A Few Days in Puglia, Italy - Land of the Trulli
/After being on lockdown for several months here in Italy, I was more than ready for a road trip. Puglia was my first choice as it’s an easy drive from the Campania region where I live, and it’s beautiful and unique. I found a cute little rental in Martina Franca, which is only minutes from Cisternino, Locorotondo, and Alberobello - the towns I visited during this trip. It was a quick, three-day trip but so worth it!
CISTERNINO
I’m in Love!
Cisternino was a surprise for me as I knew nothing about it before this trip. Some of my favorite thing: The beautiful piazzas, the best green apple gelato at Bar Palazzo, friendly locals, and an abundance of restaurants, bars, and shops like Il Cucco, a family-owned restaurant and wine shop, and Sintesy, a stylish pop-up clothing store. You are less than 30 minutes from the Adriatic Sea, Alberobello, Ostuni, and many other beautiful towns.
The local park (Villa Comunale) offers breathtaking views towards Martina Franca and the valley below. Just across the street are the Contemporary Art Museum and Church of San Nicola di Patara.
Martina Franca
My little Airbnb rental was just on the outskirts of town in the middle of an olive grove, with a small pool, and views to Cisternino. It was the perfect location for strolling through Martina Franca and quick trips to the other towns in the area. Martina is a town of about 50,000 people with museums, beautiful parks, shops, wide piazzas, and my new favorite restaurant, I Templari. The antipasti platters were seasonal and never-ending and then came the bufala mozzarella ravioli with mushroom. Incredibile!
Grab a panino or pastry at Caffè Ducale where they also make a refreshing iced espresso with almond liquor. So good on a hot day. Walk the side streets which they’ve decorated with oversized butterflies designs.
Locorotondo
I loved the quirkiness of this town. Everywhere I turned, there was something to capture. It felt very alive, and even though it is a “tourist” town, the locals’ daily life was in full display. I had a fresh and tasty breakfast at the charming La Salottina, then a walk around town and the local park. The outdoor market was full of vendors offering fresh fruit and veggies, clothing stalls and my favorite houseware shops. I was lucky to find a beautiful, large basket and a big pasta board. My car, the “Green Machine” can sometimes be very useful with plenty of room for new finds.
