Puglia Travelers Recommend

With three full days to visit Bari, you’ll have time to discover the historic heart and cuisine of Puglia’s largest port city and visit cultural highlights in the region—both along the coastline and deep in the rolling countryside. Here are your options for three days in Bari.

Day 1: Bari’s Heart (Through Its Stomach)

Bari’s culture and cuisine are deeply entwined, and you’ll see how the two come together in the city’s historic center, known as Bari Vecchia. Delve into this warren of crisscrossing lanes and tiny squares with a guided tour on foot, bike, rickshaw, or Segway. Tours visit treasures like the 12th-century Basilica di San Nicola, Swabian Castle (Castello Svevo), Cathedral of St. Sabino, and the bustling Piazza Mercantile, where locals gather to sip coffee and socialize. 

Follow your guide through the hidden backstreets of the old town to see neighborhood women turning out tiny orecchiette pasta at tables set up along the street, and sample the city’s famed panzerotti and sgagliozze on a street food tour. End your day with a stroll along the waterfront promenade, elbow-to-elbow with the throngs who flock here each evening for a walk, or “passeggiata,” with gelato in hand.

Day 2: Countryside and Coastline

After you’ve become acquainted with the architectural and culinary treasures of Bari Vecchia, strike out along the coastline or through the countryside. There are a number of easy excursions that take you from Bari to the surrounding region of Puglia. A day trip to the fishermen’s village of Polignano a Mare offers the opportunity to explore the town and nearby beaches or to set sail with a local skipper for a fishing expedition, followed by lunch featuring your catch.

History buffs can take in the 13th-century Castel del Monte citadel that towers over the landscape outside Bari, the picturesque medieval town of Conversano, or the ruins at Gnatia, a city that predates ancient Rome. Foodies can opt for a day in a traditional fortified farmhouse, called a “masseria,” just outside the city for an all-day cooking class to learn how to prepare some of Puglia’s most iconic dishes.

Day 3: UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Two of southern Italy’s most important cultural treasures are located within striking distance of Bari. Join a guided day trip to Alberobello, famous for its round stone cottages topped with conical roofs known as “trulli,” to learn about this unique town’s history and architecture and then spend time in a nearby winery tasting Puglian wines paired with traditional delicacies like taralli and burrata.

Alternatively, set off for the neighboring region of Basilicata to tour the Sassi of Matera, a city of ancient cave dwellings and churches, many of which are now trendy hotels, restaurants, and art galleries. Many Matera day trips pair a tour of the historic center with a food tasting, so you also can sample the specialties of the region, geographically near to Puglia but a world away in its cuisine.

The largest city in Puglia and a major cruise-ship and ferry port on the Adriatic Sea, Bari has a lovely old town that testifies to its rich and varied past, as well as a vibrant waterfront nightlife anchored firmly in the present. If you only have one day to visit this bustling coastal capital, here’s how to see the main highlights.

Morning: Old Town (Bari Vecchia)

Bari is a sprawling modern port, but at its heart lies the old town, Bari Vecchia. Take a self-guided audio tour or join a walking, bike, rickshaw, or Segway tour though the historic center with a guide to learn about this city’s long history. Tours generally take in highlights like the 12th-century Basilica di San Nicola, home to the remains of Saint Nicholas—better known as Santa Claus; Swabian Castle (Castello Svevo); Cathedral of St. Sabino; and the lively Piazza Mercantile, the social focal point of the old town.  

Afternoon: Bari Cuisine

No city is more proud of its local cuisine than Bari, and the city’s grandmothers (nonnas), often gather on the narrow lanes crisscrossing the old town to hand-roll fresh orecchiette pasta. Experience the deeply rooted culinary traditions of the city firsthand with a food tour and sample beloved street food like panzerotti and sgagliozze, or join a cooking class to create classic dishes on your own. Once you’ve prepared your meal, you’ll sit down to savor the fruits of your labor, washed down with Puglian wine. 

Night: Quick Jaunts

Bari sits on the coast, so end the day by taking a few hours to relax on the beach. Alternatively, a number of quick excursions can be combined with a day in Bari. The towering Castel del Monte fortress is a short drive from the city, as is the charming fishermen’s village of Polignano a Mare and the medieval town of Conversano. Archaeology enthusiasts can head a bit further south to tour the ruins of the ancient city at Gnatia, where many of the artifacts now displayed in Bari’s Santa Scolastica Archaeological Museum were unearthed.

As Puglia’s capital city and the largest port, Bari is the perfect base for exploring the region. Take a day to get to know the city’s old town and then set off to discover Puglia’s unforgettable hilltop and seaside towns. Here are your options for two culture-filled days in Bari.

Day 1: Bari’s Old Town (Bari Vecchia)

**Morning:**Push past Bari’s modern apartment blocks and chaotic port to the old town at the city’s heart. Explore Bari Vecchia, a warren of tiny lanes dotted with historic churches and a medieval fortress, via a self-guided audio tour or with a guided walking, Segway, bike, or rickshaw tour. 

**Afternoon:**Food is fundamental in Bari, and many guided tours have a culinary slant, weaving together the architecture and cuisine of Bari Vecchia. The highlight is often a stop on one of Bari’s “pasta streets,” quiet back alleys where local women set up tables to hand-shape traditional orecchiette pasta.

**Night:**Once you’ve gotten to know Bari’s heart (and stomach), set out for a short excursion. Options include the Castel del Monte fortress, seaside village of Polignano a Mare, medieval town of Conversano, or ruins of the ancient city at Gnatia. For gourmands, a cooking class in Bari instead provides both dinner and a cultural experience.

Day 2: Puglia and Beyond

**Morning:**Bari is a well-connected ferry and cruise-ship hub. Take advantage of its location to see highlights along the coast or in the countryside. Early risers can opt for a day at sea with a local skipper to fish off Polignano a Mare and dine on the day’s catch.

**Afternoon:**Head to the neighboring region of Basilicata to tour one of Italy’s most unique towns, the Sassi of Matera. This hilltop clutch of ancient cave dwellings has been named a European Capital of Culture, and tours often combine visits with tastings of regional culinary specialities.

**Night:**Dive into Puglia’s history and culture by opting for a trip to see the unique trulli, or fairytale-like stone cottages, in the town of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pair your visit with a wine tour at a nearby estate to taste wines produced in Puglia’s countryside.

With a handful of distinctive towns running along the coast in this region of southern Italy, visitors could easily spend a week or more exploring all there is to offer in Puglia. Here are the highlights of what to see in three days.

Day 1: Bari, Basilicas and Barivecchia

Start your exploration of undiscovered Puglia in Bari, a city that in Roman times served as the most important port on the Adriatic coast. Today it remains the region’s main city, with thriving modern suburbs surrounding a photogenic, ancient heart. For a taste of the grand Romanesque architecture of the centro storico, explore the tangle of alleyways in the Barivecchia. Check out the Cattedrale di San Sabino and be sure to admire the austere lines of the Basilica di San Nicola, the pilgrimage church containing the relics of St Nicholas, before heading for the archaeological museum at the 12th-century Castello Normanno-Svevo. Come evening, enjoy an aperitivo and supper in sophisticated Piazza Mercantile, within sight of the worn stone lion at the foot of the Colonna della Giustizia, where debtors met death in Roman times. 

Day 2: Castles and Caves

Head north through the wild Puglian countryside to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Castel del Monte near Andria to admire its peerless medieval architecture and remote setting. Travel southwest to rural Matera just over the border in Basilicata to explore more UNESCO wonders in the troglodyte cave dwellings known as sassi that line the ravine of the River Gravina. Forming two districts known as Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso, they vary from simple one-room storehouses to sophisticated multi-story residences; make the most of the experience by dining in a sassi restaurant and staying overnight in a sassi hotel.

Day 3: Baroque Beauty and Beehive Houses

Turn to the coast once more to stop off for lunch in Alberobello and wander around its squat, beehive-shaped limestone trulli houses, some built around the 14th century and all topped with grey slate. Travel onward to the lovely Puglian town of Lecce, famous for the madcap excesses of its Baroque architecture as seen on the swirling façades of the glorious Basilica of Santa Croce, on its cathedral and the adjoining Bishop’s Palace in Piazza Duomo, as well as on the flamboyant Chiesa del Rosario. Lecce’s final surprise is the half-excavated Roman amphitheater that forms part of the town’s bar-and-restaurant-lined Piazza Sant’Oronzo. An overnight stay is the perfect opportunity to explore this Baroque beauty without the crowds. 

Dubbed the “Florence of the South” for its sumptuous 17th-century architecture, Lecce is the most beguiling city on Puglia’s Salento peninsula. Its historic center is a treasure trove of baroque gems and artisan workshops, as well as a food lover’s paradise. Here’s how to experience this feast for the eyes and palate in one day.

Morning: Barocco Leccese

Lecce’s lavish architectural style, featuring magnificent facades carved from local pietra leccese stone, is so distinctive that it has its own label: Barocco Leccese, or Lecce baroque. Begin your visit of this jewel-like city with a guided tour through the old town (centro storico) to appreciate highlights such as the Basilica di Santa Croce, cathedral (duomo) and its Piazza del Duomo, and Church of Santa Chiara. Most walking, bike, and rickshaw tours also take in the impressive ruins of the city’s Roman amphitheater in Piazza Sant'Oronzo and the traditional shops along the winding lanes of the centro storico.

Afternoon: Stone and Paper

After the morning spent exploring the heights of the Barocco Leccese, turn your attention in the afternoon to the humble yet equally captivating local artisan traditions. Tour Lecce’s storied workshops with a guide as part of a shopping tour to take a deep dive into their history and techniques, or join a hands-on workshop to learn the secrets of stone carving or papier-mâché, two of the most important local handicrafts.

Night: Food and Wine

Salento is known for its excellent cuisine, and no visit to the peninsula is complete without sampling its classic dishes and remarkable wines. Join a food tour in Lecce to nibble unique street foods such as rustico leccese (puff pastry filled with tomatoes and mozzarella), pasticciotto (filled pastry), and taralli (olive-oil crackers) and sip wines produced in the surrounding countryside. True gourmands can pair a walking tour with a full dinner featuring the city’s most beloved dishes, or learn how to make them at home with a cooking class led by a local chef or home cook, followed by a celebratory meal to sample the recipes you’ve prepared together.

The cultural and geographical heart of Puglia’s Salento Peninsula, Lecce is home to the region’s finest architecture and perfectly located to explore other highlights both inland and on the coast with ease. Here’s how to take in the best of the city and surrounding peninsula in just two days.

Day 1: The Capital of Salento

Morning: Start the day by taking in Lecce’s magnificent 17th-century baroque churches and palaces with a walking, bike, or rickshaw tour through the historic center. Marvel at the ornate facades of the cathedral (duomo), Basilica di Santa Croce, and Church of Santa Chiara, as well as the ruins of the Roman amphitheater in Piazza Sant'Oronzo.

Afternoon: Dedicate the afternoon to exploring the captivating artisan workshops that are a cornerstone of Lecce’s culture. Join a shopping tour to meet the city’s craftspeople, or opt for a practical workshop to hone your skills at traditional stone carving or papier-mâché with a master teacher at a storied atelier.

Night: The three pillars of Lecce’s unique spirit are its architecture, artisans, and cuisine. Explore the last with a food tour highlighting the city’s street foods and local wines or a walking tour paired with a traditional dinner. Another foodie option is a cooking class with a local instructor followed by a festive meal.

Day 2: Striking Out in Salento

Morning: Now that you’ve savored Lecce, spend your second day exploring the Salento Peninsula. Head just north to the Itria Valley, home to some of the most captivating small towns in Puglia. Tour the gnome-like trulli cottages in Alberobello and the postcard-perfect hill towns of Polignano a Mare and Cisternino.

Afternoon: Gourmands can deepen their knowledge of local Negroamaro and Primitivo wines, as well as other gastronomic delights, with a wine-and-food tour in the countryside just beyond Lecce’s city limits. Visit small wineries for tastings and lunch featuring specialties from nearby olive-oil mills, farms, and other local producers.

Night: Lecce may be set inland, but Puglia is primarily a coastal region. Enjoy its pretty coastline and crystalline waters with a jaunt to the historic fishing village of Otranto. Take a peek at its cathedral, Church of St. Peter, and Aragonese Castle, and then relax on the beach as the sun goes down.

With three days in Alberobello and Locorotondo, you’ll have enough time to delve into Puglia’s highlights and even cross the border into neighboring Basilicata. From the central Itria Valley, head north to Bari, south to Lecce, and west to the ancient rupestrian city of Matera. Here are your options for three days of exploration.

Day 1: The Heart of Puglia

Begin your day in Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s home to more than 1,000 round stone trulli cottages, unique to this valley. Then move on to Locorotondo, a hushed, whitewashed town with sweeping views over the surrounding valley. Opt for a walking tour through the historic center or a bike tour that takes in both the village and countryside. If you still have time, visit quieter valley locations such as the fishing village of Polignano a Mare or medieval Conversano. History enthusiasts can choose a guided visit of Castel del Monte or the Gnatia archaeological ruins, while a wine tasting, olive oil tour, or visit to the salami-producing town of Martina Franca will satisfy gourmands.

Day 2: Cities North and South

The Itria Valley is also home to two of Puglia’s most vibrant cities: Bari to the north and Lecce to the south. Join a walking tour to explore Bari’s old town, Bari Vecchia, thick with pretty churches, bustling squares, and a warren of backstreets. Alternatively, set your sights on the Salento Peninsula, and spend the day admiring the ornate baroque architecture in the center of Lecce. Known as the “Florence of the South” for its elegance and cultural riches, this city is best-visited with a guide to fully appreciate its intricately decorated monuments.

Day 3: Matera, the Cave City

Perched on the slope of a ravine in the neighboring region of Basilicata, Matera is one of the most significant and famous destinations in southern Italy. This unique city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and European Capital of Culture, has developed above a network of hundreds of ancient caves and grottoes, used as homes and churches over a millennia. Many of the historic cave dwellings, known as sassi, have been renovated into luxury hotels, gourmet restaurants, and trendy art galleries. Spend your last day on a guided day trip to take a deep dive into the history and evolution of this singular hill town, and visit its historic caves, baroque churches, and narrow lanes joined by steep staircases.

With three days in Lecce, you’ll be able to savor this baroque jewel at leisure, delve into the highlights of the surrounding Salento Peninsula, and strike out as far as the port city of Bari or the Sassi di Matera UNESCO World Heritage Site in neighboring Basilicata. Here are your best options for three days in and around Puglia.

Day 1: Sumptuous Lecce

Delve into the ornate Barocco Leccese —Lecce’s unique style of baroque architecture marked by facades intricately carved with flora and fauna—on a guided walking, bike, or rickshaw tour through the historic center. Admire blockbusters such as the cathedral, Church of Santa Chiara, and Basilica of Santa Croce, as well as the Roman amphitheater in Piazza Sant'Oronzo. Afterwards, visit the historic workshops where local artisans have been hand-crafting papier-mâché and limestone sculptures for centuries; perhaps join a hands-on handicrafts workshop yourself. Finally, sample traditional cuisine with a food-and-wine tour through the city center or a cooking class with a local chef.

Day 2: Hilltop and Coastal Villages

Leave the city behind and head to the UNESCO-listed round stone trulli cottages in Alberobello—as well as Polignano a Mare and Cisternino—for a day of village hopping. A popular option for wine aficionados is a wine-and-food tour in the Salento countryside surrounding Lecce. Enjoy tastings of Negroamaro and Primitivo in a few of the area’s small wineries; generally wine tours include a stop for lunch featuring local specialties. Alternatively, set your sights on the coast with a day trip to the charming fishing village of Otranto to visit its cathedral, Church of San Pietro, and Aragonese Castle before spending a few hours on the beach.

Day 3: Bari or Matera

On your final day, strike out even farther afield to the bustling port city of Bari, the largest metropolis in Puglia and home to a charming historic center known as Bari Vecchia. Take a walking tour through its narrow lanes lined with churches and pretty squares, and stroll its seaside promenade. Alternatively, visit one of the most striking destinations in southern Italy, the Sassi of Matera. Located on a cliffside in the neighboring region of Basilicata, this rupestrian city is built above a network of ancient caves and grottoes, used as dwellings and churches for centuries. Today Matera’s historic caves house trendy hotels, restaurants, and art galleries; join a guided tour to learn about the city’s history and visit the caves and churches along its steep lanes.

Not only are Alberobello and Locorotondo two of the most beautiful villages in Puglia’s Itria Valley, they are also two of the most conveniently located. Set at the top of the Salento Peninsula, the towns are a practical base for exploring to the north and south. Here are a few ways to see the valley and peninsula in two days.

Day 1: The Itria Valley

Morning: Avoid the crowds that will clog the narrow lanes at midday by beginning your morning with a walking tour of Alberobello’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit some of the more than 1,000 historic trulli, the valley’s traditional, small, round cottages topped with conical roofs, as well as the trullo-style Sant’Antonio Church and unique 2-story Trullo Sovrano.

Afternoon: Sleepy Locorotondo has an understated charm and relaxed pace that is a welcome respite from the streets of Alberobello, often packed with tourists. This afternoon, take a tour on foot through Locorotondo’s historic center, or join a bike or Vespa tour that includes a stop in town as well as a turn through the pretty surrounding countryside.

Night: Set out just past the confines of the Itria Valley to tour the Castel del Monte fortress or the Gnatia archaeological ruins. Gourmands can opt instead for an olive oil tour or a stop in Martina Franca to learn about capocollo salami production. Alternatively, end the day with an excursion to the scenic village of Polignano a Mare or inland Conversano.

Day 2: North or South

Morning: Architecture enthusiasts can head south into the Salento Peninsula to tour the sumptuous town of Lecce, known as the “Florence of the South” for the ornate baroque architecture of its churches and palaces. Learn about the history of this elegant small city, and visit its historic artisan workshops during a walking tour of the center.

Afternoon: Alternatively, set your sights north to the bustling port of Bari, the most important city in Puglia. Take a walking tour through its historic heart, Bari Vecchia, to visit its soaring churches, vibrant squares, and quiet backstreets, where local women hand-roll pasta on tables set up outside.

Night: Whether you’ve struck out to the north or south, the only way to end the day in Puglia is on the beach. Stop in one of the many coastal villages for a waterfront dinner of fresh fish or seafood, or relax on a deck chair at the water’s edge as the sun goes down.

One of Puglia’s most unique towns, Alberobello is a clutch of over 1,000 hilltop trulli, fairy-tale-like round cottages topped with conical roofs. Pair a visit to this UNESCO World Heritage Site with a stop in the whitewashed center of Locorotondo to explore two of the loveliest destinations in the Itria Valley. Here are your options for a combined day trip.

Morning: Alberobello’s Trulli

Feel like you’re in a gnome village with a visit to the Rione Monti on the western hill of Alberobello, covered with an estimated 1,000 trulli. Join a guided walking tour through the pedestrianized old town in the morning, before the crowds arrive. You’ll explore the winding narrow lanes lined with the area’s traditional whitewashed stone dwellings, many of which have been joined together from the inside over the centuries to form larger homes, shops, and restaurants. Most walking tours also take in the trullo-style Sant’Antonio Church and the Trullo Sovrano, the quarter’s only trullo structure built on two stories, which now houses the local museum.

Afternoon: Locorotondo

Alberobello’s trulli are one of the most popular attractions in Puglia, and by the time midday rolls around, its narrow lanes can be clogged with tourists. Escape the crowds and head to the historic center of Locorotondo, a sleepy cluster of whitewashed palazzi and churches overlooking the Itria Valley. Learn about the history and architecture of this delightful hill town with a walking tour that takes in the neighborhoods and Madre San Giorgio and San Nicola churches. Locorotondo sits over the Murgia Plateau, known for its wine and olive oil production, and foodies can opt for a driving or bike tour that combines a visit to the town with a winery or olive oil farm visit and tasting.

Night: Beyond the Itria Valley

There are a number of interesting sights just outside the Itria Valley that make for an easy jaunt to end the day. Take a guided tour of the towering Castel del Monte fortress, so iconic that it is depicted on Italy’s one-cent coin. Excursions to tiny coastal Polignano a Mare or inland Conversano are ideal if you want to poke around more of Puglia’s pretty villages. Archaeology enthusiasts, on the other hand, can choose to tour the ruins of the ancient city at Gnatia, and foodies can head to Martina Franca to see how the area’s excellent capocollo salami is made.

The heel of Italy’s boot, Puglia is an off-the-beaten-path region with a significant coastline, rich history, and charming coastal towns. No trip here is complete without a boat tour or snorkeling adventure, exploring ancient Roman ruins, strolling pretty piazzas, and indulging in ultrafresh seafood. Here are a few ways to enjoy Puglia’s coast.

Highlights

• Cruise through sea caves during a boat tour of Polignano a Mare, a coastal town with dramatic cliffs at the water’s edge.

• Raise a glass at sunset with an aperitivo -themed catamaran trip from Gallipoli, a city with a historic walled old town connected to the mainland by a narrow bridge.

• Explore the city of Lecce with a private walking tour that includes an ancient Roman amphitheater.

• Swim and snorkel in the protected marine area of Porto Cesareo during a boat trip that covers 19 miles (30 kilometers) of coastline to Punta Prosciutto.

• Follow a local private guide to discover an insider’s perspective on the city of Bari, including piazzas, churches, and a castle dating back to the 12th century.

Way down on the southern heel of Italy, the sun-drenched region of Puglia is blanketed with durum wheat fields, olive groves, and vineyards. Whether you’re a wine buff or a food lover, you’ll find plenty to tempt your palate in Puglia. Here are your options for food and wine tours.

Must-Try Dishes & Varietals

A typical rustic Puglian menu relies on an abundance of farm-reared lamb, seafood, extra virgin olive oil, and piquant salami. Puglia’s signature dishes include orecchiette (ear-shaped pasta) with a variety of sauces, maccheroni al forno (oven-baked pasta and meatballs topped with a pie crust), and tiella (a baked rice, potato, and seafood dish), as well as snack foods such as puccia (stuffed pizza dough sandwiches), panzerotti (mozzarella stuffed pastries), and pizzette (miniature pizzas). Other regional delicacies include burrata, cacioricotta, and canestrato cheeses; pasticciotto (a tasty dessert made from custard and black cherry); and plenty of seafood, including sea bass, red mullet, mussels, and anchovies.

Puglia is also one of Italy’s most important wine-growing regions, producing about 230 different types. Puglian red wines are the most renowned, including Primitivo, Salice Salentino, Negroamaro, and Nero di Troia. Rosés and chardonnay-style whites are also becoming increasingly popular.

Must-Do Experiences

• Learn the secrets of Italian food with a traditional pasta-making, mozzarella-making, or Puglian cooking class in Bari, Ostuni, or Lecce.

• Sample Puglian street food specialties such as burrata cheese, focaccia barese, and gelato on a bike, rickshaw, or walking tour of Bari.

• Explore the beautiful vineyards and historic wineries of the Salento wine region on a wine tasting tour from Lecce.

• Discover the cheese-making process and taste a variety of Apulian cheeses in the Itria Valley.

Italy is rich in UNESCO World Heritage Sites and other architectural marvels, and the southern state of Puglia—the heel in Italy’s boot—is no exception. From a distinctive series of castles built by Emperor Frederick II to its conical trulli houses, here are some of Puglia’s must-see architectural attractions.

Trulli of Alberobello

No structures are more symbolic of Puglia than trulli. These humble stone huts, which have been built in the Itria Valley for thousands of years, are notable for their distinct, conical shapes. Venture to Alberobello to see some of the finest specimens—they’ve held UNESCO World Heritage status since 1996.

Otranto Cathedral

From the outside, the Otranto Cathedral—first built by the Normans in the 11th century and featuring Romanesque design elements—might look like any other Italian church. But wander in and you’ll discover an extraordinary medieval mosaic on its floors, depicting the Tree of Life. Adding to the church’s lore is its macabre skull chapel, where the bones of victims of an Ottoman siege can still be viewed.

Castel del Monte

Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II was known as a prominent patron of the arts in medieval Europe, and he also oversaw the construction of numerous castles, forts, and cathedrals across southern Italy. Located near Bari, the UNESCO-listed Castel del Monte is one of the finest, an eight-sided fortress whose design combines numerous architectural traditions.

Basilica di Santa Croce

If the Castel del Monte is all geometric sleekness, Lecce’s Basilica di Santa Croce is its opulent opposite. The façade of this baroque basilica is ornamented with incredibly detailed, even playful, stone carvings that depict everything from vegetables to exotic animals. Its ornate interior is also worth exploring.

Santuario di San Michele

The UNESCO-listed Santuario di San Michele, located in Monte Sant’Angelo, is a likely stop on any architecture walking tour in Puglia. Legend has it that the archangel Michael left an imprint of his foot in the church’s rock-hewn grotto; in the ensuing centuries, pilgrims left behind their own commemorative footprints.

Ostuni Old Town

Beyond any individual structure, Ostuni’s Old Town offers a singular setting all its own. Poised on a hilltop and protected by fortress walls, its brilliant white-washed buildings, all tightly squeezed together, have earned it the nickname of "the White City."