Puglia - the Italians' holiday paradise

Puglia, or Apulia as it is called in Italian, is the region in southern Italy that goes down in the 'heel'. Where the Adriatic and Ionian seas meet, you'll find everything from architecture and ancient culture to good food and long, beautiful beaches. Puglia is the Italians' own holiday paradise, and it's not hard to see why they love this part of Italy.

Many motorhomes in Puglia

I believe never that I have seen so many motorhomes and so many pitches along the same coast. But it's pretty much only Italians who move around here in Puglia. We haven't seen a single car or motorhome with a foreign licence plate. So if you want to discover the Italians' own 'secret' holiday paradise, this is the place to go!

We started in Taranto this morning and followed the south-west coastline towards the tip of the "cliff". Here the beaches are flat and we saw a huge number of motorhomes. There are pitches almost everywhere and between these the Italians are happily fricamping. They park just about anywhere and some back up way out on the beaches without shame.

Husbilar står överallt längs kusten - både på ställplatser och helt oorganiserat — Motorhomes are everywhere along the Puglian coast - both on pitches and in a completely unorganised way.

READ MORE: Driving in southern Italy
READ MORE: Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Otranto, Italy

Leuca - the city at the tip

On the way to the "tip" of the hill, we chose the smaller and more beautiful roads and had to deal with both narrow alleys and deep puddles - but it was fine. At the end we took some obligatory photos in Santa Maria di Leuca, the town at the tip. It's kind of cool to stand here at the end and look out at the sea!

When we then turned around and started driving upwards again along the north-eastern coastline, the scenery was completely different: steep mountains and rocky outcrops. absolutely no parking spaces. So where should we park now? We finally had to make a decision and we have now parked in a car park by a small marina and paid the parking fee. We just hope that no one will be angry (and they shouldn't be, given the way Italians park!).

"Små" vattenpölar här och där på vägarna — "Small" puddles here and there on the roads

Ananasbaren vid Italiens "ände"... — The pineapple bar at the 'end' of Italy...

Branta klippor som är mycket populära för bad - kolla alla människor! — Steep cliffs that are very popular for swimming - check out all the people!

11 August 2015 20:52

Italy

Motorhome holidays in Italy, car park, roads

Helena

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Maggan and Ingemar says:

Looks like you had a rain storm 🙂 Agree with the nature of the roads....terrible many times. We usually avoid the motorways because they are not always better and you do not see so much, mostly as a transport route. We took the ferry Brindisi - Igomenitsa. It takes about 8 hours. Hope you have a quiet crossing. We liked Greece and most people speak English. The water is lovely and there are many nice free camping sites, but even the campsites are open at this time of year. Oh how I envy you. 🙂 In Igoumenitsa you can buy internet we bought Wind as we were recommended and would be the best. But it did not work everywhere, best in cities and villages. Monolithi Beach just before Preveza has a nice beach. Have a good time.

11 August 2015 - 22:52

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BP says:

Well, we saw the weather report on the BBC and could see that both Spain and Italy would be hit by thunderstorms and rain. Just like in Spain, water runoff in Italy is not exactly like in Sweden, so to speak.

Fun to stand on the southernmost tip of the "world" - a memory for life too.

Once again - be glad to get away from all the other tourists. At least the Italians are on their home turf and I guess they consider you a bit "exotic" - if they could speak English that is;-)

11 August 2015 - 23:07

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admin says:

Maggan and Ingemar, many thanks for your tips! Great tips about beaches and internet! Interesting that many people speak English. You can't say that here, even though some people speak very good English.

BP, yes rain and thunder from time to time, but that doesn't matter. But the water drainage leaves a lot to be desired! And yes, it is fun to come to these places where there are few foreign tourists.

12 August 2015 - 7:03

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Anette Å says:

Hello again!
Just want to raise a warning finger! They are a bit on the hook the police in Greece, we have not fricamped as much this year, but we stood at Kanali Beach just before Preveza, a large beach bar has been built there, but in return you have wifi! And if you go the other way, there are not so many souls on the beach:) The river Acheron and its outlet in Ammoudia is also a place you can stand on, although they said that the police were there but the police we met this year have said no furniture around the car, sit on the beach, and it's ok for us! You will notice how it is, have a nice trip over!

12 August 2015 - 9:17

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Elisabeth says:

My curiosity is piqued more and more by following your journey. I have never been south of Naples, so I would really like to go to the foot, but not when there are so many people. Hugs

12 August 2015 - 9:20

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Ama de casa says:

We were out there on the cliff in 2009 when we went over to Greece to sail. Very nice! But we were there at the end of May - a bit calmer then 🙂 .

Oh my... You're so close to the edge! Move in a few metres, at least! Thank you in advance!
🙂

12 August 2015 - 9:32

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Mr Steve says:

Now even I know what it looks like at the end of the 'heel'.
Scary with all the people on those steep cliffs. I wonder what the accident statistics look like there. Is it typically Swedish to think such a thought? Or perhaps typical of me, who is not so adventurous anymore.

12 August 2015 - 9:33

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admin says:

Anette, thank you very much for both the tips and the warning! Very valuable!!!

Elisabeth, it's great that we inspire! And most places are quieter in any other month than August 😉.

Ama de casa, haha I probably wasn't that close... I'm afraid of heights! 😉 Glad you were here! 🙂

Steve, yes I suspect that is typically Swedish 😉 But you may be right. I suspect though that traffic is an even bigger risk!

12 August 2015 - 13:03

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Ditte says:

Fun with the changing nature and to be among Italians. All of Europe has a holiday in August so it will probably be both "party, people and speed", even in Greece if you are going there. Hope you can get out to the smaller islands, but maybe it will be tarred with the motorhome.
In Greece, I have most experience of the mainland north and south of Athens, Parga and areas outside Thessaloniki.
I imagine there is good snorkelling there at the cliffs, but perhaps steep to get in.
Food? Has it improved?
It's great to join the journey. Really!

12 August 2015 - 16:50

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admin says:

Ditte, glad you're joining us! Yes, August is August, there is not much to do about it. We rarely eat out, but there have been some snacks (aperitivo) and some sandwiches (without lasagne plates!) And it has tasted good 🙂 We will see how it is in Greece, but it will probably be a fairly short visit (because we end up in the far north with the boat) before we get into Albania.

12 August 2015 - 16:58

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ROPES says:

So beautiful! Interesting to find out more about Italy and what traditions Italians have, what with motorhomes.

14 August 2015 - 12:55

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Puglia - the Italians' holiday paradise

Many motorhomes in Puglia

Leuca - the city at the tip

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11 Comments

Maggan and Ingemar says:

BP says:

admin says:

Anette Å says:

Elisabeth says:

Ama de casa says:

Mr Steve says:

admin says:

Ditte says:

admin says:

ROPES says:

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