Miles of unspoilt coastline, World Heritage-worthy towns, green heartlands to rival Tuscany – Puglia has the lot. Way down in Italy’s sun-kissed south, visitors are only just beginning to notice the region’s charms, from its refreshingly rustic cuisine to its postcard beaches.

Puglia’s food and wine credentials rival Tuscany’s, with acres of fertile countryside producing quality wines, cheeses and vegetables. Ingredients are fresh, locally grown and simple, but always delicious. Staples include orecchiette, little ear-shaped pasta traditionally handmade, and olive oil – the region grows olives in abundance, and is responsible for producing the largest quantities of Italian olive oil.

As one of Italy’s southernmost regions, you’ll find a fabulous Mediterranean climate and huge coastline to play with – the longest of any Italian region, in fact. Beaches range from rugged and rural, to white sands that wouldn’t look out of place in the Caribbean. You don’t have to venture far too find them; within half an hour of Lecce is the spectacular Salento peninsula, known for crystal-clear waters and peaceful shores.

When it comes to Puglia’s cities, Lecce is the name on everyone’s lips. The so-called ‘Florence of the South’, this charming baroque city is home to one of Italy’s loveliest centro storicos (historic centres), crowned by a soaring cathedral and Roman amphitheatre. With an artisan shopping scene and hundreds of authentic restaurants, Lecce certainly has the culture and history to rival the Renaissance capital – just with a fraction of the crowds. The city of Ostuni, meanwhile, covers a hillside above the plains. Known as the ‘White City’, Ostuni’s characteristic whitewashed buildings weave up and down hills, through cobbled passageways and shady courtyards. Don’t leave Puglia without a trip to ‘trulli town’. Alberobello is one of the region’s most unique and characterful towns, filled with Puglia’s famous trulli houses. These little stone houses have cone-shaped roofs and cover Alberobello’s hillsides in their hundreds, resembling a picturesque toy town.

Find out more about our holidays to Puglia: http://www.citalia.com/holidays/italy...