Puglia road trip

With its beautiful coastline, olive trees, golden beaches, pretty towns and great food, Puglia is a fantastic road trip. Envy Italy takes to the road with Discovery Puglia

Day 1

Explore Alberobello with its famous trulli, stone conical houses which are part of the UNESCO heritage. In the afternoon enjoy a nice walk in the Baroque town of Martina Franca, a maze of whitewashed alleys and elegant historic buildings. Make sure to visit the Duke Palace and taste some excellent extra virgin olive oil in the oil mill near the city centre. Enjoy a superb dinner and stay at the 5 star Villa San Martino (via Martina Franca).

Day 2

Discover Ostuni, called “White City” for its whitewashed houses on the top of a hill. You can walk through its old town and enjoy views of the valley and the coast from its panoramic terraces.

Stroll on the shoreline of Ostuni Marina and enjoy the fine white sandy dunes of Lido Morelli and the Coastal Dunes Natural Park.

Tonight treat yourself to dinner at the family-run Masseria il Frantoio. You will never forget the food here and you will want to return to Italy just to experience it again.

Day 3

Visit Conversano with its legendary castle, cathedral, San Benedetto Monastery and city walls. Spend the evening in Polignano a Mare, a village built on cliff edges. Have dinner at the legendary Grotta Palazzese and stay at the Masseria Torre Coccaro.

Day 4

Spend the morning relaxing at Masseria Torre Coccaro’s beautiful beach club, followed by a leisurely lunch. In the afternoon visit Castellana Caves, Italy’s

longest natural underground network. All along the route there are columns, stalagmites and stalactites – it’s like a great underground cathedral.

After coming back to sunlight, enjoy a traditional meal in Cisternino, famous for its BBQ butchers, with a second night stay at Masseria Torre Coccaro.

Day 5

Visit Lecce, also known as the Florence of the South. Lecce has ancient origins; historical artistic evidence dates from the Roman Empire to the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque eras. Lecce is decorated in its own Baroque-influenced style called “Barocco Leccese” (Lecce’s Baroque). Visit one of the many papier-mâché workshops in the town and discover more about this ancient art of making toys and dolls out of paper and glue.

Dinner and overnight at the Histò San Pietro Sul Mar Piccolo. Book a massage in its spa and enjoy some relaxing time.

Day 6

Discover the Apulian capital city, Bari – St Nicholas Basilica, the castle, cathedral, main squares, theatres and seafront. If you visit during April you may be lucky enough to hear the choir and full orchestra practising for the feast of St Nicholas (8 May).

Don’t miss one of Bari’s most memorable sights: the “little ear” ladies hand-rolling fresh pasta in the streets. They make “orecchiette”, or “little ears” outside their homes, and they sell this fresh pasta to local restaurants.

Road itinerary thanks to Discovery Puglia Tour Company