La bella Puglia.... In the heel of Italy's boot, this region is dotted with beautiful small towns with unique architecture that can vary considerably: conical trulli in Alberobello to an extravagant baroque in Lecce! And also the beaches!!
My highlights.....
Grotte di Castellana. Discovered in 1938, it is difficult to imagine the immensity of this cave. We walked for 1h30m, exploring each cave until gets in the wonderful Grotta Bianca.
My suggestion: if you have problems to go down or vertigos, don't hesitate and ask to take the elevator!
Definitely , a place to be visited!
www.grottedicastellana.it
Alberobello: the city of 'trulli'.
The trullo is a small dry-stone building with a conical roof, specific to the Itria Valley in the region of Puglia.
Trulli - plural of trullo - were constructed as temporary field shelters and storehouses by small proprietors or agricultural labors. Alberobello is packed with them! A remarkable landscape!
The golden age of trulli architecture was the 19th century, especially its final decades marked by the development of wine growing.
My suggestion: try the ice cream from Gelateria Gentile.
Salento is the area located in the southern end of Puglia, a peninsula that divides the Adriatic Sea from the Ionian Sea. There is the heel of the boot!!
All along the coast, we came across unforgettable visuals. San Cataldo, Gotta della Poesia, Torre Dell'orso and then the sea-fortified gem of Otranto. A breathtaking circuit!
Otranto is a magnified town with a long history of wars and conquests, beginning with the Greeks, the Ottoman invasion and Napoleonic war. The architecture reflected in the cathedral, the castle and the church gives you a picture of the influence of the conquests.
Give your time to visit, walk around and have a fantastic meal in front of the sea.
Our choice: Acmet Pascià. Make reservation in advance, because this is a unique place. Tel. +39 0836 801282
If the program is a beach, don't miss Porto Cesare, Santa Maria de Leuca and Porto Selvaggio!
Next stop: Lecce. The main city of the peninsula of Salento is considered the 'Firenze' of the south and accumulates more than 2000 years of history. With a stunning baroque architecture, Lecce is a treasure of art. To enjoy the rich history, I suggest a walking tour of 2 hours - yes, just that and you will understand this beautiful and magical city!
www.welcomelecce.net
Let's go shopping?
Lecce offers a big range of Italian fashion, food, art, etc...
My flash: the shop of 2 artists - Gianni De Carlo and Pinuccia Petruzzelli that make jewelry using Lecce stones, so beautiful and very original gift. They receive you with kindness and you feel the commitment to their work. Take a look: www.artefare.com
Just a few shops ahead, my eyes have been caught by tissue rainbow and I discovered an Italian brand that manufactures the Armani's Home brand among others. Society is a clean shop with beautiful bed linen, bags and few clothes.
www.societylimonta.com
Time to eat?
As Lecce became a highly demanded place, beware of the tourist trap, go to simple trattorias and book a table before your dinner....
My 'coeur de foudre': Le Zie - Via Archimede Costadura, 19 - tel. + 39 0832 245178
My highlights.....
Grotte di Castellana. Discovered in 1938, it is difficult to imagine the immensity of this cave. We walked for 1h30m, exploring each cave until gets in the wonderful Grotta Bianca.
My suggestion: if you have problems to go down or vertigos, don't hesitate and ask to take the elevator!
Definitely , a place to be visited!
www.grottedicastellana.it
Alberobello: the city of 'trulli'.
The trullo is a small dry-stone building with a conical roof, specific to the Itria Valley in the region of Puglia.
Trulli - plural of trullo - were constructed as temporary field shelters and storehouses by small proprietors or agricultural labors. Alberobello is packed with them! A remarkable landscape!
The golden age of trulli architecture was the 19th century, especially its final decades marked by the development of wine growing.My suggestion: try the ice cream from Gelateria Gentile.
Salento is the area located in the southern end of Puglia, a peninsula that divides the Adriatic Sea from the Ionian Sea. There is the heel of the boot!!
All along the coast, we came across unforgettable visuals. San Cataldo, Gotta della Poesia, Torre Dell'orso and then the sea-fortified gem of Otranto. A breathtaking circuit!
Otranto is a magnified town with a long history of wars and conquests, beginning with the Greeks, the Ottoman invasion and Napoleonic war. The architecture reflected in the cathedral, the castle and the church gives you a picture of the influence of the conquests.
Give your time to visit, walk around and have a fantastic meal in front of the sea.
Our choice: Acmet Pascià. Make reservation in advance, because this is a unique place. Tel. +39 0836 801282
If the program is a beach, don't miss Porto Cesare, Santa Maria de Leuca and Porto Selvaggio!
Next stop: Lecce. The main city of the peninsula of Salento is considered the 'Firenze' of the south and accumulates more than 2000 years of history. With a stunning baroque architecture, Lecce is a treasure of art. To enjoy the rich history, I suggest a walking tour of 2 hours - yes, just that and you will understand this beautiful and magical city!
www.welcomelecce.net
Let's go shopping?
Lecce offers a big range of Italian fashion, food, art, etc...
My flash: the shop of 2 artists - Gianni De Carlo and Pinuccia Petruzzelli that make jewelry using Lecce stones, so beautiful and very original gift. They receive you with kindness and you feel the commitment to their work. Take a look: www.artefare.com
Just a few shops ahead, my eyes have been caught by tissue rainbow and I discovered an Italian brand that manufactures the Armani's Home brand among others. Society is a clean shop with beautiful bed linen, bags and few clothes.
www.societylimonta.com
Time to eat?
As Lecce became a highly demanded place, beware of the tourist trap, go to simple trattorias and book a table before your dinner....
My 'coeur de foudre': Le Zie - Via Archimede Costadura, 19 - tel. + 39 0832 245178
If you are planning a trip around Italy.....include Puglia!!!!
