Luxury Villas in Puglia

Puglia Villas

Italy has been on the tourist trail for centuries. Its vast wealth of natural beauty, art, culture and sublime weather all combine to lure the discerning traveller to its shores. Yet Puglia, that tantalising heel of the great Italian boot, has seen very little of this sea of tourism … until recently!

Puglia has become one of the newest and most exciting destinations in Europe.  Its charm lies chiefly in the fact that it’s in Italy (naturally!) but unlike some of the more established regions of Italy it offers an unspoiled and rather authentic experience.

Flying into Bari (the capital city of the region) or grabbing a train from Rome, you will be transported back through time.  The Italian of those quaint 1950s postcards is still thriving beneath a perfectly blue sky.  The region’s terrain made up of limestone hills and dramatic coastal cliffs shimmers white and is a tapestry of traditional farms and small villages and towns.

Find yourself a cosy perch in one of our luxury villas in Puglia, rent a car or we can organise a driver, and start your exploration of this magical corner of Italy.  You will need to drop down a gear or two when you embark on a vacation here.

The rush-rush of Northern Italy and the passionate energy of Rome or Naples gives way to a somnambulant way of life.  Long, leisurely siestas dominate the afternoons and it’s impossible to be ‘busy’ when the whole of the region is sleeping off a rather good lunch.

To borrow a phrase … “when in Rome ….”, certainly applies and you are best advised to embrace this stress-free lifestyle.

The formula is simple:  in any of the magnificent Puglia villas we represent, you leap out of bed early!  Before the heady heat of the day takes over, you go and be a tourist.  Work out your schedule to ensure that you are seated at a fabulous coastal restaurant overlooking the sea at lunch time.

A plate of pasta, some freshly landed fish, a crisp white wine or beer can be enjoyed at a most leisurely pace.  Then it’s time to either return to the pleasures of your own Puglia vacation rentals and loll, under shade, by your pool for the afternoon.  Alternatively, a plunge into the azure wonder of the Adriatic Sea followed by a refreshing snooze.  Then it’s dinner – a lovely long late affair of many courses that will prepare you for the deep sleep that comes from a day well spent.

And where to enjoy all of this …. Bari, a port and the busy capital city of the province.  The smaller city of Lecce, known as the Florence of the South for its stunning baroque architecture, is a wonderful destination for a day of leisurely ambling through the narrow streets of the old town.

The coastal towns of Otranto and Brindisi all offer pretty urban life, historic buildings and monuments within easy access of beaches and rural terrain.  The hill town of Ostuni is a labyrinth of narrow streets and steep steps.

If you are keen to really explore the region, make the drive around the heel and visit the town of Gallipoli.  Not to be confused with the Turkish town of the same name, this seldom visited ancient town holds an impressive perch overlooking the Mediterranean.

Of course, you cannot really say you’ve visited Puglia if you don’t spend time in Polignano a Mare.  This chic town within an easy hour of Bari is the destination that put Puglia on the map.  The beach, Cala Porto, a small cove sitting beneath sweeping limestone cliffs has been photographed more times than most beaches in Italy.

Once you see it, you will understand why.  With lots of lovely restaurants, bars and cafes, this is one of the top destinations in Puglia.  The unforgettable Grotto Palazzese restaurant, literally tucked into a cave that opens out onto the Adriatic Sea, is where to dine for the ultimate romantic experience.

Last and certainly not least, you will have to see the trulli.  The funny little white-washed stone houses with their conical roofs.  One imagines that smurfs will pop out of them at any moment.  The town of Alberobello and the hilltop Rione Monti has many fine examples.  Be sure to get out and explore this unique architectural phenomenon.

If you love Italy but are looking for a new facet of this fabulous country, then Puglia is undoubtedly the destination for you.

Choose from some of Exceptional Villas’ gorgeous Puglia villas and establish a luxurious base camp from which to go out and enjoy the warm welcome of this gorgeous and dramatic landscape and its people.

The gentle ebb and flow of life in Puglia is unchanged by all of the furore of the greater outside world.  The essence of true relaxation can be found once you step into the way of life to be found along the stunning shores of Puglia.