It’s still a bit uncertain but looking much more promising for summer holidays in Europe to be possible this year. The heel of Italy, Puglia is a wonderful region to explore and without the crowds and price tags of other more exclusive areas, it has everything for a family summer holiday.
Even at the height of summer, we managed to find a wonderful villa on the outskirts of San Vito dei Normanni at a reasonable price – check it out here. It’s a small town which comes to life in the evening with families taking a stroll or stopping for gelato and has some decent restaurants to choose from. With plenty of swimming time promised, the kids were happy to get out and explore. It was a week of visiting beautiful towns, eating amazing Italian food and spending the afternoons in our lovely pool surrounded by olive groves. Here are our top sights to visit in the area.
Lecce
Often called the ‘Florence of the South’ Lecce will wow you at every corner with its impressive baroque architecture and combination of beige and white stone which glows in the sun. In Lecce’s main square you’ll find the restored 2nd-century AD amphitheatre. It wasn’t discovered until 1901 when construction workers came across this impressive structure below the piazza. We couldn’t come here without trying Pasticcioto. In a café opposite the amphitheatre, we sampled one with a coffee – a rich and indulgent morning snack consisting of vanilla egg custard cream with flaky, buttery shortcrust pastry. For lunch we picked up a yummy Puccia (a classic street food made with pizza dough and filled with mozzarella, meats and roasted vegetables) from L’Angolino di Via Matteotti and headed to Villa Communale Park for some shade and greenery from the heat of the city.
Castello Carlos V is just a short walk from the main square and with beautiful archways and stone passageways, it offers a welcome cool air. It also hosts some interesting art exhibitions – we were lucky enough to catch the Andy Wahol Pop Art exhibition which the kids thought was pretty cool.
Ostuni
It was a hot summer’s day so we took a trip to Ostuni in the early evening. As you drive towards it through olive groves you will see this chic, white washed town perched on a hilltop long before you arrive. Attracting a stylish crowd, the restaurants and bars are buzzing. There was a great market on when we visited with lots of local delicacies to try. The walk up through the maze of alleyways, arches and staircases of the old town will bring you to the 15th-century cathedral which sits at the top with its beautiful Gothic-Romanesque-Byzantine façade. We stopped at a cosy, little restaurant, hidden in one of the narrow streets, for a plate of classic Vongole ( Spaghetti with clams).
Alberobello
Famous for its unique white cone shaped houses, the town was pretty busy and full of tourists and souvenir shops but worth visiting for an hour or two. With a few houses set up as they would have been in the past, it was interesting to explore inside. There’s also a little play area at the top just behind the church which has lovely views over the grey roof tops of the Trulli houses below. Driving through the heart of Trulli country and checking out some of the incredible houses with stunning gardens and pools, we all said it would be fun to stay in one of these little houses if we visited again.
Locorotondo
On our way back from Alberobello we stopped at the pretty town of Locorotondo. As you drive towards the town it has a similar look to Ostuni but it’s much quieter. In the afternoon, the gleaming white streets filled with blood red geraniums were so calm and relaxed. The old city walls that surround the town offer beautiful views over the countryside. After taking in the beauty and atmosphere of this lovely town, there are lots of lovely places to have lunch.
Polignano
With an evening flight home from Bari, we decided to stop on route and spend the day in Polignano al Mare. This gorgeous coastal town perched on a limestone cliff has the most spectacular views over the azure Adriatic Sea. We wandered around the white washed town and picked up some lovely crafts from the little shops. Something that caught our attention for a while and amazed the kids was the cliff diving. A favourite pastime here, you’ll see lots of people jumping from both small rocks to great heights into the clear waters.
Brindisi
This port town isn’t quite as picturesque as other Puglian towns nearby but has a certain charm and worth a wander along the busy palm lined Lungomare Regina Margherita promenade. Driving from San Vito dei Normanni we travelled along the Via Appia, a long straight road as built by the Romans, Just before you reach the seafront you’ll notice the Roman column above a tall set of stairs marking the end the Roman Via Appia at Brindisi – one to point out to kids studying the Romans. We stopped for our daily gelato at a café with endless choices. We all chose quite easily but in true ‘Owen’ fashion, it was a difficult decision.
Torre Guaceto Beach
We didn’t visit many beaches as like in many parts of Italy, you have to pay for entry to a lido or beach club – Our pool was so nice we didn’t need it. We did visit Torre Guaceto beach one day though and the turquoise waters were so clear. To protect the reserve from summer crowds, you have to park and then take a shuttle bus down to the beach. There were lots of little, sheltered sandy cove areas to relax on and a cool beach bar with hammocks.
Have a read of our other Italian holiday ideas below
Fam Full of Wanderlust 