The Area

A UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the concentration and multitude of trulli found in the town (about 1,500 of them!).

Probably the most touristy of all the towns in the Valle D'Itria, but still worth a visit. Wander down the narrow trulli-lined streets, dipping in to the predominantly souvenir-filled shops (the leatherwork shop is worth a look). Sit and have a coffee or grab some freshly baked foccacia at "La Lira" foccaceria.

If you are parking in the trulli zone, make sure you pay for your parking at the machines. The Wine Museum, situated near the train station in Alberobello is worth a visit too.

There are two handy supermarkets in Alberobello.

As you enter Alberobello, (from Trullo Genna) take the 3rd exit off the roundabout and after a few hundred yards you will see Doc Supermarket on your left, there is a small carpark. It is open 7 days a week now, but shorter hours on Sunday.

Alternatively keep going on the same road a little further and you will find the newer 'Conad' on your right. This too has a carpark.

On the same road just after 'Conad' you will see 'Il Fidelio" ristorante on your left which serves good food in elegant surroundings.

Our favourite place to eat though, is the Trattoria next door called "Gli Ulivi". It is one of the most popular places for locals to eat which is high praise indeed. The food is wonderfully tasty - try the antipasto della casa - but be warned there is a lot of it! - and the vino della casa is great too. This wonderful trattoria is great value for your euro.

Like many places, pizza is only served in the evening. You can pick up a takeaway pizza from here (pizze da asporto) if you fancy eating at Genna. 

Click for map of Alberobello or Directions to Alberobello from Genna

Famous for its vast complex of underground limestone caves filled with amazing cathedral like stalagmites and stalactites the Grotte are only a few kilometres away from Genna. There are two tours in English - one is 50mins, the other 2hrs long. (check the link for times www.grottedicastellana.it)

This is a fabulous place to go to cool off - remember to wear 'sensible' shoes, and take a jumper with you.

Within the town there are a few good places to eat - 'Osteria del Caroseno' is always good.

'Masseria Papaperta' is described as being in Castellana but is in fact probably the closest place to eat from Trullo Genna. When you take the tarmac lane down to the main road and reach the roundabout (Alberobello is left, Putignano is right) go straight over toward Noci. After about 50 metres you will find the entrance for Masseria Papaperta on your right. This is a working masseria/farm so you must book by telephone beforehand. You will find the number in the information booklet or on their website.

For those of you with kids there is an Adventure Playground in Castellana called 'Indiana Park'. You will find ropeladder walking, tree climbing, cable slides for all different ages and levels and picnic and bbq areas to use. 

Click for map of Castellana Grotte

Known as the 'Citta di Carnevale' Putignano's Carnevale is both one of the longest (2 months long) and the oldest.

On the 26th of December 1394 the relics of Santo Stefano were brought to the Church of Santa Maria della Grecia, Putignano for safekeeping. It is the celebration of this event -the 'Propaggini'- that begins the Carnevale, which finishes on Shrove Tuesday.

Interestingly, the 'Propaggini' combines the sacred and the profane. Religious events and celebrations alternate with bawdy performances of satire and poetry ridiculing Political figures, current affairs and even the Church - much like Ancient Greek plays would do in their heyday. There are 4 major parades with carefully crafted papier-mache floats and masks.

On the 2nd of February they celebrate the 'Festa dell'Orso" and on Shrove Tuesday the Carnevale finally finishes and Lent begins.

The town itself is one of our favourites as it is distinctly non-touristy. There are nice cafes that run along the Main Street where you can grab breakfast, an icecream or a coffee. There is a good bar called 'Giglionero' on Corso Umberto, where you can have a drink or a coffee and then eat a good meal in the ristorante area. As with all the local towns if you go during Siesta (2-4pm) most shops are closed. A better time to go is during the 'passegiata' - 8.30 p.m onwards, where everyone young and old comes out for a stroll and a catch up.

'Scinua' is a popular and good ristorante on Via Santa Lucia. The owner cooks traditional Puglian cuisine with his own twist. Everything is seasonal and additive free. It is best to book by phone in advance - the number is in the information booklet.

If you just fancy a pizza 'Old Money Pizzeria' is good and does takeaway too. It is on the outskirts of Putignano on the road to Castellana Grotte. Athough not a pretty location, it is open early and the service is fast.

'La Famila' is the biggest supermarket (you passed this when you came from the airport) with plenty of parking on the roof - which is always an option if you fail to get a space in the "centro storico". 

Locorontondo's circular Centro storico perches on top of a hill overlooking the trulli-filled valley below. A panoramic street encircles part of the centre, and it is from here you will get a fabulous view over the Valle D'Itria.

Check out tripadvisor for recent reviews and recommendations for places to eat. Its local speciality is 'u tridde' - fresh pasta with pecorino cheese and parsley in turkey broth.

The view of Locorontondo itself, if you are coming from Martina Franca, is a photographer's dream. A curving wall of white -washed houses perched against the clear blue sky.

Famous for its white wine - this is a great place to go to the wine co-operative to taste and buy a few bottles or in bulk. The Cantina Sociale del Locorontondo is found on Via Madonna della Catena, which is close to the station. Check out its' range at www.locorontondodoc.com or just pop in.

Martina Franca is a beautiful and elegant Baroque town. A wonderful place to visit for the passegiata in the evening, or to savour a long lunch or dinner. The local speciality is 'capocollo' - a type of cured ham. There are lots of lovely little shops and cafe/bars - but remember, like most of the local towns, during siesta time shops and banks are closed.

Park somewhere along the ancient medieval wall which is punctuated by various arched entranceways that will lead you through narrow cobbled streets to the main piazzas. Piazza Plebisco has a couple of lovely ristorante where you can dine alfesco and gaze at the Baroque splendour of Basilica di San Martino.

Martina Franca hosts an Internationally renowned Classical Music Festival that runs for just over two weeks at the end of July. Check out exact dates and the full programme of events www.festivaldellavalleditria.it

Another of the region's 'citta bianche' (white towns), this is a lovely little town that lies between Locorontondo and Ostuni. It's nickname is the 'citta per la pace' (city of peace).

There are lots of good trattorie/ristorante to eat in and the central piazza with its lovely clock tower will always remind us of watching the 2006 World Cup on an outside screen, amongst the locals when Italy was victorious over France. Champagne bottles popping from the balconies and lots of cheering and celebrating into the wee small hours - not peaceful that night but great fun!

The local speciality here is 'bombette' which are little meat parcels filled with mince, ham and cheese. You can buy them at special butchers called "rosticceria' - they will cook them for you and bring them out to you whilst you enjoy a carafe of local wine.

Every Sunday at Noon in July and August in the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele there is live classical music and apperitivi.

Ostuni marks the end of the Valle D'Itria and the beginning of the Salento plain. Called the 'Citta Bianche', its whitewashed buildings perch dramatically on top of three hills with fantastic views of olive groves, trulli-dotted landscape and the sea beyond.

It is a chic and popular destination, with lots of stylish bars and eateries. There are lots of lovely little shops as you wander up the narrow streets off the main piazza, and the Adriatic Coast is only 8km away with some of Puglia's best beaches to enjoy.italia.trovaspiagge.it/Puglia/Ostuni

Nicknamed the 'pearl of the Adriatic' , Polignano a Mare is a beautiful small seaside town perched precariously on the edge of limestone cliffs. It is definitely worth a visit.

Enter the old town through the medieval Porta Grande and see if you can spot the holes that activated the original drawbridge and the openings where boiling oil was poured on to unwelcome visitors.

Wander round the little streets of the medieval centre.

Enjoy the artisan ironwork and jewellery shops and maybe stop for a coffee or cool drink at one of the lovely cafes in the main piazza or take in the views of the beautiful Adriatic Sea.

The best ice cream shop is to be found just outside of the old town and is not to be missed - 'Bella Blu Gelateria'. It has a huge selection of flavours and an area upstairs to sit and eat them.

The crystal clear waters, partially submerged sea caves and 'blue flag' beaches make Polignano the perfect day trip.

This was the birthplace of Domenico Modugno who wrote 'Volare'.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site really is worth the drive (just over an hour from Alberobello). An amazing place hewn out of rock. Used as a film location for Mel Gibson's 'Passion of Christ' - this town is said to be one of the world's oldest, inhabited for around 7000 years.

Half of Matera's population still lived in their cave-homes in the 1950's (often with no running water or electricity), and it wasn't until the late 1950's/1960's that the authorities were finally shamed into relocating the last 15,000 inhabitants to new housing. This was due, in large part, to Carlo Levi's book 'Christ stopped at Eboli', where attention was drawn to the fact children would have to beg passers-by for quinine to stave of the deadly malaria (infant mortality was a shocking 50%).

Now it's a fascinating and atmospheric place to explore. We can thoroughly recommend taking a tour of the old town and having lunch in the trattoria which sits at the bottom of the sassi area. For up to date recommendations for alternative restaurants check tripadvisor.

Lovely old fishing port with picturesque harbour. Explore the 16th Century Castle and the Baroque Cathedral and then enjoy the beach which sits just outside the fortified walls of the town.

If you wander on foot, 10 minutes South of here you reach Lido Bianco where you can have a lovely fresh seafood lunch.

One of our favourite seaside towns, Trani is known as the "pearl of Puglia", and once you visit it you will understand why. The majestic and imposing Romanesque Cathedral sits right on the waterfront - pale walls reflecting the sun and the sea, which is particularly magical as the sun sets casting a rosy glow.

Visit the impressive Castle that lies just North of the Cathedral. Amble down to the old port and watch the local fishermen haul in their catch, which you can taste at one of the many excellent seafood restaurants.

Ognissanti Church - a church erected by the Knights Templars - sits here in the old port, and it was from here the First Crusaders would have boarded their ships to go Eastwards. Trani is a great place to come to eat if you are visiting the Castel Del Monte.

Set on a hilltop, Castel Del Monte is one of the most impressive Castles to visit in Puglia and has UNESCO status. This mysterious octagonal castle was built by Frederick II (finished in 1240) and became the permanent seat of his court. It is placed exactly midway between the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt and Chatres Cathedral in France.

Frederick II himself was a fascinating, influential and cultured character. A 'Da Vinci' of his day - humanist, patron of the arts, poetry and science - he was passionate about astronomy and geometry and a real forward thinker.

He brought scholars and artists from the Arab lands, Greece and elsewhere to his court. He had the works of Aristotle, Ptolemy and Galen translated into Latin and founded the University of Naples. His many talents earned him the title of 'Stupor Mundi' - Wonder of the World.

For 5 euros you park at the bottom of the hill and a bus will take you up to the castle itself. Plan to visit Trani on the same day trip as the castle itself is fairly stark inside with no museum.

Gallipoli is a lovely fishing port situated on the Western Side of Puglia on the Ionian Coast. Its Old Town sits on a tiny island connected to the mainland by a bridge. In the Summer it has lots of cafes, bars and restaurants that have tables on the pavements overlooking the sea and the large beach 'Spiaggia della Purita'. This beach is ideal for those that don't like the isolation of out of town beaches. The water is calm, clear and warm - this is a great day out to combine the beach, a spot of shopping and of course a lovely meal washed down with local wines. It is very busy in the summer months though.

If you want a bit more space there are lots of long sandy beaches running up the coast North of Gallipoli, or why not visit the beach at 'Punta della Suina' which is a lovely beach just South of Gallipoli, surrounded by pine forests which gives you a lovely view of Gallipoli. There is a lively bar at the lido with toilets, but if you walk beyond this you can find a more peaceful spot to lie.

Nearer to Taranto if you take the exit for Pulsano you could go to Lido Silvana or Lido Gandoli which are free.

Although a bit of a drive, it would be a shame to miss this elegant Baroque town. Lecce is the capital of Salento and is known as the 'Florence of the South'. Park your car in the historic district near the castle and then explore the many beautiful piazzas, the stunning Baroque architecture and there is even a large Roman Amphitheatre right in the heart of the town.

This is a University town so it has a lively and vibrant feel all year round. If you want a night to enjoy the city's delights as well as a bit of shopping we would recommend staying at the Mantatelure - a fantastic B & B, right in the heart of the old town. www.mantatelure.it/en

The Adriatic is located approximately 30 minutes from Trullo Genna. All along the coastline North and South there are restaurants and beaches - the further South the sandier the beaches.

The best beaches in the area can be found at Pilone and Monopoli.

Pilone can be found by driving down to Fasano and then heading toward Brindisi on the SS16 (the main super strada running along the coast between Bari and Brindisi) Pass Fasano and Torre Canne and then take the exit for 'Pilone'. At the roundabout you will be faced with two signs for Pilone - take the exit that runs back parallel with the SS16.

After a couple of kilometres there are a number of lidi, our favourite is Lido Mediteraneo. The parking usually costs 5 euros. There is a small cafe here to get drinks and lunch with toilets and showers. You can hire sunbeds for a small fee from here too and they will place them where you like. It is lovely shallow water here so perfect for kids.

Other beaches that have been recommended that are near Monopoli are - Lido Torre Egnatia, Lido Verde and Lido Bianco.

Near Taranto - take the exit for 'Pulsano' - Lido Silvana and Lido Gandoli are free beaches

South of Gallipoli - ''Punta Della Suina' - slightly rocky when entering the water but lovely views of Gallipoli and a trendy bar with toilets.

In the evening Italians eat late - usually 21.00 onwards.

Between 14.30 and 19.00 you can find bars open which serve sandwiches and snacks.

All the restaurants are very happy to see families with children of all ages.

There are wonderful eateries in every town - we have recommended some in the 'Local Towns' section above and Tripadvisor is always good to get recent reviews . The food here in Puglia is fresh, simple and delicious as are the local wines.

Pizzas are often only on offer in the evenings.