Have you ever considered taking a winter vacation in Puglia?
No, don’t blink your eyes or avert your gaze as though you were reading a blasphemy. We can all agree that Puglia is synonymous with the sun and the sea. But we’re here to bust a myth and show that even in the coldest months, you can choose to spend a few or more days relaxing in this lovely region of Italy. Puglia offers a variety of travel itineraries, including winter getaways to be enjoyed in solitude and peace. Avoiding the frenzy of the summer while still enjoying activities and stunning landscapes!
Of course, during this time of the year, there is not much to do at the beach unless you are arriving from a very cold climate. But you can make up for it with special and delectable food and wine trip, taking advantage of the chance to go through the hinterland of the area and passing by farms, villages, and olive groves. So here are more than a few “things” that can keep you busy and entertained anytime you visit
- Take a stroll across Lecce’s Cathedral Square.
- Visit the Taranto Spartan Museum.
- Enter Gravina’s soil below.
- Experience a mystical moment in Monte Sant’Angelo.
- Visit the Altamura cathedral.
- Admire the Brindisi Via Appia’s terminal columns.
- Go to Alberobello, Otranto, Taranto, Santa Maria di Leuca, Gallipoli, Ostuni, Lecce, Brindisi…
Favorite things to do
Visit the Taranto National Archaeological Museum
When it comes to museums, Puglia is most proud of The Marta. It is actually one of the most significant archaeological sites in Italy and is rich in artifacts. Over two hundred thousand items and artifacts from various centuries, from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages, are kept in the building housed in the old monastery of San Pasquale di Baylon.
Visit the Calimera Natural History Museum
It is the biggest museum in Southern Italy and has an exhibition space of about 2000 square meters. Visit the vivarium, the wildlife exhibits, and the astronomy, mineralogy, paleontology, and paleoanthropology exhibition areas here. Throughout the tour, you will be completely submerged in the rainforest, which has been meticulously recreated thanks to the placement of the plants.
Check out the Sigismondo Castromediano Museum in Lecce
Numerous objects that chronicle Salento’s history from the Paleolithic to the Modern Era are on display in this museum. The oldest museum in Puglia also houses a library with an emphasis on history, art, and archaeology, an auditorium, and a picture gallery filled with medieval artwork and religious artifacts from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries.
Visit the Lecce Fantasy Museum
The “Fantasy-Art and Special Effects Museum” of the Magri brothers, who collaborate with Dario Argento, Roberto Benigni, Morgan Freeman, and Sergio Rubini among the tooth point, is located here if you enjoy fantasy, the gothic world, and horror.
Visit Otranto’s, Aragonese Castle
The first Gothic novel in history was named after this fortress. It is surrounded by a moat and fortified by a wall, just like many castles from the Middle Ages. Most likely, the traditional drawbridge was the original method of entry to the castle. All of the rooms have an interior courtyard and have been created and laid out with a rectangular or square layout. Although it has undergone numerous modifications over the years, its construction dates to roughly the year 1000. The Frederick II of Swabia building from around 1228 and the Otranto fortification from 1480 are two of the more significant ones.
In Corigliano d’Otranto, visit Castello de Monti
It is regarded as one of the finest examples of military and feudal architecture from the first half of the sixteenth century. It was totally redesigned by Giovanni Battista Monti, and between 1516 and 1519, it underwent renovations in accordance with the period’s wartime needs.
Check out Castello Svevo in Oria
It was constructed on a hillside between 1225 and 1233 at Frederick II’s request, halfway between Brindisi and Taranto. Numerous princes and nobles called the castle their home, and the Angevin dynasty made the most significant changes to it.
Visit the Santa Maria al Bagno Aquarium
Although the museum only contains two rooms, there are plenty of oddities and curiosities. Your visit will last an hour. After seeing Santa Maria al Bagno’s aquarium, go along the waterfront where the remaining time can be spent admiring the sea as it becomes greyer due to severe weather.
Visit the Museo della Cartapesta in Lecce
Visit the Museo Della Cartapesta at the Charles V Castle while you are in Lecce. It’s essential to visit the Castle itself! After touring the museum, continue to Piazza Sant’Oronzo and the Cathedral of Lecce, where you may take pictures and take in the Lecce baroque’s glory.
Visit Nardo
If you plan to travel to Nardo, we strongly advise that you go on a walking tour with a guide. And stop by both the exquisite Museum of Prehistory and the smaller Museum of Rural Traditions. For those who enjoy shopping, Nardo has many shops.
But we also have you covered, shopping lovers.
Don’t miss out on the chance to visit Cutrofiano to grab exquisite handcrafted artisan ceramics, the renowned Apulian pumo, as well as the trendiest balloons and dinnerware sets. You may still visit the master potters’ workshops in Cutrofiano to see them in action; it’s incredible to observe them at the task!
And if you’re around over Christmas, perhaps…
Polignano a Mare’s nativity scene is alive
Few people may be aware that one of the most exquisite living nativity scenes in the nation can be seen in Polignano a Mare. It is renowned for its spectacular rocky vista overlooking the sea. In actuality, over 200 extras and volunteers who animate the town work as part of a true theatrical play. All this takes place over the Christmas season inside the Madonna di Grottole complex. A magical and unforgettable ambiance surrounds Polignano’s craft fairs. And traditional-focused dining tours, which draw onlookers over the same time period. Additionally, the village’s belvedere, which gives breathtaking sunsets, offers a fantastic outlook.