Puglia Itineraries
Five very different Puglia itineraries for unforgettable road trips through the very best of the Italian heel’s views and landscapes.
Guidebooks and visitors rarely praise Puglia for its natural attractions, which seems quite understandable compared to the breathtaking beauty of more spectacular Italian regions like the northern lakes, Liguria, Toscana and Campania. Still, most places wane when measured by these standards, and Puglia can be real pretty outside the tourist triangle of Castel del Monte, Alberobello and Barocco Leccese.
Here is my suggestion for five very different itineraries that will show you the best Puglian views and landscapes.

View of the coast between Manfredonia and Vieste with a view of the Architello di San Felice
Manfredonia to Vieste
Most tourists take the easy northern road to Vieste, cheating themselves for a drive along the Amalfi coast of Puglia. Only 40 km separates Manfredonia from Vieste, but the drive takes an hour and this is not due to traffic but to hairpin bends leading up and down the mountains.
Every time you reach a bend with a poor view of the road, you have to brake and honk to warn off other cars going in the opposite direction. Free ranging cows and goats with tinkling small and bigger bells use the road as a shortcut between pastures. And once you have passed Mattinata you are in for the most spectacular views. Gargano rests on white limestone painting the sea an unusual emerald green that contrasts the blue sky and the silvery green colour of the olive fields. And in between you will see the most adorable islands, lagoons, beaches and rock formations like the famous “Architiello di San Felice”. In the end, you reach Vieste, which also qualifies as one of the best beach breaks in Puglia, especially if you’ve brought children along for the ride.

The salt plains in Saline di Margherita di Savoia is sometimes filled with flamingoes.
Manfredonia through Saline di Margherita di Savoia to Trani
Follow the coast from Manfredonia toward Barletta and you will come through Saline di Margherita di Savoia , the biggest saltpan in Italy. Apart from the fascinating salt ponds and salt mountains, the Salina provides perfect bird watching. For instance, you can see the largest population of pink flamingoes in Europe. Just remember to bring a pair of binoculars or a strong zoom lens to the camera.
After visiting the saltpans continue to Trani to enjoy the sophisticated feel of what has been known as the ‘Pearl of Puglia’.

There are several cave towns in the area around Gravina in Puglia and Altamura.
Corato to Gravina in Puglia and Altamura
Driving on the S378 from Corato to Gravina and Altamura may not be on a shortlist of the five most beautiful scenic drives through Puglia, but it will take you around the Alta Murgia national park and further on to some of the most spectacular cave towns in Puglia. The Murgia is characterized by these small canyons formed by rain water that has dissolves the limestone, but they look more dramatic as if the surface of the earth has been broken into pieces. Some of the ravines have caves, swallow holes and dolines inhabited in prehistoric times, and the history combined with the naked and bleak landscape inevitable makes a strong impression. If you’ve got extra time it would be natural to see the Unesco World Heritage sites in nearby Matera and Castel del Monte

The road from Putignano to Alberobello in Puglia
Bari through Putignano and Alberobello to Martina Franca and Ostuni
Traversing Valle d’Itra is the classic tour of trulli land, where you will see dozens of cone shaped houses with occult roof paintings dotted on every hill top. The soft hilly landscape has been cultivated for thousands of years, as can be seen from the really old gnarled and split olive tree trunks, you will pass along the way. If you start the road trip in Bari head out for Putignano and the trulli capital Alberobello. When you have enjoyed this Unesco World Heritage site continue to Martina Franca and try to squeeze in a stop in Locorotondo before continuing to Ceglia and Ostuni. These are all historic white towns and most visitors fall in love with them instantly.
Lecce through Maglie to Leuca
I know most people prefer the scenic drives to Santa Maria di Leuca along the coast via Santa Cesarea Terme or Gallipoli, but to me the real Salento can be found on the inland road from Maglie going south in the hour around sunset. The water and the sun produce the most amazing light effects with colour changes from yellow, orange and red to deep purple and all shades of dark black blue, and every white building glows in the dark in a neon sort of way. It is pure magic.
This post was last updated in November 2017
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Thanks for sharing these trips with us. I've enjoyed reading them so much that I've added your post to my Top 10 of the week over at http://www.italytutto.com!
I agree with you about the suggested 5 itineraries, just wish to add that many others could be designed on specific needs or thematic topics.
The Region offers landscapes, culinary, culture, handcraft, wellness and more….
Great idea. I am sure we can both come up with additional blog posts on the matter:)
You welcome, it would be my pleasure to coop with you.
We can stay in touch through our twitter or facebook, as you prefer.
Enjoy a nice day
Very nice you suggested the road from maglie to Santa Maria di Leuca. Of course, the coast from Otranto ti Santa Maria di Leuca is a kind of landscape paradise, but the up-country is the real Salento, that's true! I live in Lecce ;)
I have just re-traveled the road from Otranto to Santa Maria di Leuca, and the landscape is astonishingly beautiful with dramatic cliffs, romantic beach coves and fabulous sea views. Absolutely, not to be missed on any Salento road trip.
It’s great to get this kind of information from someone who’s been there and done it! Lovely photo, too.
Luckily you didn’t disclose to the masses the name and location of one of the real gems of Puglia (and Italy really) which, I assure you, leaves your so called “more spectacular Italian destinations” in the dust.
I’m really happy you didn’t – I wouldn’t want it to be invaded by fat, beer-guzzling, baseball-hat wearing Northern European Tourists! Other beautiful Mediterranean locations have completely lost their identity trying to attract these kinds of tourists, and I don’t want my corner of paradise to end like them. Cari saluti dalla Puglia!
Hope you aren’t trying to make a living out of tourism;)
Thank you Mette, that’s exactly what I needed for our next holiday – really must come!
Glad to here your plans are progressing:)