Puglia is a stunning destinations as you can see from the video below reeling through footage of our Yoga Retreat there.

Keep reading to find out a little more about this beautiful region and why you should add it to your travel list.

Puglia, the sun kissed heal of Italy's boot, is known for it's rich culture, blue sky, sandy beaches, and one of the most delicious cuisines in the country. Puglia makes a perfect location for holidays easily reachable from all over Europe or on a short flight from Rome.

There are countless reasons to add Puglia to your travel list and here are our top five:

The stunning coastline

With sandy beaches, characteristic cliffs and crystal clear blue seas there is not doubt why Puglia is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Italians.

With 865 km of coastline there is space for everyone who likes to cliff jump, snorkel, relax on the beach, swim in the calm waters, or just enjoy a pizza and a glass of red contemplating the horizon.

Puglia's coast line in very varied with long stretches of golden sand, broken up by rock formations and cliffs and famous for it turquoise water especially down towards Salento.

One of our favorite excursion included on our Yoga Retreat is a day out in Polignano a Mare. This coastal town is very special as it is perched over the cliffs along the Adriatic sea, just south of Bari.

Here you can walk around the white washed town searching for the best gelato, head down to the beautiful beach for some sunbathing and end the day with dinner in a cave above the sea! 

The rich history

Puglia has a rich history with influence from the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantine Empire, the Normans and the French. There is plenty of sight seeing to do with countless ruins, churches, towns and villages laden with history.

Some of our favorite picturesque white washed towns are Ostuni and Martina Franca where you can admire Baroque and Rococo art in the many churches and along the streets.

Even as we drive along the windy roads you can feel the history in the rolling hills scattered with Trulli, ancient olive trees and enormous vineyards.

The Trulli are these characteristic cone shaped houses still used today as country homes. Dating back to the very first settlements in this part of Italy (XIV century) it is impressive how well many have been maintained.

Many are even U.N.E.S.C.O protected sites such as the town of Alberobello where the old town is a ancient settlement that counts 1030 cones, a must see in Puglia.

The delicious food

The food is an absolute highlight of this Southern Italian Region.

Puglia has been the predominant agricultural region of Italy since forever producing most of its Olive Oil and Wine. There is an abundance of local produce and the farmers markets are some of the best and most affordable we have ever seen.

The cheese, wine, seafood, meat, pasta, bread, fruit and veggies are all as fresh as can be and delicious!

Vegetarian? No problem!

Within Italy Southern Italian cuisine is the best for vegetarians. Many vegetarian option found in restaurants around the world have come from this land, where agriculture was for centuries the major source of income.

The cuisine here is rich and many traditional dishes are vegetarian and even vegan. Most pizzerias even offer gluten free dough, just ask first.

Everybody here strives to make sure you eat well!

Enjoy less crowds

Certain parts of Italy have become so crowded that being on holiday there can be more stressful than anything.

We can get so caught up in catching the most popular areas that we don't even think about how busy they are until we get there!

Even though Puglia is now getting more and more popular with many celebrities and people from all over the world wanting to experience a lifestyle of enjoying the simple pleasures it still is relatively uncrowded (except for peak summer).

This part of Italy has very pleasant weather and for a good five month out of the year, from May until October it is ideal. Our favorite months are June until the first half of July and September.

Unwind

Enjoy a slower pace, Puglia is a place where you can take a step back and enjoy the simple pleasures in life!

Good nourishing food, friendly people, walks in the countryside, floating on a lido in the turquoise sea and all at affordable prices.

All this alongside a rebalancing yoga practice can give you the mind space you need to improve your everyday life and regenerate your system.

If you want to discover Puglia with us next summer click here to find out more about our July trip.

Growing up there has been incredible and I cant wait to show you around!

Christian