Shopping in Puglia

Shopping in Puglia is defined by authentic local products. And while most visitors come to Puglia for its stunning coastline and ancient whitewashed towns and villages, shopping in Puglia is a real pleasure too. The region really does have a bit of everything, for every kind of shopper. All of the towns host weekly markets and have bustling streets and alleys packed with colourful shops to browse. There is also a large outlet shopping village for those who enjoy finding a bargain.

However, the highlight for us when shopping in Puglia, are the open workshops and studios. As has become tradition, local craftsmen and women open their doors for visitors to watch them at work. Very often these are carpenters working with the local olive wood. There are also many artists and potters who offer a fascinating show of skill and talent in creating bespoke hand-crafted pieces. And of course, there are always a good selection of their creations on offer to buy.

Each town has its own particular souvenirs worth taking home. As an example, Lecce has a rich tradition of papier-mache and the town is full of tiny workshops where you can purchase a hand-crafted souvenir to take home. And, if you fancy a break form the shopping you can even learn how to make papier-mache pieces yourself.

Markets in Puglia

There are weekly markets all over Puglia which we can highly recommend. Try your hand at haggling in Italian, or if that fails in English. Or, as a final straw, use sign language to snap up that bargain!! For those staying in a villa or apartment, looking to dine in, the markets are certainly a great place to pick up some delicious local treats. One of our absolute favourites is the market in Ostuni which is held every Saturday.

If you are a fan of antiques, try out the antique market in Gallipoli on the first Sunday of every month. You’ll uncover all sorts of hidden gems here and it’s great to spend a couple of hours browsing the stalls.

Shopping in Puglia: Fashion

However, if fashion is more your thing than antiques, then you need to head to the larger towns and cities. Bari is Puglia’s third largest city and offers a lot in terms of shopping. The newer part of Bari’s town centre should certainly satisfy any craving for a bit of retail therapy. Via Sparano is a kilometre long pedestrianized shopping street and is home to many designer stores such as Furla and D&G as well as many well known retail chains such as Zara and Sisley.

Other fashion stores, with cheaper brands, can be found in both Corso Cavour and Via Manzoni, whilst there is also a market every Monday morning at Via Tommaso Fiore – a great place to pick up bargain clothing, shoes, textiles and crafts. Bari also hosts markets at Mercato Coperto Santa Scolastica and Mercato San Nicola which are open daily and are the perfect place to buy fresh food and local delicacies.

Outlet & City Moda shopping in Puglia

Let’s not forget about the opportunity to enjoy some outlet shopping in Puglia though. The Outlet Village Molfetta is located about 30 minutes from Bari and is home to more than 140 shops and boutiques.

Another popular concept in Puglia is City Moda of which there are three in total: one in Bari itself, another just outside Bari and a third in Lecce. The concept is the creation of many small shops within one large store and they are host to an array of major brands. And, they frequently host fashion events along with regularly offering significant promotional events to tempt in shoppers.

Where to stay in Puglia

Here at Bookings For You, we have decades of experience in planning holidays to Puglia. We love everything about this stunning  region in Italy. To discover our full collection of villas and apartments in Puglia visit www.bookingsforyou.com or contact us to help you find your perfect place in Puglia.