Puglia attractions

One of the prettiest towns on Puglia’s Adriatic Coast, the whitewashed centro storico (old town) of Polignano a Mare is perched on a clifftop directly above the turquoise water. A popular day-trip destination from Bari just to the north, this fishing village-turned-resort is also a highlight of boat excursions to the picturesque sea caves below the town.

Part of a lush promontory along Puglia’s coastline, the Gargano National Park (Parco Nazionale del Gargano) is just the place for travelers needing a respite from urban chaos. Known for dramatic coastal cliffs, Adriatic views, and vast expanses of countryside, the park is also home to the San Giovanni Rotondo pilgrimage site.

Discover Puglia’s wild side in the largest zoo and safari park in all of Italy. Covering almost 350 acres, Zoosafari Fasanolandia is home to more than 200 species of animals from five continents and includes a self-drive safari, zoo, and sea lion aquarium, as well as an amusement park with thrilling roller coasters and water rides.

Considered one of the prettiest hill towns the region, Gravina di Puglia is home to a historic duomo, aqueduct, and castle, but its most remarkable treasures are hidden deep underground. Head below the town to tour the rupestrian churches, cave dwellings, and ancient tunnels dug out of its soft tufa stone.

Lecce’s sumptuous 17th-century baroque architecture immediately catches the eye, but the city has a history that stretches as far back as the Greek empire. Trace its evolution through the millennia at the Museo Faggiano, a private residence now home to an eclectic archaeological museum with excavated artifacts and ruins.

Uncover the tradition behind one of Italy’s most celebrated candies: the sugared almonds (confetti) exchanged at weddings, baptisms, and other important celebrations. The Mucci family has been producing this symbolic sweet for more than a century, and their dedicated museum offers a behind-the-scenes look at the confection’s history.

A marine reserve and WWF Oasis, Torre Guaceto is one of the most pristine stretches of the Adriatic coast in Italy. Its vast confines include bird-filled marshes, towering dunes, sandy coves, crystalline water, a sea turtle sanctuary, and the Saracen tower for which the reserve is named. Ideal for a beach break, coastal hike, or cycling excursion, this protected area is a highlight of Puglia’s Salento peninsula.