Scenic Towns of Puglia
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Latest update: 18 March 2024
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By: Dion Protani
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The scenic towns of Puglia come in a variety of shapes and sizes, providing endless opportunities for days out in the region.
Known colloquially as the "Heel of Italy" due to the boot-like shape of the country, Puglia is blessed with some of the most dazzling coastline in Italy. Most of the region faces out on to the Adriatic Sea but it can also boast two further coastal regions: the Salento and the Gargano Peninsula, both of which contain some beautiful Seaside Towns such as Vieste, Gallipoli and Otranto, to name just a very few. |
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The region is also steeped in history and as soon as you head inland, you're met with some fascinating towns and villages. Best-known of all of these is the unique Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its conical houses called trulli. Within this same section of Historic Towns of Puglia we find Altamura, known as the "City of Bread", and a dozen other towns with famous cathedrals, castles and outstanding architecture that owes much to the region's Greek origins.
Santa Caterina
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Alberobello
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I Borghi Più Belli d'Italia is an association that promotes villages and small towns across the country, and each region has a different number of those. Within Puglia there are ten that make the list with pretty Locorotondo, Cisternino and Bovino among the highlights.
The aforementioned Salento region is most famous for its rocky coastline dotted with outstanding beaches, but its interior also merits some exploration with a number of small towns including historic Nardò and Galatina with its incredible Basilica di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria covered from top to toe in beautiful frescoes.
The aforementioned Salento region is most famous for its rocky coastline dotted with outstanding beaches, but its interior also merits some exploration with a number of small towns including historic Nardò and Galatina with its incredible Basilica di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria covered from top to toe in beautiful frescoes.
Vico del Gargano
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Nardò, Salento
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Aside from its beautiful seaside towns and beaches, we find another genre in the region that deserves its own category: the Fishing Towns of Puglia. The four towns of Giovinazzo, Molfetta, Monopoli and Bisceglie are full of colour and a different kind of atmosphere with their general hustle and bustle surrounding their fishing boats.
We find still manage to find something quite different when we come to the Hill Towns of Puglia. Among these are one of the most celebrated towns in Italy: known as the Città Bianca, Ostuni is famous for its whitewashed buildings and Greek architecture.
Monte Sant'Angelo is high up on the Gargano Peninsula, with a hilltop fortress looking down on to a town that contains another of Puglia's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Close to Monte Sant'Angelo on the same Peninsula is the town of San Giovanni Rotondo: the home of Italy's most recent saint, Padre Pio. The town offers one of the most remarkable examples of modern Italian architecture with its Sanctuary of Padre Pio built in his honour and designed by internationally-renowned architect Renzo Piano.
The Orange Flag Towns of Puglia is a collection of nine that have been awarded the prestigious Bandiera Arancione by the Touring Club Italiano. The award is given to towns who have a certain aesthetic charm that can also provide facilities for tourists. Three of the best in this category are Corigliano d'Otranto, Troia and Alberona.
We find still manage to find something quite different when we come to the Hill Towns of Puglia. Among these are one of the most celebrated towns in Italy: known as the Città Bianca, Ostuni is famous for its whitewashed buildings and Greek architecture.
Monte Sant'Angelo is high up on the Gargano Peninsula, with a hilltop fortress looking down on to a town that contains another of Puglia's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Close to Monte Sant'Angelo on the same Peninsula is the town of San Giovanni Rotondo: the home of Italy's most recent saint, Padre Pio. The town offers one of the most remarkable examples of modern Italian architecture with its Sanctuary of Padre Pio built in his honour and designed by internationally-renowned architect Renzo Piano.
The Orange Flag Towns of Puglia is a collection of nine that have been awarded the prestigious Bandiera Arancione by the Touring Club Italiano. The award is given to towns who have a certain aesthetic charm that can also provide facilities for tourists. Three of the best in this category are Corigliano d'Otranto, Troia and Alberona.
Giovinazzo
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Ostuni
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Cisternino
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