Luxury Villas in Puglia
Puglia has some of the most incredible landscapes in Italy. This coastal region situated in the heel of Italy is packed full of whitewashed towns and has a really authentic feel to it. With a wonderful climate all year round, Puglia is the perfect destination in Italy for sun worshippers and beach lovers. It’s also the perfect place for foodies and for those who are looking to explore a more undiscovered part of Italy. Our villas in Puglia range from the traditional trulli made most famous by the town of Alberobello, to classic masserie. Not to forget, of course, modern Puglia villas and apartments – we have plenty of those to offer too!
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About Puglia
Puglia (or Apulia in Italian) is located in the heel of Italy’s boot in the very south of the country. It is a stunning region of Italy, famous for its hobbit-like trulli, incredible coastline and turquoise seas, delicious food and beautiful rural landscapes. It’s also famous for its olive oil production and it’s home to over 66 million olive trees. The capital of Puglia is Bari. Bari is a vibrant port with a historic centre that has a maze of narrow streets and alleyways to discover. Keep your eyes peeled for the famous Bari Pasta Grannies, women making pasta outside their homes on the Strada delle Orecchiette.
Cities, towns and villages of Puglia
Bari isn’t the only city in Puglia worth visiting during your stay in one of our villas in Puglia. Far from it. Ostuni is affectionately known as ‘The White City’ and it’s easy to see why. Its hilltop whitewashed buildings are easily visible from quite a distance away. The city is a labyrinth of narrow paths, alleyways and staircases – just enjoy getting lost in them! Further south in Puglia is the Baroque city of Lecce, often referred to as the ‘Florence of the south’.
Lecce is probably most well known for its Baroque architecture but the city’s history stretches much further back to Roman times and nowhere is this more evident than in the Anfiteatro Romano di Lecce. Excavated in 1938, the amphitheatre was originally five stories high, seating 25,000 spectators. Nowadays, it can’t host such grand audiences but it does still put on a series of concerts and plays in the Summer months. Seating isn’t covered so make sure to put on plenty of sunscreen!
The region is filled with a number of smaller towns and villages to explore during your stay in one of our villas in Puglia. Arguably the most famous of these is Alberobello. A UNESCO world heritage site since 1966, it is home to 1400 trulli. This is a style of building unique to Puglia, which have distinctive cone-shaped roofs. The town is split into two parts – the Rione Aia Piccola and the Rione Monti – and it’s the latter where the majority of the trulli are found. Also worth a visit during your stay in one of our Puglia villas for rent is Polignano a Mare. The beach here is instantly recognisable, flanked as it is on both sides by steep cliffs. Other seaside towns in Puglia include Otranto, Brindisi, Vieste, Gallipoli and Monopoli. And other smaller villages not to missed include Locorotondo, Cisternino, Martina Franca and Carovigno.
Find out more about the towns and villages of Puglia in our A to Z guide to Puglia.
What to see and do in Puglia
Top of the list of things to do in Puglia is definitely to spend time on the numerous beaches, assuming you are visiting in the warmer months of the year of course. Bookings For You have plenty of villas in Puglia with a private pool but nothing beats a day on the beach! Puglia boasts over 500 miles of beautiful coastline. This is the longest stretch of coastline of any of the regions of Italy. Down in the very south in the Salento region, there is even a stretch of beach that is affectionately referred to as the ‘Maldives of Italy’ because of its wide stretches of pure white sand.
The region also has some beautiful countryside to discover during your stay in one of our luxury villas Puglia. This varies quite dramatically from north to south. In the North is the Gargano National Park. This includes the dramatic limestone cliffs of the Tremiti Islands archipelago as well as the dense forests and lush meadows of the Umbra Forest. Also in the north of the region is the Alta Murgia National Park where hikers will discover an abundance of wildlife as well as architectural buildings called poste revealing the history of the area.
In the centre of Puglia, there is the landscape of the Valle d’Itria. Here the landscape is a combination of rolling hills and fertile valleys, dotted with olive groves, vineyards and picturesque villages, often perched on hilltops.
And then, in the south of Puglia at Margherita di Savoia, you will also find more evidence of the nature that Puglia is home to. Here flocks of flamingos and other bird species can be found in the salt basins. And the diverse landscape continues underground too. The Grotte di Castellana are a network of underground caves which visitors can explore.
Like all regions of Italy, Puglia is a region that is extremely proud of its cuisine. And no holiday in one of our luxury villas in Puglia would be complete without sampling some. Definitely make sure you try the orecchiette pasta and the delicious burrata cheese. And then why not wash it down with a glass of Puglia’s famous red – the Primitivo di Manduria.
Looking for further inspiration about what else to see and do during your stay in one of our villas in Puglia with private pool? Then head to our guide to the top 60 things to do in Puglia.
When to visit Puglia
We think the best time to enjoy a holiday in one of our Puglia holiday rentals is in the Spring, early Summer, late Summer and Autumn. This is when temperatures tend to be warm but aren’t too hot so that you can easily enjoy all the activities that Puglia offers, whether that is exploring the towns and villages, spending time at the beach or making the most of the idyllic countryside. That said, we appreciate that not everyone is able to holiday outside school holiday dates. Temperatures in July and August can get pretty stifling. So, if you are restricted to holidaying then, spend the daylight hours at the beach or at your villa in Puglia with private pool. And then, when evening temperatures are pleasant, take the opportunity to explore the towns and villages of Puglia.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to visit Puglia?
Puglia is a great area of Italy to visit all year round, enjoying an average of over 300 sunny days each year. July and August are the hottest months to enjoy a stay in one of our villas in Puglia. This is when temperatures often exceed 30 degrees centigrade. At this time of year, some of the main towns and cities can be almost stiflingly hot. If so, head to the coast where temperatures tend to stay cooler. Or book one of our villas in Puglia with private pool so that you can always cool off with a mid afternoon swim!
If you’re not someone who enjoys the heat, book your Puglia holiday rental for May, June or September. Temperatures in these months are perfect for sightseeing as well as sunbathing!
Spring and Autumn can also be a lovely time to visit. Spring arrives early in Puglia and is generally warm and sunny, with temperatures already in the low twenties by the end of April. Likewise, temperatures often stay up well into the Autumn. It’s not unknown for temperatures to stay in the low twenties until December and it’s usually possible to swim in the sea quite comfortably as late as October.
Winter is also a great time to enjoy time in one of our Puglia villas for rent. November and December are the months that see most amount of rain but daytime temperatures typically remain quite mild. This is also when you can explore Puglia without the crowds.
How do I get to Puglia from Rome or Naples?
There are direct trains from Rome to several towns and cities in Puglia including Bari, Brindisi, Foggia and Lecce. There is also a sleeper train option nicknamed the Espresso Salento which will take you on an overnight adventure between Rome and Lecce. Alternatively, there are also domestic flights between Rome and both Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport (BRI) and Brindisi Salento Airport (BDS). If hiring a car, the drive from Rome to Puglia will take around 4 hours.
If coming from Naples, Flixbus has a service which will take you from Naples to Bari in under 3 hours. Or you can opt to go by rail however, you will need to change trains en route. Take the train from Naples to Caserta and change here to a fast train to your Puglia destination. Alternatively, hire a car and drive make your own way to our villas in Puglia – you can reach Puglia in less than 2 hours by car from Naples. Plan all your travel arrangements at Omio.
Do I need a car to explore Puglia?
We do recommend hiring a car to properly explore Puglia. Much of this area (and many of the Puglia villas for rent) are rural and having your own transport will give you much greater flexibility. It will also allow you to visit smaller towns and villages not easily accessible using public transport.
What are the must-see towns and villages in Puglia?
If you’re staying in one of our luxury villas in Puglia and discovering the region for the first time, then we often suggest you choose the Valle d’Itria for your base. This is because it’s home to a number of our must-see towns and villages in Puglia. These include the white-washed city of Ostuni, the trulli-filled town of Alberobello as well as the picturesque towns of Locorotondo, Martina Franca, Cisternino and Carovigno. We also recommend you spend time in beautiful Bari, Otranto and Lecce. Lecce is Puglia’s Baroque jewel and has a very different look and feel to a number of the region’s other cities. And further north in Puglia is the beautiful coastal town of Polignano a Mare which also mustn’t be missed.
What are the best beaches in Puglia?
At around 800 km, Puglia can boast the longest coastline of any region in Italy. It won’t be a surprise then that the region boasts a number of stunning beaches for you to visit when holidaying in one of our luxury villas Puglia. These beaches can vary a lot – Puglia has charming hidden coves as well as long stretches of sandy shores to discover. Perhaps the most photographed beach in Puglia is the tiny, but extremely picturesque Cala Porto in Polignano a Mare. However, no guide to Puglia’s best beaches would be complete without mention of the Marina di Pescoluse in the south of the region. Stretching for miles, it is affectionately referred to as the Maldives of Italy. Long sandy beaches can also be found south of Monopoli in Capitolo. However, we particularly love the wilder charm of the protected nature reserve and beaches at Torre Guaceto, or the hard to reach Baia delle Zagare in Gargano.
What traditional foods should I try in Puglia?
Puglia is renowned for its food even among Italians, perhaps not surprisingly considering how rural the land is. For perspective, the region’s 66 million olive trees produce 40% of Italy’s olive oil and there is an abundance of other local produce. This includes durum wheat which is used to make orecchiette, small ear-shaped pasta shells, often served with a type of broccoli. For a snack, try the taralli, ring shaped pieces of dried bread, similar in taste to a breadstick. Puglia is also famous for its delicious burrata cheese, its incredible focaccia and the tasty bread from Altamura. Our favourite savoury snack is panzerotti whilst our favourite sweet treat is the pasticciotto. Visit the local market to whip up a feast to enjoy back at your chosen Puglia holiday rental, or try these delicacies in one of the many restaurants in Puglia.
How many days should I spend in Puglia?
You could easily find enough to do to fill two or three weeks at one of our luxury villas Puglia. However, if you only have 3 days in your Puglia villa, then you could opt to just visit a small portion of the region. In the Valle d’Itria for example, a number of towns and villages are close together. To drive from Alberobello down to Carovigno via Locorotondo, Martina Franca, Ostuni and Cisternino would only take around an hour. Or you could instead opt to visit the coastal towns working your way down from Bari in the north to Otranto in the south, stopping at towns such as Polignano a Mare en route. However, if you can spare the time, we recommend you spend a minimum of a week in Puglia to do it justice. And if you can extend your stay in your Puglia holiday rental beyond this, we guarantee you won’t regret it!
What are the top things to do in Puglia?
Puglia is a beautiful region of Italy. Spend time in nature – either at one of the many beaches, in the scenic countryside or in one of Puglia’s national parks. There is much to see underground in Puglia too in the Grotte di Castellana. Or simply enjoy touring around exploring the many beautiful villages, towns and cities that the region boasts, whilst, of course, sampling some of Italy’s best food en route!
