They say life moves slower the further south you go in Italy — what you could call vita lenta. In Puglia — with its stretches of beaches, mild climate and an undeniable sense of hospitality — it’s easy to see why people might move at a calmer pace.
Puglia, which forms the “heel” of Italy’s boot, is seeing more visitors eager to experience its blend of relaxation and welcome. According to , a hospitality analysis organization, Puglia saw a 20% increase in tourism from 2013 to 2023.
As more foreigners plan Puglia vacations, more travel planners focused on the region have popped up. Salento native Anita Cagnazzo is on a mission to show visitors the places that reveal the region’s culture and history through .
Born outside of Otranto, Cagnazzo moved to the UK after high school to earn a university degree in international relations and Spanish. After traveling the world for eight years, she returned to her hometown with a deep understanding of the importance of building community among the diverse groups who converge in Italy, both as visitors and residents. She has joined what she sees as a trend of young people returning to their roots after studying or working abroad, using their global experience to revitalize the region.
As she says of her peers in the tourism sector: “They are establishing remarkable and masserie and restaurants that honor the area’s history and landscape while embracing innovation and a desire to share the unique culture of Salento with visitors from around the world.”
Cagnazzo is contributing to this mission by creating tailored itineraries for visitors. Here are six experiences that you might find on one of her itineraries, and that you can add to your next Puglia adventure.
Study the mosaic floor of Otranto Cathedral
As you walk past the medieval walls of the old town of Otranto and into the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Annunziata, there’s a work of art at your feet. The entire floor of the cathedral is tiled in mosaics from the 12th century, in hues of ochre and green, designed in an expansive tree of life. A digital guide for your phone can help decipher the scenes of figures and animals that stretch from the Old Testament to the stories of Alexander the Great and medieval literature.
Marvel at the otherworldly landscape at Bauxite Quarry
Just outside the city of Otranto is a place where you might feel as if you’re on another planet. After walking along the dirt track of a farm, you’ll start to notice that the dust on your shoes has a peculiar red hue. Continuing through the brush, you’ll come to a turquoise quarry lake. The blue of the pristine water is in stark contrast with the Mars-like bauxite rock, which is also found in other parts of Puglia, and is a main ingredient in aluminum. From a high peak of the rock formation, you’ll also have views of the Adriatic coast.
Explore Grotta Zinzulusa in Castro
Another peculiar rock formation is in Castro, following the coast about 12 miles south of Otranto. Arriving in a nondescript parking lot, you wouldn’t expect to enter into the depths of the cliffs below, climbing down stairs and past the crashing waves of the Adriatic. A guide is required to enter the Grotta Zinzulusa, which dates from the Pliocene Era (that’s 5.3 to 2.6 million years ago). Created by erosion and first discovered in the 18th century, stalactites hang from the ceilings of three chambers where humidity and a flow of fresh water from a prehistoric lake keep the stalactites in a constant state of growth. There’s even one last chamber (not open to the public) with a breed of shrimp that’s only found in the grotto.
Experience festivals for La Notte della Taranta
Intriguing experiences come from more than natural wonders in Salento, and visitors can tap into the region’s folk culture with the Tarantella. Coming from the word “taranta,” which can mean a tarantula in , legend has it that when a person was bitten, they would start a cathartic dance to free the arachnid’s toxins from their body. The Tarantella, a high-tempo jig-like dance, accompanied by tambourines and accordions, developed from this legend in the areas today known as Puglia, Sicily, Calabria and Campania, and also encompassing Greece. You’ll find it performed in the month leading up to August 24 (known as La Notte della Taranta — the night of the Taranta), in the towns around Melpignano, about 13 miles east of Otranto, or Galatina, about 19 miles east of Otranto, in June.
Learn to make fave e cicoria and other Salento traditional dishes
To try the region’s traditional dishes, you can let chefs take care of rolling dough to make a hearty Ciceri e tria (similar to pappardelle and served with chickpeas) or orecchiette (an ear-shaped pasta), or simmering dry fava beans to pair with cicoria (chicory) known as fave e cicoria. Or, at the near Galatina, you can put on an apron and tour the restaurant's underground oil mill for insights from chef Alessio Dunn about how staple ingredients, such as legumes, pasta, and fresh vegetables, show the area’s strong agrarian roots.
Sleep in a masseria in Palmariggi
The region’s farming culture also shows in the , or farm estates, dotting the landscape from Lecce to Taranto. Many of Puglia’s masserie have been transformed into accommodations with pools, spas, and on-site restaurants. At , Masseria Del Viverbene (Of Living Well) in Palmariggi, about six miles east of Otranto, a pool, 20 rooms, and a restaurant are set among an olive grove from the 19th century, making for a relaxing way to spend a few days.
If these spots have you dreaming about your next trip to Puglia, The Secret Explorer can help you make it a reality.
The was born out of a desire to enable travelers to enjoy an authentic experience in Italy by designing custom-made packages around clients’ preferences. Whether you want to stay in simple or luxurious accommodations, relax or enjoy an adventurous tour around Italy, The Secret Explorer will create an itinerary that’s truly yours. Email info@thesecretexplorer.com for more information to start planning your tailor-made holiday.
