Italy
GREAT ROUND TRIP IN PUGLIA
- 7 days
- couples
- spring, summer, fall
Puglia is a beautiful part of Italy. In these seven days, you will drive through quite a large part of this region. You'll visit historic sites, picturesque towns and villages, take in the local countryside and sample plenty of local specialities. You will get to know a bit of the Ionian and Adriatic coast. Especially in spring and autumn, you will find peace and quiet here and you won't meet crowds of other tourists. In summer, it can get a little busier, but even so, Puglia is not one of the most popular places among tourists. Unjustifiably so, because it really is a great place for an explorative, active holiday!
Stops at and tours of Locorotondo and Martina Franca. Transfer to Lecce.
In the morning after breakfast, go to Locorotondo (journey from Alberobello takes about 15 minutes) and then to Martina Franca (route from Locorotondo is about 10 minutes). Both are beautiful towns with white buildings and a lovely Italian charm.
Locorotondo is a small town where there will not be as many tourists as in Alberobello. The historic centre looks like time has stopped here. The oldest church in town is the Chiesa della Madonna della Greca, however, the main landmark is the Chiesa Madre San Giorgio. The whole city centre is a pedestrian zone. Martina Franca is the highest located town (431 metres above sea level) in the southern part of the Murge Mountains. Here you will find many churches and palaces. For example, Basilica di San Martino was built in Martina Franca between 1747 and 1775. It is an example of the Baroque style, and it stands on the remains of a previous building from the 15th century, of which the bell tower has been preserved. Piazza Maria Immacolata / Arcades is a beautiful little square you should go see. Palazzo Ducale is a Baroque palace of the duke of Caracciola and it serves as the town hall. Parking is a bit of a problem, but you might be able to manage here. For lunch, head to the Gaonas Officine del Gusto restaurant right in Martina Franca. The food is excellent!
Afterwards, continue on to Lecce (route). It's about 1.5 hours away.
There is a wide range of accommodation options in Lecce, but be sure to look for a hotel with parking available. We opted for accommodation at Nidi di Feo, which was a great choice. The only drawback is the distance from the historic centre – about 20 minutes on foot. But the accommodation rents bikes for free! Parking is free right on the street in front of the hotel, and there was always a free spot. The rooms are comfortably equipped, large and they have Netflix available on the TV. The breakfasts were great. So, if you don't mind a longer distance to downtown, you could give it a try.
In the evening take your first walk around Lecce, walk to Piazza Sant'Oronzo where you will find lots of restaurants. If you're not too hungry and a simple meal is enough, opt for BonaSciana Caffè & Cucina. Directions from your accommodation are here. If you don't feel like walking, take a bike at the accommodation. We tried to take a taxi, but for some reason it didn't work out. If you don't want to walk that far, then choose accommodation in the centre: Signuria Dimora Esclusiva. Contact them in advance and they will be happy to help you sort out parking in a nearby car park.
Alternatives: you can change the route a little and stop by the archaeological park Museo Nazionale "Giuseppe Andreassi" e Parco Archeologico di Egnazia or the Parco Rupestre Lama D'Antico. For a walk or a swim on the beautiful beach, visit the Riserva Naturale Torre Guaceto. You can have a great dinner at the 400 Gradi Lecce restaurant.
A beautiful small town with houses with the characteristic white facades. A quiet atmosphere inviting to simply wander around the centre and sit down for a coffee.
The oldest church in Locorotondo. It was actually built twice, first in the 8th century and then again in the 15th century.
A very nice big church with nice interior decoration. The church is not very old, it was finished in 1825.
Another one of the beautiful Italian towns. It is full of churches and beautiful houses. The historic centre is very nice. There were many Jewish families in Martina Franca before the war – up to a third of the town was Jewish. However, there are not many relics of this period left.
Very good food at a reasonable price. Seating inside and outside. Wide range of wines. Great place for lunch or dinner.
A small square with arcades. The perfect place to sit in a café and just watch the surroundings. The square is small but very nice.
A beautiful, sunlit basilica from 1747. Inside it is not overdecorated and the interior looks very pleasant.
A nice palace building. Inside it is possible to walk through the rooms on the 1st floor. Exhibitions are often held here.
Lecce is a beautiful city on the Salento Peninsula in southern Puglia. The old town is really beautiful and will surprise you at every corner. According to some theories, the city is more than 2,500 years old. Today, there are about 95,000 inhabitants.
Accommodation outside the centre of Lecce. Nice, clean, and large rooms. Great bathroom. Free parking right on the street. Good breakfast. TV even has a Netflix account. Friendly hosts. The only downside is the distance to the historic city centre – a 25-minute walk. But then again, they are happy to lend you bicycles.
Advantage: parking.
Disadvantage: distance to the centre.
A small simple restaurant right on Piazza Sant'Oronzo with a small front garden facing the square. If you want a simple and not too expensive meal, this is the perfect choice.
Niky Malečková
17.07.2024
406
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