Dotted with sandy bays, coves and ornate churches, the region of Puglia is an unspoilt gem in southeast Italy. Silvery olive trees line the hillsides alongside verdant vineyards, and fishermen haul their catch onto quaint harbours.
The picturesque fishing town of Polignano a Mare dates back to prehistoric times and is set atop a limestone cliff lapped by the glistening Adriatic Sea. Dazzling white buildings cling to the clifftop and numerous caves have been sculpted into the rocks. The area boasts an archaeological museum and cathedrals dating back to the 10th Century whilst Roman and Greek ruins can be found nearby in Santa Barbara.
Further south, rural Fasano is fast becoming one of the most exclusive resorts in Puglia. Stroll around the pretty town which is dotted with olive groves and vineyards and wander to the town’s historic district. Fasano is the proud host of Italy’s largest zoo safari park which is set in 120 hectares of protected land that is a sanctuary to incredible wildlife ranging from elephants and lions to monkeys and dolphins.
The bustling port city of Taranto can be found on the west coast of Italy’s heel and is the country’s main naval base. Known as ‘the city of two seas’ due to its two bays, Taranto offers a number of white sand beaches and clear blue waters. Taranto was settled in the 7th century and is home to a number of historic treasures that can be viewed in the city’s archaeological museum.
Puglia Holiday Highlights
• Visit Alberobello, a village with over 1,500 charming trulli houses – limestone dwellings with pointed stone roofs. Stroll around these little houses among the almond trees, watching the sunset over the pyramid-like rooftops.
• Explore Lecce, an elegant university town, or stay in the old Venetian trading port of Monopoli and relax in the central piazza lined with cafés.
• Discover Ostuni, a hillside town with white-washed streets and buildings that dazzle in the sunlight.
• Stroll around pretty Fasano and visit the local masserias to buy some full-bodied wine and fresh olive oil.
• Explore Taranto’s old town – historic sights include the 11th century Taranto Cathedral, the Romanesque-Gothic church of San Domenico Maggiore and the ancient Piazza Fontana.
• For a magical dining experience spend an evening at La Grotta Palazzese, a restaurant that has been built into one of the villages many caves.
• Discover the eclectic blend of architectural styles that contributed to the design of Brindisi’s Chiesa di Santa Maria del Casale, a 14th Century church that features Byzantine frescoes.
• Explore the highlights of Puglia and the dramatic beauty and historic towns of Basilicata with our superb Alberobello, Ostuni, Lecce & Matera multi-centre.
Puglia Honeymoons
All of our Puglia hotels make for fabulous honeymoon settings, but we have specially labelled a few of our favourite, most romantic hotels and retreats that we think make the most perfect settings for your dream honeymoon in Italy.
Puglia Weddings
Puglia is an unspoilt and ladback corner of Italy, encapsulating all the charm of Italy of old along with some of the nation's finest and most romantic hotels and retreats.
Visit our dedicated Italian Wedding pages for details and call our dedicated weddings team to organise your dream Italian wedding package with Kuoni.
Italy Tailor Made
At Kuoni we have made it incredibly easy for you to tailor make a holiday to your exact requirements, choosing different cities and resorts and combining different numbers of nights and hotels. You can even tailor make your holiday adding tours and different countries.
• Please call our Personal Travel Experts on 01306 747002.
• Email for an online quote.
• Request a copy of our Italy brochure.
Italy Multi-Centres
See more of Italy with our Discover Classical Italy Multi-Centre breaks, such as Lecce, Fasano, Matera & Salento. Call us on 01306 747002 to discuss your options.