It's often well worth veering away from the beaten track when it comes to booking Italian accommodation. Puglia, easily identified as €the heel of the boot' at the south-eastern tip of the Italian peninsula, is a fine location for a holiday, and one that is often unfairly overlooked when planning trips to Italy. For those interested in a little gastro-tourism, the southern region is a particular gem. The region is well known as some of the finest farmland in the whole of the country, so it's not just beautiful scenery that the area offers, but also delicious food and top notch accommodation. Puglia offers something delicious for every taste as you will discover below.

Finding your Fill

The vibrant towns of this part of Italy are a great place to enjoy outstanding mouth-watering cuisine. If your Italian is up to it (and even if it's not!), one of the best holiday experiences is to haggle at the food stalls that make up the small town fair, or sagre. These vendors form a vibrant, bustling, one-stop shop for local produce; it's the place to come if you want to pick up food and delicacies to enjoy later back in your accommodation. Puglia's sagres also often offer a piazza where you can enjoy live local folk music being played. Fairy lights strung through the trees provide a warm, vibrant and inclusive atmosphere.

Soaking up the Sagre

The sagres date back to a more agrarian time when the local farmers first trundled their wares to market. The traditions remain today and are a great way to enjoy the lifestyle and to sample the local seasonal produce. They are often at their busiest during the holiday season of July and August, so come prepared to rub shoulders with the locals €" literally! For those who understand a little Italian, the markets can also be a great way to observe the good hearted bragging that goes on as the farmers compete to convince all who will listen they have grown the best produce.

Local Specialities

Away from the great food that might be offered at your accommodation, Puglia has plenty of delicious and unique local dishes for you to tuck into. As one of the major food producers in Italy, the hearts of the region's residents are close to their stomachs! The area is the prime producer of the traditional caciocavallo cheese, and is also the largest producer of olive oil in all of Italy. The pasta dishes of the region make use of the distinctive orecchiette style of pasta, which is most often served up with tomato sauce, potatoes, mussels or broccoli.