Apulia (Puglia) is the sun-drenched heel of Italy's boot, stretching along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts with over 800 km of coastline, centuries-old whitewashed towns, and a food culture that rivals anywhere in the country. Home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites — the iconic trulli of Alberobello and the enigmatic Castel del Monte — Apulia blends Norman castles, Baroque Lecce stonework, and ancient masserie (fortified farmhouses) into an unforgettable landscape.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Apulia.
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1
Trulli of Alberobello
Tip: Arrive before 09:00 or after 18:00 to photograph empty lanes without tour-group crowds · Visit Rione Aia Piccola (the residential zone) for a quieter, less commercial atmosphere than Rione Monti · Admission to the Trullo Sovrano museum is €1.50 — pay inside the trullo entrance · Wear flat, rubber-soled shoes — the cobbled lanes are steep in places and slippery when wet · Combine with a visit to nearby Locorotondo (20 min by car) for trulli in the surrounding countryside
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2
Lecce Baroque Old Town
Tip: Enter Santa Croce early — it opens at 09:00 and the interior is cool and uncrowded before tour groups arrive · The Duomo bell tower can be climbed for a rooftop panorama over the old town; the fee and opening hours are posted at the base · Guided walking tours depart from Piazza Sant'Oronzo and are advisable in July–August when the volume of sites can be overwhelming · Try pasticciotto (custard-filled pastry) for breakfast at a historic pasticceria — a longstanding Lecce morning ritual · Street parking inside the ring road is scarce; use the parking areas on Viale dei Salesiani and walk 10 minutes to the centre
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3
Castel del Monte
Tip: Visit on the first Sunday of the month for free admission — arrive by 09:00 to avoid queues that build through the morning · A summer shuttle bus runs from Andria; outside summer a car or taxi from Andria (around €20 each way) is required · Bring water — the hilltop has no shade and temperatures exceed 35°C in July and August · The interior has no furnishings; bring an audio guide or printed notes to interpret the architectural details · Combine with Trani (35 km east) for a full northern Apulia day itinerary
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4
Polignano a Mare
Tip: Arrive by the first train from Bari (around 07:00) to photograph Cala Porto before crowds arrive · The footpath from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II to Cala Porto takes 5 minutes; swimming at the cove is free · Boat tours of the sea caves operate May–October from the harbour; operators sell tickets on the quayside for around €10–15 · Polignano has limited parking in the centre — take the train from Bari or park on the outskirts and walk · Return in the evening for sunset from the old town terrace rather than staying all day in summer heat
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5
Grotte di Castellana
Tip: Book the full 3 km tour online at grottedicastellana.it — the Grotta Bianca is the visual highlight and worth the extra 50 minutes · Bring a light jacket regardless of outside temperature — 15°C feels cold after 30 minutes underground · Arrive 15 minutes before the booked tour — the caves close punctually and latecomers may miss the start · Photography without flash is permitted throughout; a wide-angle lens or smartphone with night mode captures La Grave's scale best · Combine with Alberobello (20 km) for a full day in the Apulian trulli belt
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6
Ostuni Old Town
Tip: Park in the lower new town and walk up — the 20-minute climb is part of the experience and no vehicles enter the historic centre · Arrive just after sunrise for long shadows and warm amber light on the white walls with virtually no other visitors · The Cathedral facade is best photographed from the piazza below in morning light; the interior is modest but the crypt retains notable frescoes · Book restaurant tables in the upper historic centre in advance for summer evenings — popular spots fill weeks ahead · Combine Ostuni with a visit to the Adriatic coast at Torre San Leonardo or Villanova beach (10 km) for a full day
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7
Basilica di San Nicola, Bari
Tip: Dress appropriately — shoulders and knees must be covered; scarves and wraps are available at the entrance · Visit the crypt early in the morning when pilgrims are fewest and the quiet atmosphere of the space is most apparent · The treasury museum has different opening hours from the main basilica — check the board at the entrance on arrival · Guided tours in English provide context essential to understanding the site's layered significance · The piazza is lively with a fish market in the morning — arrive early to experience both market and church
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8
Bari Vecchia (Old Town)
Tip: Visit the orecchiette-makers on Strada Arco Basso between 09:00 and 12:00 when pasta-rolling is most active · Keep valuables secure in the denser lanes — the neighbourhood is generally safe but standard urban awareness applies · The old town is most atmospheric in the evening when residents are outdoors and cafés spill onto the small piazzas · Guided walking tours depart from Piazza del Ferrarese and last around 90 minutes — useful for historical context in the more anonymous alleys · Try sgagliozze (fried polenta squares) from street vendors near the Basilica for a classic Bari street snack
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9
Trani Cathedral (Cattedrale di San Nicola Pellegrino)
Tip: Visit late afternoon for the most dramatic light on the facade — sunset turns the stone deep gold above the harbour · The main cathedral is free to enter; the crypt charges €2, which is worth paying for the hypogeum access · Combine the cathedral with the adjacent Jewish Quarter (Giudecca) and the medieval harbour for a 2-hour walking circuit · Trani is 40 minutes by train from Bari (€4.80) — a straightforward and highly rewarding day trip · The harbour fish market before 09:00 is one of the most animated in northern Apulia
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10
Otranto Cathedral & Mosaic Floor
Tip: Morning light through the south windows illuminates the mosaic most vividly — aim to arrive at opening (08:00) · The €2 admission also covers the Chapel of the Martyrs — allow time for both parts of the visit · Photography without flash is freely permitted and strongly encouraged — the mosaic repays slow, attentive documentation · Combine the cathedral with the Aragonese castle and the old town harbour for a half-day Otranto circuit · Otranto is 40 km from Lecce by car (around 40 min); bus from Lecce takes approximately 75 minutes
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Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
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Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Visit trulli of Alberobello before 9 AM or after 6 PM to walk empty streets. The FSE Ferrovie del Sud-Est train pass offers good value for multi-day trips across the Valle d'Itria. In summer carry water and a hat
shade is scarce on hilltop towns