A Quick Look at Puglia’s Prettiest Towns

Dreamy whitewashed enclaves, quaint fishing villages jutting into the sea, and ancient hilltop settlements hemmed in by protective walls – the bewitching towns of Puglia are worth getting lost in their unforgettable mazes to experience mainland Italy at its sunniest, purest, and most laid-back.

The sun-bleached heel of Italy’s boot dazzles with sparkling turquoise seas, rolling silver-green olive orchards, and captivating white towns where life still revolves around the main piazza and the seasons.

Tucked in the extreme southeastern tip of the country, this is a region of simple charms, renowned mainly for its agricultural bounty and delightfully rustic cuisine, but its glorious landscapes peppered with whimsical trulli and spectacular coastline lapped by the blue Adriatic Sea might just give Tuscany a run for its money in the near future.

From Salento’s art-filled Lecce to the shimmering città bianche of Valle d’Itria, these are the most beautiful towns in Puglia:

Alberobello

With its maze of hilly cobblestone paths lined with charming conical-roofed trulli, the white town of Alberobello in the Metropolitan City of Bari seems straight out of a children’s storybook. Built from local limestone, these distinctive centuries-old structures, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, now house everything from bars and boutiques to churches, museums, and B&Bs.

Needless to say, this typical Apulian town, with its harmonious low-rise architecture enriched by tiny piazzas and scenic countryside views, is just as picturesque outside the trullo-packed districts of Monti and Aia Piccola.

Beyond Alberobello, olive groves, dry-stone walls, and traditional trulli shape one of Puglia’s most distinctive rural landscapes, earning the Valle d’Itria a place among Europe’s most beautiful countryside regions.

Polignano a Mare

Perched dramatically on the edge of a craggy ravine on the Adriatic coast of Puglia, Polignano a Mare is prettier than a postcard.

The idyllic seaside town overlooks Lama Monachile, a little white-pebble beach sheltered by two cliffs, and its centro storico – an atmospheric maze of winding streets, sun-bleached buildings, and old churches – reveals intriguing glimpses of the sparkling blue sea at every turn.

Thanks to its spectacular setting, surrounded by crystal-clear waters and partly submerged sea caves, Polignano a Mare has repeatedly hosted the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.

Ostuni

One of the most attractive towns in southern Italy, Ostuni is a gleaming white jumble of houses, churches, and charming piazzas spread over a hilltop surrounded by quaint countryside and endless olive groves.

La Città Bianca, as it is locally known, is home to a spellbindingly beautiful fortified old town packed with medieval architectural treasures and dazzling views of the Adriatic coast. And while the old-world allure is what primarily draws visitors here, Ostuni is no stranger to chic hotels, hip cafés, and excellent restaurants, either.

Otranto

Tucked away in Italy’s heel, in the province of Lecce, the picturesque seaside town of Otranto means different things to different travelers.

Art and history enthusiasts come here to admire the gorgeous 12th-century mosaic floors of its Romanesque cathedral, gourmets for the seafood restaurants lining the scenic waterfront promenades, and incurable romantics to get lost in its postcard-perfect old quarter crisscrossed by narrow travertine-paved alleyways.

In the height of summer, however, everybody fights for beach space along its roughly 25-kilometre coastline, known for its aquamarine waters, sandy stretches, rocky cliffs, and secluded coves.

Lecce

Masterpieces of Baroque architecture stand alongside charmingly crumbling balconies in Lecce, one of the prettiest cities in Puglia, if not Italy.

At the heart of the “Florence of the South”, as it is often dubbed, stands a half-buried 2nd-century Roman amphitheater, and everywhere else, elaborately decorated churches and palaces built in local honey-hued stone form a splendid backdrop for the evening passeggiata or other alfresco pursuits.

Good looks aside, this Baroque gem in Puglia’s Salento peninsula is a pleasantly relaxed university town with an enjoyable nightlife scene, hip shopping, and countless restaurants serving hearty cucina povera (traditional peasant food).

Monopoli

Though lesser known than Alberobello and Ostuni nearby, Monopoli is a delightful coastal town replete with ancient churches and winding alleys lined with whitewashed façades. Adding to the charm of its tangled medieval old town are a lovely cathedral, an old fishing port, and a series of fortified seafront walls.

Cala Porta Vecchia, a small sandy cove beside the old town walls, is one of Monopoli’s most picturesque urban beaches.

Vieste

The easternmost town of the Gargano peninsula, Vieste enjoys a jaw-dropping position on a promontory that juts out into the azure waters of the Adriatic Sea. Whitewashed limestone walls encircle the town, and Spiaggia del Castello is dominated by Pizzomunno, its iconic 25-metre-high limestone monolith.

Vieste’s splendid coastline is lined with sea caves, grottoes, and secluded sun-drenched coves waiting to be explored.

Otherwise, the resort has the same labyrinthine historic core of pretty cobblestone streets, colorful piazzette, and blanched buildings with flower-filled wrought-iron balconies.

Trani

Located about 40 km north of Bari, on the Adriatic coast of Puglia, Trani stands out for its stylish cosmopolitan feel and marvelous pink-hued cathedral by the sea.

Colorful fishing boats share the space with gleaming white yachts in the well-equipped harbor, while medieval buildings and palazzi decorate the polished limestone streets of its elegant old town center.

The lovely coastal town is also home to wonderful waterfront bars, restaurants, and public gardens, as well as chic shopping boutiques and lots of lively festivals.

Locorotondo

Listed as one of I Borghi più belli d’Italia (most beautiful small Italian towns of historical interest), off-the-radar Locorotondo is known for Locorotondo DOC, a local white wine produced in both still and sparkling styles. Still, the humble hilltop town in the heart of the Valle d’Itria is a delightful place to wander around, with its round-shaped historical center of quiet ivory streets and typical white cummerse townhouses bedecked with pots of fuchsia geraniums and intricate ironwork.

An equally enchanting sight, the countryside surrounding Locorotondo is dotted with tranquil vineyards, olive groves, and Hobbit-like trulli homes.

Martina Franca

One of Puglia’s most beautiful towns, Martina Franca in the province of Taranto is overflowing with elegant Baroque architecture and delightful trattorias specializing in local cured meats, particularly Capocollo di Martina Franca.

Surrounded by defensive stone walls and eye-catching Baroque and Renaissance gates, its Instagram-worthy centro storico is an alluring mix of narrow twisting alleys and dazzling white houses interspersed with sunny open piazzas, centuries-old palazzi, and exquisitely ornate basilicas.