Global pandemic of Covid-19 definitely changed our lives in 2020, and among the many things turned upside down, travel is a big one, especially for the people that lives for travelling around the world.

My original plans were a south asian trip from Angwor Kwat to North of Vietnam, with an happy ending in a tropical island of Malaysia: all of this put on hold, hopefully for next summer.

Luckily I am lucky enough to be born in a beautiful country like Italy, with endless options for a within-the-borders holiday; among the many beautiful regions of Italy, Puglia is undoubtedly among the best, thanks to a combination of delicious food, white beaches and picturesque villages.

My starting city was Bari, the “capital” of Puglia, roughly one hour of flight from Milan, and situated within a 3 hours driving distance from the main destinations of Puglia.

The old town of Bari is truly a magical place, a labyrint made of alleys, white stone houses and mouthwatering places to eat Panzerotti. The best one in my opinion is Pizzeria di Cosimo,  in a small plaza well hidden in the heart of of old town. No photo here, I was spending the whole time eating panzerotti…

Circolo dei Canottieri, sea promenade

The famous Polignano a mare (which I posted here) is one hour away, as well as Castel Del Monte, a beautiful medieval castle with a unique octagonal shape.

Polignano a Mare Drone View

Castel Del Monte Drone Aerial View

If you are looking for the best beaches and the most crystalline sea, Salento is the destination for you, with famous destinations like Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca, Punta Prosciutto and Porto Cesareo, the last two seen from the drone below:

Punta Prosciutto, Salento

Going north of Bari, we do have Gargano National Park, a very different kind of beauty. Gargano is a small peninsula accessible by small curvy roads: on the south side it is all about secluded beach, hidden in the beauty of the nature. One of the most famous one, is Baia delle Zagare, where a luxury hotel owns the access to a private beach. If money is no concerns for you, this is the place.

Baia delle Zagare

Going north along the coast of Gargano, you will arrive to a very peculiar beach, Spiaggia del Pizzomunno, in the town of Vieste. This is the beach shown in the movie Wonder Woman with Gal Gadot.

Next town on the list is Peschici, a beautiful village on the top of a hill, dominating a quiet, family friendly beach just below. While the color of the water is not the blu of Gargano, the setting and the background are quite fascinating, and taking a swim with this background is quite unique.

Besides sunbathing, the dining scene in Peschici is unique for one reason: trabucco restaurants!

Trabucco are centuries old wooden structures that were used by fishermen to fish straight from the coast, without having a boat.

While there are few of them along the southern italian coast, only an handful of them have been converted in local fish restaurants, and trust me, the experience of dining straight on the sea watching the sunset is unforgettable.

Trabucco restaurant

The post Italian Summer: the beauty of Puglia with Gargano and Salento appeared first on Enrico Pescantini Travel Photographer.

Best of Puglia: Castel Del Monte

Castel Del Monte is a unique medieval castle based on an octogonal shape, built in 1240. It can be easily reached by car with less than 1 hour from Bari International Airport.

Castel Del Monte

Best of Puglia: Castel Del Monte

It can be visited in less than an hour, with an easy park at short distance from the entrance.

It is part of Unesco World Heritage from 1996, with this beautiful quote:

When the Emperor Frederick II built this castle near Bari in the 13th century, he imbued it with symbolic significance, as reflected in the location, the mathematical and astronomical precision of the layout and the perfectly regular shape. A unique piece of medieval military architecture, Castel del Monte is a successful blend of elements from classical antiquity, the Islamic Orient and north European Cistercian Gothic.

Polignano a Mare

Polignano a Mare is considered among the best gems of Puglia, and home to one of the BEST RESTAURANTS IN THE WORLD: Grotta Palazzese.

Grotta Palazzese Polignano a Mare

This restaurant is literally carved into the cliffs facing the Mediterranean Sea, and you basically dine inside a cave. This is a video of the scenery:

The town is beautiful, with little alleys and terraces on the sea, to be visited both during the day and in the evening, where it gets a really romantic setting.

Polignano a Mare

Polignano a Mare Drone View

Best of Puglia: Trani Cathedral

Trani is a coastal city south of Bari, and it has a beautiful medieval cathedral, built right on the sea. It has been built with a local stone that makes it look white/light pink, especially at the light of sunset. Definitely worth a visit if you are around.

Check out my other articles on the best spots of Italy, like Sirmione and Madonna della Corona!

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