4-Days Itinerary in Apulia: The Itria Valley

In this 4-day itinerary in Puglia we will focus on the Itria Valley area, land of Trulli and centuries-old olive groves, famous for its fortified “masserie” and its enchanting villages.

For this itinerary, those arriving by plane should carefully consider Brindisi airport, much more convenient and close to dedicate yourself exclusively to exploring the Valle d’Itria. Keep in mind that from Brindisi you can use the train to reach many of the locations that we will mention in this itinerary, but if you are planning to stay in one of the many masserie or agritourisms in the area, you will need a transfer service to reach your accommodation, as these are located in rural areas, far from city centers.

Renting a car or a rental with driver is highly recommended.

For this itinerary we suggest staying in the Ostuni or Fasano area. In this article we recommend some excellent accommodations.

Day 1: Ostuni, the “white city”

For the first day of your 4-day tour in Puglia, we will dedicate ourselves to visiting the city of Ostuni, better known as the “white city” because of its characteristic historic center, which in times past was completely painted with white lime. Today this city is a renowned tourist center. Your visit to Ostuni cannot fail to include the Aragonese Walls, the Cathedral, the Museum of pre-classical civilizations of the southern Murgia and Piazza della Libertà, the main square of Ostuni. Object of admiration by tourists is certainly the Obelisk of Sant’Oronzo, also called La Guglia, characterized by the fact that it was carved in local stone in Baroque style. Do not miss some typical dishes such as broad beans and chicory and the focaccia ostunese, which differs from the one from Bari for the addition of mozzarella.

Day 2: Alberobello and Castellana Caves

On the second day of your itinerary, we will move north to Alberobello, the city of Trulli, a UNESCO heritage site.

In the main districts of Aja Piccola and Monti, you can admire the Trulli Siamese and the Trullo Sovrano, characteristic because the first are two attached trulli while the second is built on two floors. During your visit, you can also appreciate the Church of Sant’Antonio da Padova, particular for its trullo shape.

You can dedicate the second half of the day to the Castellana Caves, a town that is home to the underground caves of karst origin of the same name. Here, you can take a tour with a speleologist before returning to Ostuni, the base of your trip.

Day 3: Polignano a Mare and Monopoli

For the third day of your itinerary, we will move to the coast to visit two towns that offer a beautiful view of the sea. We are talking about Polignano a Mare, the birthplace of Domenico Modugno and Monopoli.

One of the major attractions of Polignano a Mare is Lama Monachile, a single-span Roman construction dating back to the 2nd century AD. Cala Paura beach is a small corner of paradise consisting of two inlets and a small dock for traditional boats. The coast of Polignano a Mare also offers a large number of sea caves that can be visited by booking a boat tour.

The second half of the day is dedicated to Monopoli, one of the busiest and most populous ports in Puglia. Its historic center is a riot of stately buildings and churches such as the Cathedral of Maria Santissima della Madia, with its Baroque façade and bell tower. Not to be missed in Monopoli is the Castle of Charles V and the Castle of Santo Stefano. But Monopoli is especially famous for its beaches and coves with clear waters. Among the most famous and visited bays are Cala Porta Vecchia, Porto Nero, Porto Verde and Copacabana. End the day with a dinner in a typical restaurant in the historic center of Monopoli, before returning to Ostuni.

Day 4: Martina Franca and its wineries

The last day of your trip to Puglia is dedicated to visiting a village characterized by its wine. We are talking about Martina Franca and its Primitivo. In addition to the beauty of its baroque buildings such as the Basilica of San Martino in Piazza Plebiscito, the Valle d’Itria area is famous for its vineyards. Martina Franca is the ideal place to live a typical Puglia experience: tasting local wines through a tour of the best wineries in the area. In this article we recommend some of them. You cannot leave without tasting the capocollo of Martina Franca and its tasty meat bombs.

At the end of this day, return to Ostuni. Your 4-day itinerary in Puglia has come to an end.

If you have more days available, you can enrich your itinerary by visiting the Salento area. You can find our itinerary ideas here.