Destination: Italy

LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION

Itinerary: Penetrating Puglia

This route of 680km will take you the length and breadth of one of the south’s most fascinating regions, a trip that can be tailored along the way and takes in castles, Romanesque and baroque churches, forests, islands and wild, empty beaches.



For many backpackers, Puglia means little more than a ferry to or out of Bari or Brindisi on the Italy–Greece route. But the region is rich in sights and natural beauty, and boasts an addictive cuisine.

Start with the capital, Bari, a common arrival point by rail, air and sea, and head inland for the extraordinary Castel del Monte. From there swivel northeast to the fishing town of Trani, which is dominated by a remarkable Romanesque cathedral. Further northwest lies the Promontorio del Gargano, dotted with cheerful coastal villages like Vieste, and the inland objective of pilgrimage for Italians from around the country, San Giovanni Rotondo, home to Padre Pio. You could also consider an excursion to the Isole Tremiti.

You’ll now want to backtrack south for the land of the conical trulli, centred on Alberobello. Nearby, Ostuni and Martina Franca are among Puglia’s prettiest towns. Virtually directly south is the tatty but impressive Taranto. The coast to its east is sprinkled with some great beaches. Follow them around to Gallipoli and proceed to the east coast of the Penisola Salentina, a wild, largely untouched area with some long, quiet beaches, before winding up in Lecce, a baroque treasure chest.

Travelling to Italy?
Lonely Planet recommends World Nomads Travel insurance