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Nature

The fascinating coast of Puglia between cathedrals and beaches

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Puglia and the sea retract a combination that has entered the collective imagination. Now even foreign tourists know the fascinating coast of Puglia between cathedrals and beaches. We are talking about 860 km of coastline with breathtaking views, white beaches, caves and crystal clear sea.

The Apulian coast shows towers, real sentinels along the coast. They built small turrets for the need to fortify the coast, for enemy sighting. Most are in ruins, while others have been renovated, but represent stone sentinels over the sea. The presence of Norman, Swabian and Aragonese castles has the same function to defend the cities.

The famous cathedrals overlooking the sea are splendid. Among the most famous ones you find them in Trani, Giovinazzo and the basilica of San Nicola in Bari. Furthermore, the historic ports, from Vieste to Monopoli, up to Otranto and Gallipoli, are the prelude to ancient villages, where you can breathe in all the fishing culinary tradition.

When you need to choose where to go to the beach in Puglia the first distinction to make, is between the Adriatic coast and the Ionian coast. The first one, in fact, propose above all rocks. Whereas the Ionian coast has long stretches of fine, clear sand. In both cases, however, the sea is always crystal clear. This will mean, then, that during the summer period families with children could prefer the locations overlooking the Ionian Sea to spend quiet days at the seaside. The Adriatic side, however, is perfect for those who prefer a slightly wilder type of coast.

Therefore Puglia is a sunny region between two seas and warm hospitality in places rich in history. Check out our week tour of Puglia for a beautiful itinerary of the fascinating coast of Puglia between cathedrals, beaches and more.

Culture

Being meaningfully together at the table

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Since ancient times, men used to sit around the fire, look each other in the eyes, exchange food and carry out the first communication. Among the smiles, the first words and the primitive practices of sharing food, the concept of conviviality made its way. Conviviality from the Latin cum-vivere ( living together ) today is contained in the image of being meaningfully together at the table.

Sitting together around the table, is a circumstance full of meaning to which we very often do not attribute the right human value. In fact, when we are at the table together, it serves to recover that family spirit and so the table becomes the place of mutual listening, of sharing, of exchanging words. Consequently, the most important decisions are often made while sitting at a table.

Furthermore the key element of the table is the food which earned more and more human value over the years. Food is language and culture, communication and then being together at the table underlines its symbolic-expressive power. Around the table you eat, taste, experiment and talk. Food and its flavors are transmitters of knowledge and stories.

That perfectly explains why lunch time during my tour, is as important as visiting a monument or a site. I spend time selecting the right restaurants since it’s as important as deciding the sites to visit. I believe that to truly understand the culture of a destination you must taste the local flavors.

Plutarco said “we do not invite each other to simply eat and drink, but to eat and drink together”. Sitting at a table for lunch, is the moment when my guests become my friends.

If you want to experience local restaurants and combine it with a guided tour of Puglia, have a look at our itineraries, price and description.

Culture

The most famous and reinterpreted Italian song

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Domenico Modugno was born in Polignano a Mare, the pearl of the Adriatic sea in Puglia. He won Sanremo music festival in 1958 singing “Nel blu, dipinto di blu”. That song is also known as “Volare” which is the most famous and reinterpreted Italian song in history.

“Nel blu, dipinto di blu” was written in Rome in the summer of 1957 by Domenico Modugno and Franco Migliacci. There are various stories about the birth of the hit. As the Apulian singer confessed, the idea came to mind to his friend while looking at the painting “Le coq rouge dans la nuit” by Marc Chagall. Migliacci himself then revealed that in reality the song is the result of a dream in the saddest day of his life.

The two friends met one evening in Piazza del Popolo ( Rome ) and began to write down the words of the text. However, something was missing: the chorus. That “Volare oh oh”, which is the most remembered and recognizable part of the song, was born by chance. Modugno observed one morning with his wife Franca the blue sky from the window of his house and finally a masterpiece emerged.

In the United States, they named Modugno as Mister Volare. He recorded his hit in 13 languages and more than 22 million records were sold worldwide. Even today it is probably the most famous and reinterpreted Italian song in modern history.

His birthplace Polignano, wanted to dedicate a statue, created by the Argentine sculptor Hermann Mejer, which depicts the artist with his arms wide open as if wanting to embrace his hometown. Furthermore it has become an obligatory destination for those who want to take a souvenir photo. Behind the statue there’s blue sky and blue sea which recalls the song’s title “nel blu dipinto di blu”.

Check out our small group and private tours of Puglia for a visit to Polignano a Mare and more.

Food and wine

Pasta with “ragù” is the typical Sunday dish

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Pasta with ragù is the typical Sunday dish in Puglia. During the colder months, it’s even possible to smell the irresistible smell, walking on a Sunday morning through the alleys of the Apulian cities. Originally it was the main Sunday dish as the sauce was used to season the pasta and the meat consumed as a second course.

From an early age we are used to spending Sundays with the family. As a child, I remember it as a special day since at the end of a long work or school week, it brought the whole family to grandmother’s house around a long lunch table. Every one had the habit of bringing something, be it a bottle of wine, cheese or some pastries. But the main course was the one that grandmother cooked, the famous pasta dish with meat sauce. She, with joy in her heart at seeing the whole family reunited, woke up early in the morning to prepare a tasty lunch.

The preparation is simple and the result is really tasty and inviting, even if the cooking is quite long. We start with braciole: meat rolls stuffed with parsley, garlic and parmesan. Pan sear the braciole in olive oil over high heat briefly, just enough to brown the outside of the roll. You may skip this step, but it definitely adds flavor to the dish. Then, into the sauce the meat goes! This is the part that takes a good amount of time but it is worth the wait. It’s better if you use the typical homemade preserve, which becomes so tasty that it can be used to season pasta: orecchiette are almost always the chosen ones.

Pasta with ragù is the typical Sunday dish in the North as in the South of Italy. As “ragù” the most famous is Bolognese ragù, a classic recipe from the Emilian tradition. Anyway here in the South when we say ragù we mean the Neapolitan ragù, made with whole meat and not minced meat.

Do you want a taste of typical food of Puglia, combined with a guided tour ? Have a look at our food tour itineraries, price, and description.

History

Noteworthy legends about the Trulli of Alberobello

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One of the most internationally known Italian site is in Puglia. I’m talking about Alberobello and its trulli, the famous houses with unique and unrepeatable architecture! Here are some legends about the Trulli of Alberobello.

A story that still lives today in the streets of the village is the Siamese Trullo: a house which has the particularity of possessing two domes joined together. Behind this rather special form of trullo there is the ancient ownership of two brothers. The older one was supposed to take a girl as his wife who, however, loved her younger brother. The law of quiet living won, leading the family to live together in a single large trullo. Unfortunately, as time passed, there was a big argument so at the end it was decided to modify the trullo, building two separate entrances. This modification is still visible today.

A second legend concerns a very particular treasure of the Medici Saints and their basilica in town. A local farmer, who had enriched himself by stealing goods from the poor people, decided to steal the treasure of the church. So one night he approached the two statues to steal the gold on them. As soon as he touched them, he remained attached to the statues, spending the whole night stuck in that position. The next morning, the priest found the thief there and rang the bells to raise the alarm.

Two legends about the Trulli of Alberobello with a sad epilogue, but with a very important traditional and cultural value, especially among the inhabitants of that Puglia village!

Check out our Puglia tours for a visit to Alberobello and more.

Food and wine

A complete guide to typical food of Puglia

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To truly understand the culture of a destination you must taste the local flavors. Puglia has one of Italy’s most desired cuisines and you can learn what you need to try on your visit.  Are you curious to know what to taste ? Here it is a list of typical food of Puglia you can’t miss.

BURRATA. It is probably the most appreciated Apulian cheese in the world. A bag of mozzarella dough jealously encloses the stracciatella inside, a mixture of cream and shredded mozzarella.

ALTAMURA BREAD. A sourdough bread that stays fresh for one week made of semolina and varieties of durum wheat grown locally. Since 2013 it has been a DOP product.

MEAT BOMBS. Apulian street food “bombette” are small pork rolls filled with cheese, salt and pepper.

EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL. The varieties of olives present in Puglia have an incomparable quality for the production of extra virgin oil. The most well known are the Ogliarola, Coratina and Peranzana.

ORECCHIETTE. Apulian pasta differs from other regions’ both in size and, often, in raw material. “Orecchiette” are very particular and the original ones are found only in this region. Furthermore the burnt wheat ones are a made with peculiar “burnt” grain used to make dough tasty and characteristic.

PANZEROTTO. It is a shell of fried dough, which following skilful processing takes the shape of a crescent. The classic filling includes tomato and mozzarella, but there are many tasty variations. Made of strictly local ingredients, it has become an ambassador of Apulian flavors in the world: wheat, mozzarella, olive oil and tomato.

In addition, there are delicious fine wines in this region. So are you ready to taste the typical food of Puglia ? Have a look at our food tour itinerary for further information.

Culture

Why you need a guide to enjoy Puglia

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Puglia is full of attractions and things to do from majestic castles to medieval cathedrals to enchanting top-hill towns. These beautiful attractions draw thousands of visitors to the region each year. Well, that and Puglia’s amazing cuisine and restaurant scene. So a guide to enjoy Puglia and your trip to Southern Italy, can give you a richer, deeper understanding of the spots you visit.

Puglia has had, since ancient times, mixed influences from the West and the East. Its strategic position as the natural southern border between Western Europe and Greece, made it a bridge to the East. Since Roman times has been known for its olive oil, wheat and wine. In the Middle Ages then, the crusaders sailed from Bari, Trani and Barletta to the Middle-East.

Besides you can’t officially say you’ve been to Italy’s southernmost region if you haven’t tried these foods straight at the source: burrata, focaccia, mozzarella, orecchiette, extra virgin olive oil, taralli and Primitivo wine.

So it takes a passionate, local guide to understand the rich history, to admire the hidden corners and eat in selected family-run restaurants. Besides you’ll make the most out of your time and get the best possible experience.
Experience Puglia is an individual tour Company, a sunny tour guide who loves his work.

Contact me, you won’t regret it 🙂

Check out our Puglia tours page for more details.