A warm greeting to all the Mediterranean explorers! My name is Andrijana and I’m a Senior Travel Specialist deeply in love with quaint villages, slow lifestyle, and delicious food & wine of Southern Italy. Today I’d love to share with you more about my favourite region of Italy, bellissima Puglia! Still a well-kept secret of the charming Italian coast, this region offers a perfect blend of gorgeous turquoise beaches, picturesque coastal towns, traditional recipes, culture and fantastic red wines. In the world with information overload, I will be your guide to the unmissable spots of the regions, as well as the authentic flavours & corners one cannot find without local expertise.
Must-Try Foods in Puglia
Puglia’s culinary scene is the opposite of touristy, with family-owned restaurants and authentic recipes. From comforting traditional plates to mouthwatering street food, Puglia promises a feast for your senses.
Orecchiette alle Cime di Rapa
Orecchiette with turnip greens is a great classic of Apulian cuisine, in particular, Bari area, known and appreciated in the entire country. It is a simple and genuine first course, prepared with orecchiette or ‘recchitelle’ in the Apulian dialect, a type of pasta made from durum wheat flour and water, and a dressing of turnip greens, whose slightly bitter taste gets softened by the sautéed garlic, oil, chilli pepper and anchovies.
Riso, Patate e Cozze
This ‘rice, potatoes, and mussels’ dish is a Bari classic. Once a marker of family wealth by the number of mussels used, today it’s a flavourful, must-try Mediterranean meal often enhanced with seasonal ingredients.
Pane di Altamura
Bread lovers will delight in the Pane di Altamura, renowned for its unique shape and rich flavor. This regional specialty is an enduring symbol of Apulian baking excellence.
Panzerotto
This half-moon fried dough filled with tomato and mozzarella is irresistible. Often enjoyed as street food, panzerotto can also be found in restaurants, sometimes filled with gourmet variations like fava bean cream, pecorino, and salami.
Taralli Pugliesi
Delicious local snacks perfect around 6 pm to accompany a glass of regional red in combination with olives! Cooked twice, first boiled and then baked, Apulian taralli are snacks found in many forms depending on the province in which you are located. They require a few ingredients and a lot of manual skills, give them a try, and I’m sure you’ll take a bag home to share with your friends and family!
Rustico Leccese
Another very simple recipe: two lines of puff pastry filled with bechamel, tomato and mozzarella, stringy and soft at the same time! Crumbly, flaky and golden, it is eaten warm to savor all its flavor.
It can be found even in the beach bars along the coast of Salento, it’s a perfect snack to be enjoyed on the beach!
Caffè Leccese
Here’s a tip for coffee lovers that goes along with hot summer temperatures! Must try in the region is caffè leccese – an iced coffee served with almond milk typical for the Salento area.
Unique Experiences in Puglia
Puglia offers more than just incredible food; its experiences are equally enchanting.
Cheese Making & Tasting in Altamura
Perfect for the cheese lovers! It will take you from the pulsating heart of the local dairy farm in Altamura to the heart of Mercadante forest, where you’ll get a chance to taste the region’s best cheeses, carefully paired with suitable wines, as well as to experience cheese production life, in a perfect blend of tradition, culture and culinary delight.
Explore Ostuni, Olive Oil Farms, and Alberobello
A beautiful way to spend your day, exploring charming ‘trulli’ houses of Alberobello, local olive oil farm and Ostuni, also known as ‘white town’, a whitewashed fortified town that dates back to the Middle Ages. You will discover the fascinating architecture, history, and unique beauty of the most amazing hidden gems of Southern Italy.
Hidden Gems of the Salento Coast
From Otranto to Gallipoli, the Salento coast offers scenic beauty and charming towns. Enjoy a picturesque journey from the rocky Adriatic coastline to the sandy Ionian beaches.
Negroamaro & Primitivo Wine Tasting
When you think of Italian wines, the first thing that comes to your mind is probably Tuscany & Chianti wine. Well, Puglia has some of the best Italian reds, Primitivo and Negroamaro that will surely win your hearts! With this Primitivo and Negramaro Tour you’ll have the chance to experience the magical atmosphere of the grape transformation and to understand the wine-making techniques that have characterised these wines over the centuries. During this tour you will visit two renowned wineries, and, with the help of an expert sommelier who will accompany you to discover the flavors and colors of the Salento wines, you will taste the best local wine.
Why Puglia is where you need to go next
Be it the exploration of ancient towns, trying traditional dishes, or simply relaxing on idyllic beaches, Puglia is a part of Italy that is as unique as any other. Rich in culture, with mouth-watering food, this place is a must one would long to get back to.
Ready to explore the wonders of Puglia for yourself? Let us craft a bespoke itinerary tailored to your preferences. Whether it’s savouring the finest local dishes, visiting hidden gems, or enjoying exclusive experiences like wine tastings and olive oil tours, we’ll ensure your trip is unforgettable. Get in touch today to start planning your dream Puglia getaway! Get in touch to start planning your next Puglia vacation!
