You undoubtedly must have seen it at some point this year: Puglia (or Apulia) is the place to be in 2016. As a result, our Walking in Puglia self guided holiday has made it to our most popular trips in the last few months. But why is Puglia such a popular travel destination and why should you visit Puglia?

Puglian History

Puglia is a land forged in history by a mixture of civilisations and cultures. With influences from the Romans, Normans, Turks, Greeks and Goths, imagine the legacy that all of these cultures have left behind. Today, a lot of that is still visible in Puglia’s seaside villages, narrow streets, and elegant cities as well as in the food and folklore that still lives on in the people.

The Landscape

Puglia encompasses the heel of Italy’s boot and is bordered by the Adriatic Sea in the east and Ionian Sea to the southeast. Within easy reach, you find valleys and coastal paths, and a landscape of red earth interspersed with vineyards and olive groves.

Apulia Architecture

Besides the impact on the region’s culture, Puglia’s position as a gateway to the Orient has also left its traces in the architecture. You will find baroque cities, Moorish feeling towns, 8^th century rock churches, and roman amphitheatres. Besides all of this, Puglia is known for its trulli: unique dry stone conical cottages and sassi: cave houses found in Matera.

Italian Gastronomy

A trip in Italy guarantees a rich gastronomy pleasing your inner self. Puglia is no exception on this rule with centuries-old olive groves and vineyards producing beautiful wines. Regional dishes include orecchiette pasta with different sauces, burrata di Andria cheese, and almond-based desserts. On the UTracks trips to Puglia, we take you to some atmospheric restaurants to sample these dishes.

Great for Walking

Puglia is an overall flat or undulating part of Italy, which makes it great to explore on foot. The diversity in the landscape and our detailed route notes make for a diversity of day walks. Choosing for a walking holiday allows you to get a truly immersive experience. On top of that, you can overnight in places that are more remote and closer to the main sites so that you can explore these at times less busy. Our Walking in Puglia trip departs daily (except Saturdays) giving you plenty of travel dates to choose from. For more information on our Walking in Puglia holiday or other active adventure holidays in Puglia, please contact our team of travel experts in the London office or have a look at our Puglia holidays here.