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Puglia is a paradise for lovers of food and wine.  The sunny climate creates perfect conditions for the cultivation of magnificent olives, legendary grapes and some of the most flavoursome vegetables you will ever taste.  The region has a rich agricultural tradition and as a result the recipes use simple, locally grown ingredients to fabulous ends.  Orrchiette pasta is the signature pasta of the area – a delicious, heavy pasta, hand-made in little ear shapes.  Not to missed is the mouth-watering burrata cheese, a type of mozzarella so fresh and delicate that it has to be eaten on the day it is made.  Also of note are the smoked caciocavallo and scamorza cheeses, delectable with a spoonful of onion chutney or honey.

Puglia is home to 50 million olive trees and produces over 80% of Italy’s olive oil.  Known for its strong, distinctive flavour, the oil is recognised for its exceptional quality.  Puglia was also one of the first places in Europe to produce completely organic olive oil.  The olives too are extremely tasty and no aperitif is complete in this part of the world without a juicy bowl of olives to nibble on, and maybe some “taralli”, the ring-shaped, toasted bread snacks available in a wide variety of flavours. 
 
With so many miles of coastline, Puglia does not lack great seafood.  Mussels, prawns and clams abound in the many seafood restaurants and you are sure to find exquisite dishes of bream, cod and sea bass.  Around February is the time of the “ricci” or sea anemones, treasured for the delicate red flesh and eaten either raw or cooked in a classic pasta dish using up to 50 anemones.

Meat eaters need not worry, Italians love their red meat and Puglia is no exception.  Lamb, veal and rabbit are especially common here and there is no shortage of flavoursome sausages and cured meats.

This region has a long history of wine making and is one of highest producing regions of Italy.  One of the oldest grapes in Europe the “Greco” is grown here and used to great effect in the excellent Greco del Tufo white wine.  But it is perhaps for its red wine that Puglia is becoming increasingly well-known.  The “primitivo” grapes, particularly grown in the southern central area around Manduria has for years produced the full bodied, award winning “Primitivo di Manduria”.  Also of note is the “Salice Salentino” a DOC wine using primarily the “negroamaro” grape.  Wine is very reasonably priced here and quality has improved significantly in recent years.  You can confidently order the house wine in almost any restaurant and be assured a very pleasant tipple at excellent value for money.  Beware the strength though!  Puglian wines are amongst the strongest in Italy, with on average a 14% alcohol content.

 

Blessed with an average 300 days of sunshine per year, Puglia has a wonderful climate.  The hilltop towns in the Valle d’Itria always enjoy a breeze, even in the hottest months of the year and the humidity is generally minimal.  It is a lovely dry heat that warms your very bones, either whilst sitting in a piazza enjoying an ice cream, or on the beach soaking up some rays before taking a dip in the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic Sea. Rainfall is scarce and generally concentrated in the winter months.  Since there are no mountains in Puglia, the temperature is fairly constant from the coast to the inland areas.  Clement weather in the autumn often permits swimming in the sea late into October.

 

Puglia is well-known in Italy for offering the some of the best beaches and clearest waters on the mainland. With over 750km of coastline, there is no shortage of beaches and each one has its own special charm. On the Adriatic coast, the shoreline alternates between rocky coves and small sandy bays. From the imposing cliffs of Polignano to the gentle sand dunes south of Torre Canne, there is something to suit everyone. Fishing enthusiast may prefer the peace and tranquillity of the rocky coves, while sun worshippers will probably head for the sandy beaches – either those furnished with sun loungers and equipped with small beach bars, or those more tranquil inlets where you bring your towel and maybe a picnic to enjoy a relaxing day by the sea away from the crowds.

In 2007 the 17km stretch of coast belonging to the territory of Ostuni was awarded Blue Flag status for the fourth year running. This status attests to the purity of the water along this part of the Puglian coast and is an internationally recognised guarantee of the quality of the sea water.

South of Otranto, the most easterly point of the Italian peninsula, the coast becomes rocky again, offering spectacular views toward Greece and Corfu. From here the Ionian Coast begins and on the west side of Puglia you can find wide beaches of pure white sand, some stretching unbroken for 18km.

 

Protected and managed by WWF Italy, the marine and nature reserve of Torre Guacato is an idyllic stretch of coastline, dedicated to the preservation of wildlife and natural beauty. The last building to have been erected in this area was the tower or “torre”, built in the 1500s by the Aragonese as a lookout point for the advance warning of invading Turks. Closed off to cars, the reserve is an amazing territory of biodiversity, from the oasis of birdlife in the wetlands to the rich marine life of fish and coral reefs in the crystal clear waters. Rare orchids, ancient junipers and summer lilies can also be found in the sweeping olive groves. Along the 7km of coastline, flanked by beautiful sand dunes, certain areas are open to the public for swimming and others are protected areas to preserve the marine life. The name Guaceto comes from the Turkish “gawsit” meaning “sweet waters”. A wide range of excursions such as cycling, snorkelling and hiking are available throughout the park to allow all ages to enjoy its beauty and tranquility.