How to get there:

Until the new airport outside Ragusa operates flights, Comiso or flying into Catania or Palermo is your best bet. The distances are small; you could drive across the whole region in two hours.

 

East Coast (Apulia)

One of the prettiest places in Europe, Puglia (or Apulia as it is known in English) lies in the southern part of east Italy, in the heel of the Italian boot. All about slow living, Puglia is ideal for experiencing that cosy, local way of life with sightseeing and the most incredible white beaches all rolled into one. The landscape of Puglia is fantastic, a combination of flatland and low rolling hills with millions of century old olive trees covering the land as far as the eye can see.

 

Where to stay

If you’re looking for authenticity make sure to treat yourself to a stay in a beautiful Masseria (typical country estates in Apulia), the region is dotted with so many of them which range from simply stunning to charming and quaint.

 

Food and Wine

Like many regions in Italy, Apulia has plenty of traditional dishes which are worth tasting. The region is now drawing foodie-led travellers, including some noted chefs and restaurateurs, eager to transform local produce into unexpectedly flavourful dishes.

Puglia offers visitors a fantastic food experience for excellent value; dishes are mouth-wateringly delicious from the famous orecchiette and burrata, which alone merit a visit to Apulia, to the traditional taralli, friselle and hearty pizzas.

Producers of an enormous quantity of grapes, you can’t go to Apulia without tasting its unique autochthonous wine, Negroamaro. The full bodied red is delicious, even in summer.