Bari: The last Roman town

I am not a city person. We live in a tiny village among green hills, and whenever I am in Milan, Rome or any other big city, I feel that one day is enough. Of course I am impressed by The Last Supper or Bernini's sculptures, and I enjoy laughing with friends at a Trastevere wine bar, but the following day I just want to get back to nature or a small fishing village by the sea. Having said that it's quite surprising that I love Bari, although it's the second largest city of the Mezzogiorno, with over 300,000 inhabitants.

San Vito: a simple fishing village

My personal history with Puglia began in San Vito about ten years ago. I was traveling with friends — three small children between us — and we were staying in a masseria not far from Bari. After settling into our apartments, we wanted to head straight to the sea, and our host recommended San Vito.

Slow travel in Puglia

Can you visit Puglia without going to Ostuni, Polignano a Mare, and Bari?

Over the past months, I guided five small-group tours through Southern Italy, and now that I’m finally back at my desk, I’m excited to share some highlights with you. Let’s begin in Puglia — but off the beaten path.