Puglia is the undiscovered jewel in the crown of Italy, so we’re the perfect destination for your villa holiday
Located in the ‘heel’ of Italy, Puglia has miles of coastline along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, both an easy drive away. The region is covered in olive groves and vineyards, so the countryside is always green, and food features delicious seafood, fantastic antipasti and wonderful pizzas, all washed down with great local wines.
Ceglie Messapica is our nearest town and Cisternino, Martina Franca and Ostuni are close by. The towns are situated on top of a hill with beautiful views across the Itria Valley, with historic centres dating back centuries. All have wonderful old cobbled streets and fascinating architecture and, when all that wandering has worked up an appetite, there are plenty of restaurants so your exploring will be well rewarded with plenty of the local delicacies.
We recommend Lonely Planet’s Puglia & Basilicata guidebook for those who wish to read more about the region.
Swimming
Puglia has nearly 900km of coastline so there are plenty of beaches to choose from for your holiday here
We’re closest to the beaches at Ostuni and Torre Canne, about 30 minutes drive away. There are public beaches which are free to access and some have cafes and restaurants backing onto them, and also miles of ‘lidos’ – managed areas of beach where, for a small entrance fee, you get covered parking, loos and showers, bars and restaurants, umbrellas and sunbeds for hire, and lifeguards. Pilone, Lido Bizzaro, Lido Boscoverde and Lido Morelli are all excellent beaches.
There’s also a nature reserve at Torre Guaceto which has a long sandy beach and some great shallows which are perfect for small children to play in. Between June and September you can take part in guided snorkelling trips on Thursdays and Saturdays.
If you fancy a sand-free day by the water, the Banana Club is a short drive away and has a swimming pool, restaurant, gardens and mini-soccer pitch.
Cycling
Italians are cycling mad and every Sunday you often meet groups of cyclists on the roads. We’re situated on a marked cycle route and there are lots of country roads to get lost on. The marine reserve at Torre Guaceto offers a 3 hour excursion on Tuesdays and Sundays, with bikes available to rent.
Two guide books (that we know of) have cycle routes in Puglia – Italy by Bike and Lonely Planet’s Cycling Italy.
Walking
We’re right in the middle of the countryside with lots of lanes to wander and get lost in
A half hour’s drive away is the Bosco delle Pianelle – perfect for walking and mountain biking. There are guided walks and boards explaining what wildlife you can expect to see, as well as shaded picnic tables and an off-road car park.
Closer to home but yet to be explored by us are the Bosco delle Montecchie in the Ceglie Messapica area and the Bosco Monti Comunali in the Cisternino region.
The Parco Nazionale dell’Alta Murgia, or the Alta Murgia National Park, is in the Bari province and provides itineraries for guided walks.
The Marine Reserve at Torre Guaceto organises guided walks up to 3 hours long on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
The Cooperative Thalassia organises walking trips ranging between 2km and 6km long, email links on the website will give details of dates and costs.
Horse Riding
The White Horse Club between Ostuni and Rosa Marina offers organised courses and riding in the countryside.
Weather
Please see the current weather conditions and forecast at the bottom of this page.
You can also find an accurate local 7-day forecast here.
