Puglia and Basilicata

Puglia is undeniably one of the most fantastic regions to visit in Italy.

Puglia region is one of Italy’s loveliest undiscovered gems.
The region is an absolute surprise, with loads of amazing places to visit. Everything that you would expect from a journey to Italy is there in abundance: historic little towns, incredible food and fresh produce, rolling silver-green olive orchards, stunning natural landscapes, and some of the best beaches in southern Italy.
Puglia is becoming an increasingly popular destination. While still maintaining a sense of peace and authentic Italian charm, Puglia is not as popular as other destinations.

Puglia’s Itria Valley is the land of the Trulli.

It boasts a great variety of terrific historic and scenic sightseeing. Trulli, gently rolling countryside and a bunch of really super, picuresque towns, including Locorotondo, Martina Franca, Cisternino, Ostuni and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alberobello.

Puglia’s Salento is home to some of Italy’s loveliest towns,

is full to brimming with small sleepy towns that are off the tourist trail but greatly worth visiting for their unassuming genuineness. Its deeply-rooted cucina povera tradition means its cuisine tends to be simple and delicious, relying on fresh, local produce. A long tongue of land ,that laps two seas: the Adriatic to the East and the Ionian to the West, is waiting to welcome and surprise all travelers

Basilicata is the place you don’t expect.

Imagine a region that has miles of white sand beaches on one coast, picturesque rocky bays on the other, two mountainous national parks, and one of the world’s oldest cities, Matera. Only by visiting you can find out what makes Matera so special. It didn’t take long to work out – this city is like nowhere else on Earth. Matera is one of the most interesting, unusual and memorable destinations in Italy.  Add lots of warm sunshine plus fine food and wine and you might expect the area to be a tourist mecca, and busy with hotels. However, Basilicata, the arch and instep of Italy’s boot, has all the above but little mass tourism.

The Calanchi – or Badlands – is all about  lunar landscape and steep cliffs that stand out against rolling and  gentle hills. It is an amazing place, it looks like the Cappadocia in Turkey.

The Lucanian Dolomites is all about deep valleys, spine-like ridges and weird rock formations. The two charming hilltop villages of Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa, both members of the exclusive Borghi più belli d’Italia (the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy) stay at its heart.