Apulia, in Italian Puglia, is the boot's heel between the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea. The region's landscape ranges from flat to mountainous and has about 800 km of coastline. The North of Apulia is dominated by the mountainous peninsula Gargano, the center by plains, limestone plateaus and valleys such as the trulli-valley "Valle d'Itria" and by the peninsula "Salento" in the south.
In the coastal towns and in the localities in the hinterland individual holiday apartments and holiday cottages are waiting for holiday makers. They are in an ideal position to enjoy both the beaches for a bathing holiday and the hinterland for a stay amidst nature.

Trulli and holiday homes in Apulia

For culture lovers Apulia has a lot to offer. Whether you prefer the famous baroque city Lecce in the south, the "Città Bianca" Ostuni, the castle "Castel del Monte" build by the Hohenstaufen emperor Frederick II, the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage trulli capital "Alberobello", everywhere evidence of a turbulent history is to be found. In almost every town there are interesting remnants from the past.
Many buildings have been renovated and thus Masserie now house holiday apartments, trulli have been turned into a holiday cottage and in the meandering alleys of the historic centres there a quite a few enchanting holiday accommodations. They are ideal vacation rentals for those who want to spend an individual vacation in an authentic atmosphere.
Apulia is the Mecca of the Mediterranean cuisine. The main ingredients are fresh vegetables and herbs when preparing fish- and meat dishes. In the region, also called Italy's breadbasket, pasta and bread play a great role, but also vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants, zucchini, peppers, chick peas and fennel, grown in the plains. Meat and various cheeses come from the hinterland. And not to forget the plentiful ingredients from the sea - fish and seafood. The fruity olive oil, known beyond the Apulian borders, is part of every meal. The restaurants on the coast or in the small towns and villages in the hinterland offer delicious meals. Our favourite in Apulia are the starters - antipasti - they are simply awesome! And don't forget to try the "dolci" (sweets). The dream-like Bocconotti made from puff pastry with a Amarena-cherry jam or crema (vanilla custard) or the variety of almond cookies are mouth-watering.
It's best to buy the fresh products on the weekly market, so you can prepare a wonderful meal in your holiday apartment or holiday home , and enjoy it on your terrace with a glass of regional wine.
Wine - Apulia is one of the oldest wine growing area in the world, because as early as 3000 years ago the Phoenicians and the Greek planted vine stocks. Grape varieties like the Primitivo, Negroamaro, Malvasia Nera, Somarello, Uva di Toia and Verdeca make great wines. Apulia shares its top position in Italian wine production with Sicily.
The climate with its 300 days of sunshine a year is very mild and allows a long bathing season. The long coast is very varying and offers fine sandy beaches and small cove, alternated by rocky parts. Sun lovers and divers get their money's worth.
The inland is multifaceted. Here you find green plains, vast cornfields of the Tavoliere-area, karst landscapes in the Murge, rolling hills of the Valle d´Itria and wide areas of silver-green olive groves. The undisputed star of the Apulian flora is the olive tree. Nowhere else you will find centuries-old olive groves, with every tree being an artwork of nature.
In the early spring a colourful sea of blossoms catches the eye. As early as March the poppy, marguerites and gladiolas begin to bloom. Hidden in the non-cultivated areas and in the macchia beautiful orchids grow, such as late-spider orchids or naked-man orchids.
What else does one need for a wonderful vacation? Enjoy your holidays in a quaint trullo on the country side, a holiday accommodation in a Masseria or an apartment in the old town.

Apulia - Brindisi, Cisternino
here: holiday home - Trullo Rosa


Apulia - Brindisi, Cisternio
here: holiday apartments
Residence Trullia


Apulia - Brindisi, Cisternino
here: holiday apartment
Masseria Luisa


Apulia - Tarent, Martina Franca
here: holiday home with pool
Trullo Motolese


Apulia - Brindisi,Ostuni
here: holiday apartment - Casa Graziella


Apulia - Brindisi, Cisternino
here: holiday home - Trullo dei Fiori


Apulia - Brindisi, Cisternino
here: holiday home - Villa Termetrio

A Masseria is the Apulian form of an old manor. The rich landlords decorated the multi-storey main building with terraces, ornamental monumental outside staircases and frescoes. In the farmyard there were of course stables, accommodations for the workers and warehouses, too. Due to safety reasons all entrances were set in the inner courtyard, as well as all windows. A thick external wall was supposed to protect from attacks. Nowadays many Masserie have been tastefully restored in the old style and turned into a tourist accommodation.

The most typical construction form of Apulia is surely the Trullo. The circular construction from limestone is covered by a cylindrical roof, that is often crowned by a decorated spire. The small windowless buildings stand alone or form a group which makes them appear even more fairytale-like. In old times the Trullo saved from the dreaded house tax. Since the construction wasn’t considered a house, the tax was not collected. The cute little houses are fully or partly whitewashed or kept in the original gray colour. Everywhere in the Valle d’Itria, the valley of the Trulli, the spires of the Trulli peep through the olive groves.
There often are enigmatic symbols painted on the conical Trulli-roofs with whitewash-paint. They are of esoteric, magic, pagan or religious nature. Among the religious symbols the Cross for Christendom, the Magen David for Judaism and the Crescent for Islam are to be found.

A rectangular building on the countryside, mostly with a natural stone facade, is called Lamia. On the inside there is a surprising barrel vault made from trass. Thanks to its form the Lamia has a larger terrace than a Trullo, that was used for diverse purposes i.e. figs were dried there. The typical little staircase leading onto the terrace is attached to one of the two long sides of the house.