Italy is an amazing travel destination, and it's even more perfect for summer. Even though the majority of people visit Italy for classics, like Rome, Venice or Florence; I believe that visiting those cities is a bad idea because of extreme crowds and extreme humidity. Probably this is why every year, I encounter more and more people changing their routes to visit Puglia instead. Being married to one from Puglia made me visit the region for many times - in winter and in summer. Here, I will mention little towns besides big centers like Bari or Lecce.
1. Monopoli: This is our base for our every trip and it's magical! It's a little white town with narrow streets right next to the sea. During summer, it's perfect to enjoy the beach and the crystal clear waters.
Puglia is best visited during Summer, with the beaches and the sun. This is when the places and locals get all lively and crowded. Every year, more and more places open around the city, and going out becomes more and more fun!
Still, visiting Monopoli in summer has a downside: the extreme crowd. The old part of the city is magnificent to walk around, but in Summer it doesn't give the same feeling because of heat and the crowds.
This is why you might consider a second trip to Puglia out of season! If you get lucky and catch some sun, you can fall in love with this amazing town in a second.
2. Alberobello: This is a cute and extremely small town, who is best known with their special white houses called trulli. Since 1996, it's a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Alberobello is not on the sea side, and this is why during Summer, it gets extremely hot and humid, so don't plan to spend hours and hours here.
During the Christmas time, the whole city is enlighten by spot lights with Christmas decorations and there is almost no one around. Everything about it smells magic!
3. Polignano a Mare: This is yet another amazing little town by the sea. The town is built on cliffs and the old town has the cutest narrow streets painted in white. Perfect place to watch the sunset!
I am pretty sure there are hundreds of amazing places here, but we keep visiting the same restaurant every time we come here: Pescaria! They have THE BEST seafood sandwiches!
4. Punta Prosciutto: Even though Puglia is amazing regardless the weather, most of you will probably go there during Summer because of its beaches. So, it's a bit out of range, but visiting the other side of of Puglia is definitely worth the trouble!
Unlike other places around, Punta Prosciutto has wide sand beaches that continue for meters and crystal clear water with the most amazing blue color.
5. Tremiti: The only down part about enjoying the beaches in Puglia is the crowd. Locals and tourists start invading the sand in June until September, and especially in August, it becomes almost too painful to find a spot to chill out. For that, I suggest Tremiti island! You can find daily tours with a boat all day either private to your group, or with other people to skip the crowds and have an amazing day.
Yet, at this point I should warn about how Italian service system sucks and how the people who are in charge with organizing these trips might suck. They are mostly over-friendly up to the point that you might have to wait for the captain to stop swimming before hitting another bay! Yet, being that over-friendly mostly pay off when they offer you free beer or prosecco, so you be the judge.
BONUS. Ostuni: It's been years that every time we visit Monopoli, we keep planning to go to Ostuni, but we always kept having obstacles, sickness, other stuff to do or friends to meet. One day, we'll go- but if you go before me, write me the suggestions!
Labels: Highlights, Italy, Local Tips, Puglia
