puglia, italy
White-washed towns among expanses of olive groves
If Puglia were to be told by a single image, it would be for me that of one of its monumental olive trees: living sculptures as old as time slowly grown into contorted shapes and embellished by a cascade of lucent silvery leaves. Then, rapt by the smells of the sun-scorched countryside relieved by the sea breeze, my mind would fly to the white-washed towns that rise among the olive groves. I'd get lost through their narrow alleys indulging in the flavors of this land, until I'd find myself overlooking the Mediterranean, inebriated by the warm colors of dusk.
what to eat
Apulian cuisine is among the most wholesome and genuine of Italy: due to the importance given to raw materials, indeed, food is cooked with simplicity to enhance the flavors of each ingredient. Although there are some common dishes, typical throughout the region, most of the recipes vary from province to province, making it a hard task to list them all. Therefore, here follow those I believe are Puglia's must-eats: ORECCHIETTE, the renowned ear-shaped handmade pasta typically cooked with turnip tops, is probably Puglia's most iconic dish; FRISELLE, a light meal perfect for a day at the beach, consisting of a crisp durum wheat flower disk seasoned with tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil; BURRATA, a mouth-watering softer kind of mozzarella that you will forever dream of; RAW SEAFOOD, a must try at Gallipoli's port where you'll find the freshest mussels, prawns, sea urchins and more; FOCACCIA BARESE with cherry tomatoes and olives; PANZEROTTO, a savory turnover filled with mozzarella and tomato sauce; PASTICCIOTTO LECCESE, a delicious shortcrust pastry filled with warm custard.
what to do
From crystal clear water to historic towns and excellent food, Puglia has so much to offer is no wonder that in summer it draws hordes of holiday-makers. As long as you avoid going in August, though, there will be nothing to prevent you from falling in love with this region. Here are the places that enchanted me the most. OSTUNI: standing on a hill surrounded by olive groves, the "white city" owes its appellation to the whitewashing of the houses used in the past against the spreading of the plague. Its historic center is a mix of simplicity and elegance that won't fail to charm you. ALBEROBELLO: strolling around Alberobello is like being in a fairytale. The peculiar coned buildings that make this town worldwide famous, the Trulli, originated from an edict of 1481 that prohibited the use of mortar, and while most of them have now been adapted to touristic purposes, some are still inhabited. POLIGNANO A MARE: perched on a rocky spur overlooking the sea, this lovely town is full of Arab, Byzantine, Spanish, and Norman traces. And, as if that wasn't enough, Polignano is home to one of the most iconic coves of Italy. LECCE: often labeled as the "queen of Baroque" or the "Florence of the south", Lecce's architecture is so distinctive that it has gained its own moniker. OTRANTO: due to its strategic location, Otranto underwent a series of dominations that inevitably left their marks. A must visit is the Cathedral, with its colossal mosaic floor and the skulls of the 813 martyrs of the city, killed in 1480 by the Turks. GALLIPOLI: despite being a popular destination for its nightlife, Gallipoli managed to preserve its artistic and cultural heritage. You'll surely be fascinated by the maze of alleys dotted with tiny restaurants and shops and by the ancient port, where you'll find stalls preparing the freshest seafood.
Shot on iPhone
If Puglia were to be told by a single image, it would be for me that of one of its monumental olive trees: living sculptures as old as time slowly grown into contorted shapes and embellished by a cascade of lucent silvery leaves. Then, rapt by the smells of the sun-scorched countryside relieved by the sea breeze, my mind would fly to the white-washed towns that rise among the olive groves. I'd get lost through their narrow alleys indulging in the flavors of this land, until I'd find myself overlooking the Mediterranean, inebriated by the warm colors of dusk.
what to do
From crystal clear water to historic towns and excellent food, Puglia has so much to offer is no wonder that in summer it draws hordes of holiday-makers. As long as you avoid going in August, though, there will be nothing to prevent you from falling in love with this region. Here are the places that enchanted me the most. OSTUNI: standing on a hill surrounded by olive groves, the "white city" owes its appellation to the whitewashing of the houses used in the past against the spreading of the plague. Its historic center is a mix of simplicity and elegance that won't fail to charm you. ALBEROBELLO: strolling around Alberobello is like being in a fairytale. The peculiar coned buildings that make this town worldwide famous, the Trulli, originated from an edict of 1481 that prohibited the use of mortar, and while most of them have now been adapted to touristic purposes, some are still inhabited. POLIGNANO A MARE: perched on a rocky spur overlooking the sea, this lovely town is full of Arab, Byzantine, Spanish, and Norman traces. And, as if that wasn't enough, Polignano is home to one of the most iconic coves of Italy. LECCE: often labeled as the "queen of Baroque" or the "Florence of the south", Lecce's architecture is so distinctive that it has gained its own moniker. OTRANTO: due to its strategic location, Otranto underwent a series of dominations that inevitably left their marks. A must visit is the Cathedral, with its colossal mosaic floor and the skulls of the 813 martyrs of the city, killed in 1480 by the Turks. GALLIPOLI: despite being a popular destination for its nightlife, Gallipoli managed to preserve its artistic and cultural heritage. You'll surely be fascinated by the maze of alleys dotted with tiny restaurants and shops and by the ancient port, where you'll find stalls preparing the freshest seafood.
what to eat
Apulian cuisine is among the most wholesome and genuine of Italy: due to the importance given to raw materials, indeed, food is cooked with simplicity to enhance the flavors of each ingredient. Although there are some common dishes, typical throughout the region, most of the recipes vary from province to province, making it a hard task to list them all. Therefore, here follow those I believe are Puglia's must-eats: ORECCHIETTE, the renowned ear-shaped handmade pasta typically cooked with turnip tops, is probably Puglia's most iconic dish; FRISELLE, a light meal perfect for a day at the beach, consisting of a crisp durum wheat flower disk seasoned with tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil; BURRATA, a mouth-watering softer kind of mozzarella that you will forever dream of; RAW SEAFOOD, a must try at Gallipoli's port where you'll find the freshest mussels, prawns, sea urchins and more; FOCACCIA BARESE with cherry tomatoes and olives; PANZEROTTO, a savory turnover filled with mozzarella and tomato sauce; PASTICCIOTTO LECCESE, a delicious shortcrust pastry filled with warm custard.
Shot on iPhone