5 reasons to visit Apulia
One year in Southern Italy was enough for me to get to know the culture, habits, food and interesting places to put on your wish list. I am talking about the heel of Italy, called Puglia in Italian and Apulia in English.
When you go on holidays to Italy, you definitely would not choose Puglia but maybe places such as Rimini, Sicily, Venice, Rome, Milan or Naples, Pompeii and Capri Island … Depends if it is a beach holiday or a short trip to a city.
I have to admit I would probably be one of those people visiting just those touristy places in Italy I just mentioned above … If I didn’t work in Brindisi February 2010 to March 2011. Being based in Brindisi when working as a cabin crew for a year let me explore the whole area of Apulia and now is your time to visit Apulia. Why?
There’s definitely at least 5 reasons to visit Apulia:
Torre Guaceto close to Brindisi, Italy
1. beaches in Apulia – when I moved to Brindisi, I knew it it a town on the coast but I would never imagine how beautiful the beaches here can be (e.g. Torre Guaceto)! The first time when I visited the beach called Punta Penna Grossa in April 2010, I could not believe my eyes. Who would say there are Caribbean style beaches in Europe??? I was so nicely surprised and I have been to countless numbers of beaches by now. So if I was overwhelmed, you should book a ticket to Puglia just because of the sea shore, if nothing else.
2. food in Apulia – besides very tasty world-known Italian pizza and the best ice cream I have ever tried, there are Apulian traditional meals you will kill for such as orecchiete al forno, rustico, focaccia, calzone, arancini, tarallini among my favorites… Check out the best food in Apulia with photos and some great restaurants here.
forest fruit panna cotta
3. wine and olives/olive oil in Apulia – I was just watching a Turkish TV series and the couple there was planning to spend their honeymoon in the South of Italy to enjoy the great wine coming from the area and spend some time in an olive farm. They were so excited about it. Although I am not a drinker and I do not like wine at all which means I have never tasted Apulian wine personally, my friends have and they can’t get enough it. One reason more to visit Apulia if you are a wine lover.
4. amazing people in Apulia – (I never thought I’d EVER say this) but unless you have to work with the Apulian people (who are just typical Italian – let’s call their behaviour Much ado about nothing), then people from Apulia are really hospitable, smiling a lot and willing to help even if you do not speak Italian and they don’t speak English. There’s always body language and gestures :D
the castle of Otranto
5. villages and towns – those cute little towns no one ever heard of outside Italy … they do exist and are full of history and lovely buildings, cathedrals and small streets, even shops with souvenirs. You should definitely visit trulli of Alberobello, Gallipoli, white town Ostuni, the castle of Otranto, Lecce, the port of Brindisi or when you get enough of history, then go shopping to Bari.
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler via Facebook
| #
I sent you a message ;)
crazy sexy fun traveler
| #
Comment@ fabio:
Great, Fabio, I’m afraid I never heard the traditional Apulian music, maybe that’s why I didn’t include it as the 6th reason :)
fabio
| #
They’re 5 reasons I agree with: beaches, food, wine, olive, people and cities. Ok, I will retweet this post! I would suggest to add another points which is “traditional music” like pizzica and taranta. it’s an important reason ;)
crazy sexy fun traveler
| #
For my biggest surprise, I do miss Italy! I couldn’t wait to leave in March but I do miss some things now!
Abby
| #
MIssing Italy, huh? What a wonderful post!!
crazy sexy fun traveler
| #
I really enjoyed Bologna more times I visited, but unfortunately never been to Pizza Casa. Missing Italian pizza now back home:D
I Hart Travel
| #
I would say that my best and cheapest pizza was in Bologna. I think that Bologna being a university town made it a great budget destination because all the food near the uni was inexpensive and delicious. The place is called Pizza Casa.
crazy sexy fun traveler
| #
I was planning to go to Rimini couple of times but never went in the end. The best and the cheapest pizza I ever tried was in Brindisi… 4 euro for a huge one :)
I Hart Travel
| #
Very nice post and great description of Apulia. I did go to Rimini when I was in Italy and absolutely loved it, especially the day trip I took to San Marino.
What city in Italy would you say has the best pizza?
crazy sexy fun traveler
| #
Oh yeah! You should! The best ice cream was the reason I put on weight while in Italy :D
Scott - Quirky Travel Guy
| #
Cool article… if the ice cream is that good I would definitely visit :)