The southern Italian region of Puglia (or Apulia) forms the heel of Italy. It borders Molise to the north, Campania and Basilicata to the west; to the east and south are the Adriatic and Ionian seas. Towns in Puglia include Brindisi, Lecce, Taranto, Ostuni, Gallipoli, Martina Franca, Otranto and Bari.
You're never far from the sea here, and some of the best beaches lie on the Gargano promontory to the north and the Salentine Peninsula further south. Peschici and Vieste are fine resorts, with connections to the Tremiti islands. On the southern tip, coastal towns include Capo d'Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca and Torre dell'Orso. Lecce is a delightful Baroque town, while Martina Franca has a distinctly north-African feel.
Around here is the heartland of the 'trulli' the extraordinary little whitewashed dwellings unique to Puglia. Bari has a fine old town of narrow alleys and winding streets, while Ostuni is a hilltop town with stunning views. And there is an unexpected flavour of Germany in the 13th century Swabian castles of the region - check out Castel del Monte and Lucera. Regional cuisine majors on lamb, good cheeses including burrata and caprini, lots of seafood (including fish broths), fava beans, figs and almonds.
To the left you'll find a selection of hotels, just to whet your appetite,
as well as links to individual towns in Puglia (top left);
See also Puglia hotels (full listings) and our map of Puglia.
