Article published on 16/08/2025
Something hidden and still little explored always holds a special charm. Perhaps this is one of the many elements that make this area so unique. A treasure hidden from "indiscreet" eyes until a few years ago when it was a privilege only for a few insiders, mostly coming from neighboring areas, supporting a still very local and rustic tourism, that "baked pasta tourism" eaten on the beach on Sundays...
We are talking about the border area between the provinces of Bari, Brindisi, and Taranto: that strip of land which, having left behind the industrious capital, stretches further south toward the most authentic Puglia made of olive trees, red earth, white stone, and breathtaking coasts.
But globalization has arrived here too; the wild charm of these still untouched places has slowly traveled around the world through millions of photographs, attracting an ever-growing number of visitors.
Unlike many other places, however, this land has proudly preserved its spirit, it has not fallen prey to the uncontrolled urbanization that has devastated other stretches of our homeland's coast, nor has it bent to a depersonalized logic of mass tourism. That is why even today in Monopoli, Polignano, Ostuni, Alberobello, and surrounding areas it is still possible to come across the most authentic Apulian customs: a "noisy" fish market near the harbor; a homemade snack made of warm oven-fresh focaccia and ice-cold Peroni beer; a lunch in a real tavern based on sea urchins or broad bean and chicory cream; a permanent "committee" of gossiping women in plenary session on the edge of a public street...
But this wonderful corner of Puglia is also much more. The extraordinary and massive cliffs of Polignano, the countless Romanesque and Baroque pearls of Monopoli's historic center, the picturesque trulli of Alberobello (also scattered throughout the Itria Valley), the karst caves of Castellana, the white houses of splendid Ostuni that gaze at the sea from afar... Already the sea... An element that has always marked the rhythms in the lives of the Apulians, in this area it also becomes a triumph of crystalline colors, a spectacle of nature of rare beauty.
Moreover, this land has preserved a genuine character also in hospitality and dining! During our travels, we came across small establishments often family-run (Donna Nina, Le Contrade, Giamará B&B, Trattoria Zi' Ottavio among them) and here too we were surprised by an unexpected mix of kindness, professionalism, and sincere attention to the customer, a precious quality not always easy to find today.
In particular, accommodations vary from city center to countryside, the latter solution absolutely recommended for those seeking less concrete, more open spaces, nature, and tranquility in a spectacular setting characterized by the intense color of the earth, the characteristic trulli scattered everywhere, and enormous, gnarled centuries-old olive trees.
This is the truest Puglia, one of the few corners of Italy that in our opinion has remained truly authentic, warm, welcoming, and moving. We hope that this spontaneous character has the strength to survive for a long time, because that is what the traveler is tirelessly searching for, even when they find it unexpectedly… returning home!
