Essential Guide to Puglia, Italy's Stunning "Boot Heel"

Puglia, which occupies the south of Italy, is well known for its beautiful beaches and fine food, particularly for this very beautiful Ostuni White City of Salento. Puglia has a "coastline - which forms the "boot heel" of Italy 940 km long". The place is simply a very nice destination with historical attractions, natural beauty, and gastronomic pleasure filled with beautiful diversities of landscapes. A traditional web of towns and lively local culture expresses beauty in Puglia.

Best Time to Pay a Visit to Puglia

The ideal time for visiting Puglia, however depends on whether you mind high temperatures and large crowds, or not. July and August are the top seasons for tourism in Puglia. The region is almost awake as most of the Italians take their summer holidays. Beaches are also filled with sun-lovers, while temperatures may rise above 40 degrees centigrade. But it is in these months that is particularly alive, especially in terms of its nightlife. The clubs all around Salento keep music going until the early hours, and the music festivals such as Locus and Notte della Taranta, attract performers from around the world. Religious and food festivals called "sagre di paese" mean fun also animates the local town squares.

Also perfect for those who want a place that isn't so crowded; one can choose the shoulder season periods: April to June or September to October. With lovely warm weather reaching 25°C, 77°F, you get to enjoy much quieter beaches and have time to go around some of the most beautiful towns and experience the surrounding countryside without the summer seasonal trippers. This is the perfect time to sample local wines and olive oils, and really enjoy fine food and fine service without the pressure the peak season brings.

From November until March-that is, more or less during a quieter time-Puglia becomes 'off-season. More specifically, in this period, some restaurants and hotels will close until the following summer. Still, it's the perfect time to discover the real way of life of the locals. The cooler weather creates a perfect backgrounds for sipping slowly a coffee in one of the neighborhood cafes, chat with the locals, and find out from them about their favorite eating places and regional delicacies.

Length of stay in Puglia

In case you want to explore Puglia in all its wealth, you should consider spending a minimum of one week inside the region, as it will enable you to visit its four main areas, experience the local cuisine that is truly mouthsavoring, and catch the unique rhythms of that particular region.

If you're here just for a weekend, Bari makes a perfect departure point. The day starts with focaccia barese and cold Peroni at Panificio Fiore. Next up, this stunning Basilica di San Nicola in the historic old city center. From Bari, it's a short drive to Castel del Monte, definitely one of the most photogenic medieval fortresses. Eyerez overnight at a traditional masseria in Valle dItria. Next morning visit the town of Alberobello listed by UNESCO for its trulli houses, and in the afternoon reach one of the nice costal places like Polignano a Mare or Monopoli: if the weather is fine do not miss the sea bath before going back.

For those with a few days more to spare, add a night or two in the Alta Murgia area and end a great day beautifully with a dinner to remember in Minervino Murge. From the pretty Valle d'Itria, head south to Lecce, already familiar to many as the "Florence of the South" due to its stunning baroque beauty and culturalnpm History.

Getting around Puglia

Main airports are those of Bari and Brindisi. Visible these are the most important points of access to the whole region. The Freeways and Highways Connect to the main centers of Italy: Rome, Naples, Milan etc. Even High-speed trains that come from these big cities. Bari and Brindisi are connected via ferry boats with Greece, Croatia, and Albania.

A car hire is the best way to explore Puglia. By having your own car, you could stop off precisely where you wanted to. And the likelihood was that you would because you would stumble upon absolutely beautiful areas which were only accessible by car, and difficult to get to using public transport. The car hire even made sense if you are traveling for a really short weekend - you would use it all the time to get best out of this Variations-rich region.

If you are more adventurous, another very popular option is group cycling tours. This activity is best enjoyed during the cooler spring and autumn months. It is quite common to see groups of cyclists negotiating some of the beautiful roads in Puglia while at the same time taking in some absolutely stunning scenery and beautiful villages en route.

But come see Puglia in this veritable cocktail of history, culture, and natural beauty: from the warm happy summer festivals to the busy beaches and idyllic countryside to welcoming towns-a quiet voyage of unforgettable trips where there really is something for everyone.