absolutely must visit Puglia. Truly beautiful, relaxed and friendly….with the most wonderful food and wine on the planet.
Great note and wonderful pictures. We plan to spend most of next January in Puglia (3rd visit). By the way, it is Primitivo that has a similar DNA to Zinfandel…both apparently owe their origins to the same obscure Croatian grape. Buona fortuna with your move.
As far as I am aware, it’s Negroamaro that is the same as Zinfandel. But I’m no expert! Just love Puglia, its food and wine. 🙂
Actually, the Zinfandel clone is Primitivo. In my retirement I earned certificates from both the society of wine educators and the Master Court of Sommeliers and this is one of the fun things I learned. Here’s another reference: http://www.winespectator.com/drvinny/show/id/40489
Negroamaro is a distant relative of Verdeca and Sangiovese.
Thank you so much. I am doing an edit right away. I was misinformed, but as I said, I am no expert. Just a Puglia lover!! 🙂
Between Tom’s blog, which I just visited, and yours, I’m ready to get out my suitcases and leave immediately. Your photos are wonderful, but that shot of the car full of artichokes is my favorite. Are you and Tom moving to the same place, by any chance? 🙂 Not trying to be nosy, but it seems a bit coincidental. Anyway, thanks for another beautiful post and enjoy the weekend.
janet
You’re pretty astute Janet! Yes we are. Puglia is just wonderful and we love it there. Aiming for September in our new build among the olive groves. 🙂
Congrats to you both, then. I know you’re going to love it and I’ll love seeing the posts. 🙂
Thanks Janet! 🙂
This really brings Puglia alive on my laptop. Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you. So glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
This was a wonderful article Orna, really full of wonder! And I wonder if I could manage to go there to experience all the many facets you touched upon. I’m ready to fall in love with another district in bella Italia!
Thank you so much! Just fly to Brindisi or Bari, hire a car and you’re on your way. Loads of accommodation to choose from and the friendliest people on the planet. You must go! 🙂
Dear Orna, I so enjoyed your blogs on Puglia. I am visiting Brindisi to Bari with a cycling tour group this September. It will be my first vacation solo and I am looking forward to seeing part of Puglia by bike. My hubby and I lived Italy and traveled often to Abruzzo. Unfortunately, I find myself widowed and learning to travel solo. Your blog posts are keeping my adventurous spirit up for the Sept. Trip. Many, many thanks. Eloise
Thank you so much for your comments. I also – under similar circumstances – travelled solo for many years. I am delighted to hear that my blogs are inspiring you to push on with travelling in Italy. Really, the very best of luck in September. Let me know how you get on. Orna
Your fabulous stories and beautiful photos of Puglia make me want to return. I am seeing more of it through your blogs than when I was actually there. Thank you
Thanks Lyn. You know I love Puglia and spend a lot of time there, preparatory to moving to the Valle d’Itria permanently in September. Exploring a region is always exciting, and it’s especially interesting when you are photographing what you see and writing about it afterwards. And, as you know, Puglia is highly photogenic! 🙂
So much information in this wonderful post. The pictures are eye catching and I can’t wait to visit this region and hopefully meet you and Tom one day! good luck on the move!
Thank you Jennifer. Tom and I would really enjoy meeting you too. Puglia has become a very important place to both of us and is a region that must be visited by anyone interested in Italy. Spectacularly beautiful and very different to anywhere else I can think of – though perhaps it reminds me a little of Greece in some regards. Do visit soon! Orna
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