Finding Myself in Puglia: A Journey of Self-Discovery Under the Warm Southern Italian Sun

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Sure, there are trains and local buses, but using them exclusively to cross this varied region is going to take more time than most travellers have. It also means you’ll likely miss many of the small coves and cute little towns and villages that make Puglia so wonderful. There are countless reasons Italyhas become my favourite country to travel, and the diversity between the North and South is the prime one. Puglia, sitting in the ‘heel’ of Italy’s boot feels a world away from the famous tourist city’s such as Rome, Milanor Venice, and provides an entirely different holiday destination to the North of the country.

Laine B. Brown (Author of Finding Myself in Puglia) - Goodreads

As travellers who have spent many an hour (or day) on buses, we're strong believers that you can reach most places with public transport. If you’re visiting in the peak summer months you may find that this works better for you - those afternoon temperatures are no joke, especially for those not used to the heat! The capital of the province of Lecce, the city of Lecce is often called the ‘Florence of the South’ due to the abundance of Baroque architecture in its historic centre. In my book, Lecce is the most beautiful city in Puglia and an absolute must-visit! The Duomo boasts the tallest tower in Puglia. The amphitheatre Not a surprise given that it's not an English speaking country, but definitely one to note if you're used to travelling in the north of Italy or other popular tourist destinations in Europe. The larger hotels will be fine, as are hostels, and fancier restaurants should have at least one member of staff who can speak English, but in small eateries, tiny towns, petrol stations - even our car rental depot - we had to rely on our limited Italian.This windswept natural park along the coast is home to sand dunes, wild herbs, and a long stretch of sand. Read more about things to see in Bari. While in Bari, I stayed at the lovely Gatto Bianco Ducchesa, situated at the edge of the Old Town. Search for hotels in Bari (Booking.com). Central Puglia

Finding Myself in Puglia: A Journey of Self-Discovery Under Finding Myself in Puglia: A Journey of Self-Discovery Under

There are some fabulous beaches in Italy - you can find our favourites in this guide - and we happen to be of the opinion that everybody should have access to them. Unfortunately, in Puglia, as in many areas of Italy, large sections of beach along the coast are either completely inaccessible without paying a fee (many of which tout themselves as beach clubs), or covered in privately owned pay-to-play sun loungers. But if you are looking for what many would call a more ‘authentic’ Italian experience, then you can’t go wrong with Puglia. With more and more international flightsto Bari and Brindisi airports cropping up, it has also never been easier to visit. Discover the top things to do in Puglia and best places to visit, such as Alberobello, Lecce, Locorotondo and Polignano a Mare in this guide.This vast national park, over 120,000 hectares, is another place I simply haven’t had time yet to visit on my three trips to Puglia. Most visitors to Puglia tend not to visit the south-west part of the heel, and we were also guilty of this. So while I haven’t visit Gallipoli myself, I’ve heard a few people say ‘skip it, tourist trap’ but far more crying out we were crazy for not including it on our road trip. Often called the Florence of the South, due to the Baroque buildings that garnish the city, Lecce is a spot you’ll want to spend at least a night. In many cases this was a time-related thing - after all, if you only have three days, you don't want to spend hours in the car. However,we just want to make clear that there is soooo much more to Puglia than just Polignano, Ostuni, Alberobello, Lecce and Otranto! As a visitor, this dazzling region of Italy could keep you entertained for weeks, if not months, with a seemingly never-ending list of things to do in Puglia.