Tell me about Puglia

[MangosteenSoda]

I’m tempted to book a week in Puglia at Easter. I don’t know much about the region other than that it looks really pretty. Any suggestions or recommendations?

I’m currently looking at flights to Brindisi and accommodation in Gallipoli but am open to alternative suggestions from people who know the area.

I did not say my DD was an expert. Nor me. However most people on this thread go as holidaymakers. As tourists. What locals see and what tourists want to see are different. I’ll just leave it that DD enjoyed Matera and particularly the cathedral. If others don’t, that’s up to them.

Thanks for all of the opinions whether they align or not. All povs are useful!

I’d love to go in May half term but unfortunately that’s not possible: it either has to be Easter or summer 2025. I think it looks like a place to visit twice maybe one visit up north and another one down south.

I’ll be travelling with a child with ASD who will love playing on the sand in any weather which is why I started thinking about Gallipoli with various side trips.

We're going to Lecce this year and a friend of a friend who lives in Acaya has recommended Otranto as the other must-visit so we're doing a two-stop. Flying into Brindisi (Ryanair currently have a family upgrade deal on luggage so not too much extra for that)

Lots of useful info already been given. My DH is from Lecce so we have a house there that we spend Christmas and Easter hols at. Summer we stay at Santa Caterina which is in between Nardo and Gallipoli (both beautiful towns). My favourite place to swim is Porto Selvaggio.

I think you should plan to fly into Bari and out from Brindisi, or vice versa. Monopoli, Ostuni etc are better served by Bari. Salento (the southern end) by Brindisi.

Easter is a great time to visit. Visit the churches on Thursday (in odd numbers). Watch the procession through the town of the coffin followed by statue of Mary and the local church organisations.

We went for an aperitivo on the beach over Christmas; Easter should be fine. Best months are May and September. Summer last year was hell. 40 degrees plus, lots of wildfires visible from our beach. Just incredibly hot, busy, and more expensive.

i agree on Matera, in sense that it’s outwardly touristy but there’s nicer places to visit.

Oh, and I think you really need a car, especially if visiting Salento.

Otranto is lovely. Very historic (the church full of skulls), and wonderful to wander around at nighttime.

Was there in September, very hot! As part of a tour, visited:

Otranto
Ostuni
Matera
Lecce
Alberobello (some of my tour mates took the train to Martina Franca and some other nice sounding town I can't remember the name of.

I really enjoyed it! Everywhere was interesting, lots of good food, so many lovely churches and other interesting buildings. Lots of Gelato :-)

Thanks @Oriunda
Any recommendations for otranto with younger kids? Mine are 7/5.5

Just dropping in here as I’m thinking about it for Easter 25.

Personally, I would stay in Lecce as it is a town, it's the Florence of the south of Italy and is very beautiful. During Easter time, I would make sure that you visit Otranto, Ostuni, Polignano a Mare, Santa Cesarea terme, and Trani. Please, please go and see the Trani cathedral. Gallipoli is beautiful, and boasts one of my favourite restaurants: La Puritate ( very simple food). Gallipoli tends to be overcrowded with youth, but maybe not for Easter.
Grotte di Castellana are amazing, huge beautiful caves discovered in the 30s, as are Martina Franca and Andria. Taste the mozzarella there.
Yes, I am an expert.

We went to Puglia a few times last few years as our local airport does super cheap flights to Bari!! Tend to go in October to lengthen the summer and weather has been lovely, warm enough for beaches and eating out.

We stayed in Otranto one year and our kids would have been that age Wrapunzel. The beach is lovely and the town is very atmospheric and good for a potter. To be honest the food was OK but some restaurants tourist traps, eaten better pizza in Leeds :-) so try and find recommendations. Went to Lecce one day. You'll need a car. I liked it but didn't love it.

I preferred the year we went to Monopoli... Poligano lovely and went to Alberobello, Castillana caves and Ostuni.

I find the beach situation odd round there, there are lidos which are expensive and very few public beaches that are nice or clean. We spent a while at one sitting among the crisp packets and fag ends but wasn't what I expected. Tended to find one good one in each area and stick with that.

The beach lidos (ie during summer where you get a sunbed and umbrella etc) tend to be expensive. Budget on at least €30/day for 2 beds and an umbrella. More for some fancier places. We split our summer between the rocks (free) before moving to a lido where all the kids’ and our friends go. Most of the beaches are carved up between the lidos, with just a small section being left for the public beach (which won’t be looked after or cleaned). During high summer, you’ll need to reserve beds in advance. We book ours in May for July and August!

Some hotels will include access to a private lido and guaranteed beds.

I prefer swimming off the rocks, but you need rock/swim shoes. If you’re planning to stay several hours then you’ll need a portable sun umbrella.

The main beach in Otranto is nice and we found one just south of Monopoli that was lovely. Both public.

But other than that really struggled. The bins were overflowing in Poligano and couldn't make myself sit next to scattered detrius inc used condoms so left pretty quick!

Think it's such a shame. In Spain all beaches have to have a large public area and are kept clean by authorities.

I really dislike the lido concept. One of the appealing things about Gallipoli is that it looked like there were easily accessible public beaches (am I wrong?). My son has ASD and will be happy to run around a chilly Easter beach for a couple of hours a day with his wetsuit on and a bucket to play with.

Having to reserve beds and the consequent lack of flexibility is an absolute no for our needs.

@MangosteenSoda DD hired a villa with a pool. That’s what most people do who don’t use the beaches. It’s not known as a beach area.

Just think it's crazy that Italy is a long thin country with coast on both side. The Med! The adriatic!!! But the beaches are shit

Check out the Gargano region and the town of Vieste.

If you want incredible beaches then go to Sardinia.

We've sacked it off now and go to Spain or Geeece both of which are vastly superior IMO.

Don't think I'd want to book a sunlounger now for August!

Beaches on the Ionian coast are absolutely wonderful, white sand, azure sea. Adriatic side is rockier. We have only visited in summer. Don’t know about temps at Easter. Beaches near Gallipoli are fabulous. Lots of choices for public beach space and reasonably priced lido/lounger areas. I think about these beaches all the time! We often go for a 2 centre stay ie beaches Ionian side with less non-beach stuff to do, followed by Ostuni/Monopoli side for town and trullo action.

Said someone who’s clearly never been to Salento. The sea is amazing, and there are some stunning beaches (one is called Maldives, for good reason). It’s not all about beaches, though. Swimming off the rocks is very popular, and the sea around Porto Selvaggio is cristalline.

Gallipoli has plenty of public beaches, including one in the historic old town itself. Where we summer, in Santa Catarina (about 20 mins north) there is a lovely public beach.

Santa Maria al Bagno would suit you, I think. It’s about 15 mins north of Gallipoli. Lovely public beach, with the piazza literally opposite. You also have a rocky section of coastline with what we call the ‘piscina’ ie natural paddling pool, perfect for kids to go crabbing and paddle around. All the cafes, restaurants and gelateria are based opposite the beach, so it’s perfect.

Just a few pics. One taken from a boat trip around the grottoes of Leuca which you can swim into. Stunning.

@Oriunda wow that looks stunning!

I’ll check out the other area you mention and then make a decision. This has been very helpful for me and has sort of confirmed some of my ideas and cemented Salento as the area to look in.

I don’t think I want a pool in April unless it’s the most heated pool in Italy 😂 I like being close to a small to medium town with a choice of restaurants and nice buildings. Need a beach rather than rocks (my DS cannot swim that well and likes playing on the sand) but it doesn’t have to be a spectacular beach- just somewhere for him to entertain himself for a couple of hours. I think I have these requirements covered now.

Thanks everyone!

Can you absolutely not do this area without a car? I’m looking to go on my own just want to potter about really,

One of the best holidays we've had. Lecce is astounding. The white hill towns are beautiful. Ostuni and Otranto fab. Only thing to note is it's not really a beach destination so if you are going when it will be hot, find somewhere with a pool.