Puglia is a varied land, rich in history, culture and ancient traditions, especially in the culinary sphere! In fact, it preserves a truly unique food and wine tradition, with typical products that come from the land and the countryside and ancient recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation. Not only orecchiette, but also burrata, extra virgin olive oil, capocollo, wines and much more.
Let's discover together which are the best food and wine itineraries in Puglia!
Itinerary of the Millennial Olive Trees
The Itinerary of the Millenary Olive Trees stretches between the municipalities of Ostuni, Fasano, Monopoli and Carovigno and is an area with a very high concentration of millenary olive trees, some of which are over 3,000 years old!
Among the typical products, the great protagonist is certainly extra virgin olive oil, but we also find fresh pasta, lamb ragout and sweets such as bocconotti and cartellate. Among the wines, we cannot fail to mention S'èscusu, m'Inèbrio and Rosarose Blanc.
We start in Ostuni, known as the White City. Enjoy the morning in the historic centre, strolling through its streets and shops, visiting the Cathedral and Piazza Libertà. For lunch, stop at Borgo Antico Bistrot, where you can sample typical dishes such as Frise and Acquasala. In the afternoon, head to the Dune Costiere Regional Natural Park, a place rich in olive groves. Here you can enjoy the beauty of nature or go swimming, if you visit in summer. In the evening, we recommend you stay in one of the old masserie here.
Day 2 in Fasano. As soon as you arrive in town, stop at Pasticceria Velletri, the best in town, where you can sample specialities such as pasticciotti. All the pastries are homemade, with ingredients from the Masseria Torre Rossa, where they produce flour, oil, fruit and almonds. Enjoy a stroll through the historic centre, savour the delicious orecchiette pasta at La Locanda di Martumè and in the afternoon visit the Olive Oil Museum, located just outside the historic centre, where various olive oil processing tools are on display. If you are travelling with children, you cannot miss an afternoon at the famous Zoosafari in Fasano.
Main stops/cities: Ostuni and Fasano
Local products and typical dishes: extra virgin olive oil, fresh pasta, lamb ragout, bocconotti, cartellate, S'èscusu, m'Inèbrio and Rosarose Blanc wines
Distance / route duration: 30 km total / 2 days
Where to sleep: we recommend sleeping in the old masserie (farmhouses), located throughout the area. These are old farms now partly converted into accommodation, with a truly unique charm, some even with a swimming pool - compare the best accommodation on booking
Itinerary from Minervino Murge to Cerignola
The itinerary between Minervino Murge and Cerignola is an excursion that can be made in a day, perhaps while in Foggia or Barletta. This is an area rich in food and wine traditions: unsalted mozzarella and fresh ricotta, but also wines such as Bocca di Lupo, Aglianico and Perastro. Above all, the area is rich in olive groves and vineyards and several wine cellars in which to linger.
Morning in Minervino Murge. Located on the edge of the Alta Murgia National Park, enjoy a walk through the historic centre, then visit theTerradiva Organic Farm, where you can buy some of the best olive oil in the area. For lunch, head to the ancient Masseria Barbera, outside the village and dating back to the 1800s, surrounded by expanses of olive trees and rows of vines. Excellent traditional dishes, to be accompanied by a good glass of Aglianico.
In theafternoon you reach Cerignola. The entire town is surrounded by numerous wine cellars and wineries. We recommend you stop by Caiaffa organic wines, to visit the winery and taste some wines. Finally, enjoy a stroll through the centre, admiring buildings such as the Mercadante Theatre or the Torre Alemanna.
Main stops/cities: Minervino Murge and Cerignola
Local products and typical dishes: extra virgin olive oil, unsalted mozzarella, fresh ricotta, wines such as Bocca di Lupo, Aglianico and Perastro. Above all,
Distance/duration of itinerary: one day
Where to sleep: the villages are surrounded by agritourisms and masserie in the countryside, while in the historic centres you can find small family-run accommodation - compare the best accommodation on booking
Orecchiette and homemade pasta in Bari
Bari is undoubtedly one of the best-known towns in Puglia. Rich in history and art, it also has a long gastronomic tradition: it is impossible not to mention the famous orecchiette! Strolling through the alleys of Bari Vecchia, in fact, you can still meet women intent on preparing orecchiette on their spianatoi.
Dedicate the morning to Bari Vecchia. Enjoy a stroll through its alleys and along Via dell'Arco Basso, better known as Via delle Orecchiette, where the ladies of Bari are intent on preparing them! At 11:00 am take part in a walking tour of the city with a homemade pasta lesson, a unique experience! For lunch, have a sandwich stuffed with specialities, such as the Pugliese bowler hat, at Antico Chiosco da u russ.
In the afternoon, continue your sightseeing. Drop in at Maria delle Sgagliozze, a place where you can sample Signora Maria's famous polenta slices, an institution in town, and then enjoy a stroll along the waterfront, a visit to the museum, or a few hours at the beach if the season permits. In the evening, enjoy an excellent raw fish dish with the catch of the day at La Tana del Polpo.
Main stops/countries: Bari
Local produce and typical dishes: orecchiette with turnip tops, homemade pasta, raw fish, focaccia
Distance/duration of itinerary: one day
Where to sleep: sleeping in Bari Vecchia is a unique experience, a real step back in time. The city is however rich in all kinds of accommodation, from family-run B&Bs to the most elegant hotels - compare the best accommodation on booking
The flavours of the Itria Valley
The Valle d'Itria, also known as the Valley of the Trulli, is a marvellous area between Bari and the provinces of Brindisi and Taranto, a place of scents and flavours impossible to forget. Also perfect for a day trip if you are in Bari! Here you will find places such as Noci, Locorotondo, Cisternino and Alberobello. Typical products and dishes include burrate and mozzarella, donkey meat, gnummareddi and the very famous bombette. Among the wines are the white Locorotondo DOC and Martina DOC and the red Primitivo di Gioia del Colle DOC.
We start in Cisterino. Enjoy a walk through its historic centre, which will only take you an hour or so, and visit the oil mill Il Frantolio, where a fine extra virgin olive oil is produced using a typical local milling process. For lunch, head to Locorotondo, enjoy a stroll through its charming centre and stop at Ristorante U Curdunn, where we recommend the braccioletta e polpetta alla pugliese, accompanied by an excellent wine.
In theearly afternoon, head to Alberobello, to walk among its famous trulli in Rione Monti, perhaps stopping at Caseificio di Gigante Maria, which sells sublime mozzarella. Finally, mid-afternoon move on to Noci. Along the way you can visit the Barsento wine cellars, with wine tasting, or head straight to the historic centre. Here, for dinner, we recommend ordering the Sfizietto, a pork sausage made with fennel seed.
Main stops/countries: Cisternino, Locorotondo, Alberobello, Noci
Local products and typical dishes: burrate, mozzarella, donkey meat, gnummareddi, bombette puglisi, extra virgin olive oil, white Locorotondo DOC and Martina DOC, red Primitivo di Gioia del Colle DOC
Distance/duration of itinerary: one day
Where to stay: staying in villages like Locorotondo and Cisternino allows you to step back in time. If you want to stay in Alberobello, you cannot miss the experience of sleeping in a trullo. The whole area is also surrounded by masserie and agriturismi - compare the best accommodation on booking
The tastes of the Gargano
The Gargano, in northern Apulia, is a place of ancient flavours, villages and spectacular nature. From the National Park to the rocky coastline with crystal-clear sea, passing through its small villages, without forgetting its long tradition in cheese production. Podolico caciocavallo cheese, mozzarella, canestrati, ricotta and cacioricotta, but it is also impossible not to taste the limoncello Limone femminiello del Gargano IGP. If you are in the wonderful Vieste, you cannot miss a day discovering the flavours of the Gargano.
It starts in Monte Sant'Angelo. While strolling through this marvellous village, you cannot fail to taste the scaldatelli, or savoury taralli with fennel seeds. If you are in the mood for something sweet, you can try the filled wafers, with almonds, honey, cinnamon and sugar.
For lunch, head to Vico del Gargano. Have lunch with paposcia, a bread stuffed with rocket, tomato, fresh ricotta and a pinch of chilli pepper, and then stroll through the old town, taking a photo in front of the'Food & Villages' mural. In the afternoon, reach Peschici, to enjoy a stroll through the centre and swim in its crystal-clear waters. Finally, in the evening head to Vieste, where you can dine on ciambotta, a delicious fish soup!
Main stops/countries: Monte Sant'Angelo, Vico del Gargano, Peschici, Vieste
Local products and typical dishes: caciocavallo podolico, mozzarella, canestrati, ricotta, cacioricotta, limoncello Limone femminiello del Gargano IGP, orecchiette with ruchetta, potatoes and fresh tomato sauce, scaldatelli, paposcia
Distance/duration of itinerary: one day
Where to sleep: in places on the coast such as Vieste and Peschici, you will find numerous B&Bs and small hotels overlooking the sea, as well as capeggi. Inland you will find mainly agritourisms - compare the best accommodation on booking
The wines and flavours of Salento
The Salento encompasses truly unique architectural and natural beauty, as well as a long tradition of food and wine! It is the tip of the Italian boot and encompasses locations such as Lecce and Gallipoli. Local products, sweets and typical wines make this area even more fascinating: from the famous 'pasticciotto leccese' to 'mustazzoli', from the red Ionian prawns to the cuttlefish 'alla gallipolina' and the red wine 'Primitivo di Manduria'.
Day 1 in Lecce. Visit the city, with its marvellous Cathedral and Basilica, stopping also at the Roman Amphitheatre of Lecce, without forgetting to order a coffee from Lecce accompanied by a pasticciotto. Continue your visit in the afternoon, stopping at the Carlo V Castle, and then in the evening take part in a street food tasting with a walking tour (7.30 pm).
Day 2 travel to Zollino. Here you can visit the historic centre, with the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, while for lunch we recommend tasting the village's typical dish, sceblasti, a really excellent seasoned bread (the typical fair is held in August). In the afternoon, head to Galatina, a town that Forbes lists as one of the three Italian cities you absolutely must see and the birthplace of the pasticciotto! Before entering the city, stop at the Caseificio Arcudi, where you can buy excellent locally produced cheeses, the mozzarella not to be missed. Finally, enjoy a stroll through the historical centre.
Day 3 Reach Gallipoli. Before arriving in town from Galatina, make a stop at Cantina Coppola 1489, a wonderful winery that organises visits and tastings of local wines. Once in Gallipoli, have lunch with a purpu alla pignata, or octopus cooked in an earthenware pot, and enjoy the afternoon on the beautiful beaches or discovering the city. In the evening, enjoy a sea-view dinner at Ristorante Il Bastione - Terrazza sul mare, with typical dishes such as calamari alla gallipolina or, for dessert, spumone gallipolino.
Main stops/countries: Lecce, Zollino, Galatina, Gallipoli
Local products and typical dishes: pasticciotto leccese, mustazzoli, red prawns, cuttlefish alla gallipolina and scapace gallipolina, lu purpu alla pignata (octopus cooked in an earthenware pot) red wine Primitivo di Manduria, wine Salice Salentino
Distance / length of itinerary: 60 km total / 3 days
Where to stay: towns such as Lecce, Galatina and Gallipoli have great accommodation options, with hotels, flats and B&Bs. The surrounding area is dotted with numerous agritourisms and farmhouses, completely surrounded by greenery - compare the best accommodation on booking
