Puglia

In Italy’s heel lies the region everyone is talking about. For ample reason: a great stretch of coastline, trulli villages, local markets and the ‘Florence of the South’ – Lecce. Puglia is more than crashing on the beach and trawling through a reading list (although it does that excellently). Its coastal towns are striking, so road trips are encouraged if not mandatory. The cuisine here is fantastic with such abundant local vegetables and produce. Olive oil, tomatoes, artichokes, salami, mushrooms, olives and seafood are just some of the produce that make the region’s legendary cucina povera. The region is not one of Italy’s traditional tourist destinations, but it is becoming increasingly popular as travellers discover the area’s varied charms: baroque towns, white-washed trullo houses, olive groves and orchards, blue sea and beaches, plenty of sunshine and excellent cuisine.