The Puglia Podcast

In Puglia we embrace a slower pace of life. Il dolce far niente (sweet idleness). It's part of our culture, reflected in all of our daily rituals. We give you our suggestions to leave behind the noise of daily life and experience Puglia in the here and now [https://www.pugliaguys.com/2025/01/09/slow-travel/]. And for visitors from the USA who really like to pack a full itinerary, we offer additional tips to slow down and help manage expectations for a more meaningful, local-friendly stay in Southern Italy [https://www.pugliaguys.com/2025/05/14/top-10-tips-for-american-visitors-to-puglia/]. We're taking a summer break. See you the other side of summer. We will still be posting on our website and socials, so be sure to follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/pugliaguys/] for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.

We meet with US based writer Katerina Ferrara currently exploring Puglia through food, festivals and cultural immersion. Katerina is writing a series of travel guides on Italy, taking readers on a journey with her using festivals as a focus. The 4th book in her series "Ultimate Festival & Travel Guide Puglia" is launched on June 1, 2025. Find out about Katerina's mission on her website katerinaferrara.com [https://katerinaferrara.com]. Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/pugliaguys/] for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.

Take a Chance. Advance to Go! Welcome to Monopoli (the city in Puglia, not the board game). Adjacent to and sometimes overshadowed by its near neighbour Polignano a Mare, Monopoli offers a quieter alternative for lunch or dinner. It has a pretty old town and enjoys a less frenetic pace. The old port with its characteristic light blue and red blue fishing boats and green fishing nets drying under the sun invites you into the beating heart of its centro storico. Its medieval center, characterised by churches and convents, is compact and charming. For details and locations of the beaches, churches and restaurants mentioned in this episode, see our companion Puglia Guys Monopoli City Guide [https://www.gaypugliapodcast.com/mainguides/monopoli/]. Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/pugliaguys/] for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your visit to Puglia.

Think of Puglia and you will probably picture Alberobello’s trulli - as iconic as Polignano a Mare’s Lama Monachile - and just as likely to grace the cover of the latest edition of The Lonely Planet Guide to Puglia. Although they feature across the Itria Valley, it is the concentration of trulli found in Alberobello that makes it unique. Drawing a stream of visitors all year round tourism takes centre stage in Alberobello. Most trulli in the crowded commercialised Monti district are shops; those that are not are restaurants. Unprepared for its crowds and commercialisation, visitors can leave Alberobello feeling underwhelmed. The crowds, souvenir shops, and selfie sticks can distract from the magic. Yet no trip to Puglia would be complete without visiting Puglia’s trulli. And it is still possible to discover some of the town's quieter, "secret" spaces. For fuller details, including map locations nd full restaurant details, visit our companion Puglia Guys Alberobello Guide [https://www.gaypugliapodcast.com/mainguides/alberobello/]. Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/pugliaguys/] for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.

The masseria is one of the defining features of Puglia's landscape.  And, let’s get one thing straight: a masseria is not a villa. Where northern Italian villas were retreats for the wealthy, all frescoes and fountains, Puglia’s masserie were born of necessity. Masserie (that’s one masseria, two masserie) are living records of a region that has always had to defend itself — from pirates, plagues, bandits, and even bureaucracy.  With our resident Bari Puglia Guy, Andrea Visaggio, we explore the history and timeless legacy that is the Puglia Masseria. For more information and recommended masserie to visit, check out our Puglia Guys Masseria Guide [https://www.pugliaguys.com/2024/05/09/love-puglia-the-timeless-legacy-of-the-puglia-masseria/].  Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/pugliaguys/] for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your visit to Puglia.