At first glance, stepping off a ferry or a train, Bari might seem anything between unexceptional and ugly. But hidden away is a beautiful historic city center that rewards the curious traveler with a number of gems. The final resting place of the bones of St Nicholas, the saint who inspired the Father Christmas legend is in the Basilica that bears his name. Wander through the centro storico and most afternoons you'll find the local ladies sitting outside their homes making orecchiette, the 'small ear' shaped pasta that Puglia is famous for. If you have time a visit to the Norman castle, approaching its thousandth birthday now and still in rude health is worth an exploration to see whatever the current exhibit is.

The heel of the Italy's boot, Puglia has long been off most foreign travelers' radar, but not so for the Italians. This is where they love to go on their own vacations, particularly in summer, because the food down here is just that good. In Puglia you'll find a distinctly Mediterranean approach to life, the clear blue waters of the Adriatic and some fantastic food and wine with cuisine changing almost every few miles. One of our favorite spots on the coast is the small town of Monopoli. The whitewashed and white stone buildings of the old town and the marble-smooth limestone paving have a relaxing effect. Monopoli is popular with Italian vacationers too, but the fact that almost everyone's speaking Italian adds to that "for-locals" feeling. All the bounty of the sea is on menus around the old town, but we'll share the best places with you. You're ideally placed here for day trips either along the coast or inland to some of Puglia's small hilltop towns, the trulli of Alberobello, or the caves of Castellana Grotte.

A striking, unique sight, legend has it that Matera was once known as “Meteoron,” since its slopes pockmarked with caves resembled a meteor shower. While Matera has a more modern section, its draw is the Sassi which is likely one of the oldest continually inhabited places on earth. Sassi is a must-see, honeycombed with homes carved directly into the rock, widening ancient caves over the millennia. This rock-hewn district has barely a tree in sight, though it does have a cathedral looming above everything. The caves are thought to have been constantly used as homes for 3-9,000 years. As the locals say, "man came here and never left." Once seen as the poorest part of Italy, the caves were emptied out and modernized, so that all cave accommodations are completely modern. The caves aren’t the only reason Matera was named the 2019 European Capital of Culture alongside Plovdiv in Bulgaria. The town is known for its unique dishes, which use fresh, local ingredients, such as flowers that grow in the valley below, or a unique slow-baked bread that stays fresh for a week. The university and conservatory mean there are ample events to attend, as does the nearly year-long jazz festival, and the festival devoted to women’s fiction. The town’s famed ceramic rooster whistles make for great souvenirs. Many caves were used for churches since the earliest days of Christianity, and now serve as ancient Jerusalem in films such as "The Passion of the Christ" or the recent "Ben-Hur" remake, although you can also spot the town in "Wonder Woman," "No Time to Die," and many Italian classics.

At first glance, stepping off a ferry or a train, Bari might seem anything between unexceptional and ugly. But hidden away is a beautiful historic city center that rewards the curious traveler with a number of gems. The final resting place of the bones of St Nicholas, the saint who inspired the Father Christmas legend is in the Basilica that bears his name. Wander through the centro storico and most afternoons you'll find the local ladies sitting outside their homes making orecchiette, the 'small ear' shaped pasta that Puglia is famous for. If you have time a visit to the Norman castle, approaching its thousandth birthday now and still in rude health is worth an exploration to see whatever the current exhibit is.