Discovering the Beauty of Puglia: From Beaches to Baroque

I have never been further South than Naples, so this trip to Monopoli and the Puglia region felt like a big adventure. I was also wary about the weather and the heatwave in the South of Europe as I travelled with my mother, who is 78. She usually copes very well with heat, and we had already spent some time in Italy during the previous year under a scorching 32c. The weather reports of 40c+ from the South of Europe made me feel worried. Luckily, it was no different from last year’s stay in Liguria; my mum handled the heat pretty well. I sometimes had to remember that she was 18 years older than me and slow my pace down!

Monopoli

We chose Monopoli as our base and travelled by bus and train to visit our surroundings. There’s a little story about how we ended up in Monopoli. Last December, I went to watch a movie with my mum that I highly recommend. It’s called The Braid. It’s a gorgeous story linking the stories of three women from India, Canada, and Monopoli. Monopoli on the screen felt very photogenic, and I fell in love with the place. I thought this was where we were going on holiday for the summer of 2024.

From the Airbnb ad, there was a huge terrace. Looking through the windows, I only saw a narrow street—no terrace. In fact, we had to climb another flight of stairs to the terrace. The view was astounding—all over the old town, with the church bells standing proud in the distance.

That evening, we decided to dine out; the crowd in the old town was pushing us left to right. We had to fight to find a way through the narrow streets boarded by restaurant tables. We tried a few fully booked restaurants before we found a table inside a courtyard over the street. The atmosphere was cosy and laid back. The service was very friendly, and while most waiters spoke English, the waitress made a real effort to speak French. We had a wonderful evening watching the crowd of passersby on the summer night.

White washed stone walls, narrow streets nonnas hiding behind the curtains  Icecream at Gasperini and trip to a secluded beach Porta Rosso. 

The next day, we went to explore the beaches. The beaches in Monopoli are small bays and coves between rocky landscapes. If you want a sandy beach, you will have to travel on a bus for 10km. I walked along the beach as far as I could, and all I saw were coves. The landscape is quite beautiful, watching from the top the colourful umbrellas pointing to the sky.

Lecce : The Florence of the South

Lecce will leave you stunned. There’s a reason why it is called the Florence of the South. If you love Baroque architecture, then Lecce is your place. We travelled by train from Monopoli and walked into town from the station. Lecce is a city where history oozes from every corner. Walking through the town feels like stepping back into a Baroque masterpiece, with the buildings with intricate carvings made from the famous “Lecce stone,” a soft limestone that glows in the sun.

Piazza del Duomo was our first stop, one of the most beautiful squares in Italy. The Lecce Cathedral, with its magnificent bell tower, dominates the square, and at night, the whole place is bathed in a soft light. Don’t miss the Basilica di Santa Croce, a real jewel of Baroque architecture with its stunning façade and detailed sculptures.

Lecce has a lot going for it. It has beautiful architecture on every corner, and there is a constant flow of people walking through the old city, entering and exiting the churches on a quest for baroque style.

Lecce : The Florence of the South

Lecce will leave you stunned. There’s a reason why it is called the Florence of the South. If you love Baroque architecture, then Lecce is your place. We travelled by train from Monopoli and walked into town from the station. Lecce is a city where history oozes from every corner. Walking through the town feels like stepping back into a Baroque masterpiece, with the buildings with intricate carvings made from the famous “Lecce stone,” a soft limestone that glows in the sun.

Piazza del Duomo was our first stop, one of the most beautiful squares in Italy. The Lecce Cathedral, with its magnificent bell tower, dominates the square, and at night, the whole place is bathed in a soft light. Don’t miss the Basilica di Santa Croce, a real jewel of Baroque architecture with its stunning façade and detailed sculptures.

Lecce has a lot going for it. It has beautiful architecture on every corner, and there is a constant flow of people walking through the old city, entering and exiting the churches on a quest for baroque style.

Ostuni: The White City

After soaking up the history and art of Lecce, we headed to Ostuni, the “White City” that rises from the olive groves and stands proud on the top of the hills. Ostuni’s whitewashed buildings and alleyways make it a photographer’s dream. Walking through the town, we felt like lost in a labyrinth.

Wandering through Ostuni’s narrow streets was a joy in itself. The brilliant white buildings, colourful doorways, and blossoming flowers spilling from balconies created an idyllic scene around every corner. We ended our visit by having to take shelter from the thunderstorm and the rain flushing down the narrow streets.

Alberobello: The Trulli Capital

No visit to Puglia would be complete without stopping in Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its unique trulli—round, whitewashed houses with conical roofs. These peculiar structures make Alberobello one of the most surreal towns in Italy.

We started our exploration in the Rione Monti district, where hundreds of trulli line the hilly streets. Many of these trulli have been converted into shops, restaurants, and even homes, but the overall atmosphere remains quaint and enchanting. Climbing up, we were treated to a spectacular panoramic view of the trulli roofs stretching into the distance—a sight unlike any other.

Alberobello was very crowded with tourists, August wasn’t the best time for a visit, it’s might be possible to find quieter time after the summer season to enjoy this very special place.

Polignano a Mare: The Jewel on the Adriatic

I instantly fell in love with Polignano a Mare, a cliffside town that took our breath away with its dramatic views over the Adriatic Sea. The town itself is a maze of narrow streets, whitewashed buildings, and lively piazzas, but it’s the stunning cliffside location that really makes Polignano special.

The iconic Lama Monachile beach, nestled between cliffs, is the town’s most famous postcard view. From above, the contrast between the white cliffs and the blue waters is mesmerising. I wanted to be down there in these waters but taking my mum to this rocky beach was not wise. I took a lot of photos instead.

For those seeking more adventure, the cliffs around Polignano are popular for diving, and we saw several daring locals leap into the sea from incredible heights.

Polignano is also famous for the cliffside, I’m sure you have seen this famous restaurant on Instagram as I did, but didn’t have a clue it was in Polignano.

A Day at the beach

On our last day we decided to hop on a bus and linger towards one of the private sandy beach. I had to fork out a wooping €70 euros for one umbrellas and 2 sun beds for the day. It was lovely to lie under the umbrella and do nothing. I still managed to get sunburned. I would have loved to spend more days at the beach but with so much to see the choice was easy.

I would have loved to visit more places like Matera and Martina Franca but with public transports the option are pretty limited, but I will be back. Puglia is very special indeed.

Final Thoughts

Puglia offers a travel experience like no other. From the Baroque elegance of Lecce to the whitewashed charm of Ostuni, the fairytale trulli of Alberobello, and the cliffside drama of Polignano a Mare, each stop on this journey left a lasting impression. Whether you’re seeking history, culture, or natural beauty, Puglia has it all.

If you’re planning a trip to southern Italy, make sure to carve out time for these stunning destinations. You won’t be disappointed!