Gathering the gems worth your time…
Destination guide
Apulia
Italy
Apulia (Italian: Puglia) is a region of Southern Italy. It has 4 million inhabitants and is the easternmost region of the country, reaching a distance of only 72 km (45 miles) from Cape Otranto in the coasts of Albania.
Introduction quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
At a glance
- Getting around
- Rail · Car
- Vetted picks
- 21 places to see, do, eat, and stay
- Real coverage
- 2 vetted creator sources
AI insights
Computed from the Wikivoyage listings, transport section and YouTube view counts on this page
The most-viewed guide here is "Top 10 Places To Visit in Puglia - Italy Travel Guide" by Ryan Shirley (271K views) — a solid first watch.
Getting around: by rail, by car — the section below has the details straight from Wikivoyage.
6 of the places below list a real price from their own source — worth a scan before you budget the trip.
How these 21 picks are sourced
Every pick here rests on the reference article alone — Wikivoyage or Wikipedia documents it, and no second source we checked names it. We also watched 2 creator videos. 20 of the 21 descriptions are quoted word for word from Wikivoyage under CC BY-SA rather than written by us, as is the introduction above — each of those cards says so. What we add is the checking, the corroboration above, and the choice of which places are worth your time at all.What we can't promise is that it's still true. Venues close, hours and prices change, and we don't re-check them — a place here closed for good and sat on this page for a year before anyone noticed. The insights are AI-written from these sources and can be wrong too. Confirm anything you'd be sorry to be wrong about before you set out. Terms.
Watch first
Ranked by views and how well each landed with the people who watched it, judged against the other coverage of this place — plus a local creator where we found one.
Getting around
By rail
Many destinations in Apulia can easily be reached by rail. The region is connected to the rest of Italy via high-speed and InterCity (regional) trains that run along the Adriatic coast from Foggia in the North to Lecce in the South.
By car
Strade statali (trunk roads) can be used for reaching internal destinations or the surrounding regions: Adriatica, links the Gargano area to Otranto Strada delle Puglie ("The road of Apulia's"), links Foggia to Irpinia and Naples SS Bari-Lecce — a useful…
Transport notes from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.
What to see
Temple of San Giovanni al Sepolcro
Single sourcePiazza San Giovanni al Sepolcro· Cheap
Circular Romanesque church built by the Normans in the 11th century; it was probably owned by the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Church of the Holy Cross
Single sourceVia Umberto I, 3· Cheap
It represents the main example of Lecce baroque style.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Chiesa di Sant’Anna
Single sourceStr. Palazzo di Città, 63
St. Anna Church was built between 1246-1247 as a synagogue, known as “Scola Grande”. It was later converted into a Christian Church and entrusted to the Confraternity of St. Anna.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Church of Saint Mary of Grace in Lecce
Single sourceVia Ernesto Alvino, 73100 Lecce LE, Italy· Free
Built in 1580s, this baroque-style church is in the Piazza Sant'Oronzo, overlooking the Roman Amphitheatre, and houses a 14th-century fresco of the Holy Virgin and Child.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Roman columns and Virgil’s Staircase
Single sourceVia Colonne, 53· Free
A symbol of Brindisi, they were thought to mark the termination of the Appian Way, but probably they only had a celebrative purpose.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Porto Antico
Single sourcePorto Antico di Monopoli is the historic old harbour of Monopoli, framed by whitewashed buildings, small fishing boats, and defensive sea walls that reflect the town’s long maritime tradition.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
What to do
Teatro Petruzzelli
Single sourceCorso Cavour, 12
The largest theatre of the city and the fourth Italian theatre by size. Its season feature high quality productions of prose, opera, ballet and classical music.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Notte della Taranta
Single sourceA large itinerant festival of popular Salento music (Pizzica and Taranta) that takes place in the first half of August, culminating in a final open-air concert in the municipality of Melpignano, province of Lecce.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Parco naturale delle Dune costiere
Single sourceChoose between four cycling routes from the Adriatic cycle path to the sea crossing fields of Mediterranean red soil under the shadow of olive trees, to reach finally the sand dunes in a well…
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
What to eat
Ricci - Pizzaioli dal 1963
Single sourcePiazza Maria Immacolata, 22/23
Probably the pest pizzeria in town where you can choose between a large amount of varieties, as well as rich salads, hamburger and panzerotti. Located in the centre of the new town.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Riccardo Caffè
Single sourceVia G. Tanzarella Vitale, 61/63
Lounge bar located in a sort of cave made from a medieval mill, with an elegant and cool atmosphere with poufs and soft lounge music. Prices can be a bit high.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Miro Coffee Bistrot & Lounge Bar
Single sourceVia Umberto I, 4
Delicious "cucina tipica" food served with aplomb in a small restaurant in the old city. Many inventive and interesting recipes, plus a large and relatively inexpensive selection of regional and national wines.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Cicinedda Fruit bistrot
Single sourcePiazza della Libertà, 15
Bar specialized in dishes with fruit, vegetables, frappes and fruit juices. The ideal place for vegetarian and light meals with genuine products and low prices in a handy position.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Mela Bacata
Single sourceVia Scipione Petrarolo, 15/17
Informal lounge bar to enjoy cocktails in the welcoming room or seated on apple green poufs in a narrow alley, with a stunning view of the green countryside.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Osteria Vini e Cucina
Single sourceStrada Vallisa, 23
An old and very informal restaurant in the old town. Traditional, non-posh cuisine. Simple four-course menu
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Where to stay
B&B Corte dei Musco
Single sourceCorte dei Musco, 3
In the historical centre of Lecce, near Porta Rudiae.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
B&B Lecce Villa Giuliana
Single sourceVia Carretti, 6, Arnesano· Pricey
Bed and breakfast on the outskirts of Lecce immersed in an acre of olive groves and typical fruits of Salento offering en suite rooms and organic breakfast, with complimentary parking, swimming pool, lounge terrace…
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Camping Villaggio Il Pilone
Single sourcealong the coast freeway in contrada Pilone
Choose between a tent, a roulotte or a camper in the camping area or a more comfortable room in the holiday village cottages.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Azzurretta B&B
Single sourcePiazza S.Oronzo – Via Andrea Vignes, 2b
Good value compared to hotels. About 1 block away from the walled old city. The owner, Marco Larusso, speaks English reasonably well and is very helpful and accommodating. Be prepared to spend up to an extra/day on metered street parking.
Vetted sources
B&B Piazza 300mila
Single sourceVia 47° Reggimento Fanteria, 40
This bed and breakfast is in an elegant flat in a modern building in Piazza Mazzini.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Bari Belle Camere, and Cosy Rox
Single sourceturn right out of the train station to travel east, walk two blocks and find the orange and grey building on the other side of the walk bridge· Pricey
Cosy Rox are a couple of residences operated for overnight stays and short term rentals.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Build your day
Pick the places you want in Apulia, Italy and we will put them on a map in an order that does not cross the city twice.
Where to next
Nearby cities in Italy we’ve vetted too.
- TarantoSpartan-founded port whose old town sits on its own island, with the Ori di Taranto gold in the archaeological museum and mussels from the Mar Piccolo.
- BariPuglia's seafront capital of orecchiette and old town lanes.
- MateraAncient cave-dwelling Sassi carved into the ravine.
- LecceThe 'Florence of the South' in golden baroque stone.
- Amalfi CoastCliffside villages, lemon groves, and turquoise sea.
- PositanoThe Amalfi Coast's most photogenic vertical village.
Travel content from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Encyclopedic context from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Videos via the YouTube Data API.