We were in search of a short, five-day winter adventure. There were four of us, and we recently landed in MXP (Milan). Milan is centrally located with easy access to Switzerland, other neighboring European countries, and unique southern parts of Italy. Besides a day in Milan and a day trip to Lugano, Switzerland, we set our eyes on a couple of unique UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Puglia, located at the heel of Italy's boot.
Puglia exhibits the romance and rustic tranquility of the Italian countryside. Despite its cultural richness and architecture, Puglia is still one of the least-explored regions of Italy. It also offers a coastline bathed by two crystal blue seas, the Adriatic and the Ionian. Beyond Puglia's popular hotspots, there are nature reserves, dramatic caves and medieval quarters, not to mention the region's star attraction: fantastic food.
From Milan we were able to find really cheap airfare to Bari on a European budget airline, EasyJet. Bari is known for being a main port for Mediterranean cruises. Unfortunately we didn't have enough time to explore this town. Instead, we immediately took an hour-and-a-half train ride to Alberobello.
Alberobello is a small town located where Italy's heel meets its sole, is famous for its absurdly charming, jaw-dropping, white-washed, cone-topped houses. These 16th century trulli, as they're called, have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We checked out the darling hobbit-like settlements in Rione Monti, Aia Piccola and Trullo Sovrano. Trulli were designed to befuddle tax authorities by appearing as temporary field shelters. Not only is Alberobello a quaint little town, it is also a delight to the palate! We had lunch at La Cantina, a small restaurant with an open kitchen where you see cooks prepare your food using fresh local produce. It was "trulli" a delight!
Exploring the uniquely set up trulli in different neighborhoods gave us an amazing and relaxing experience. We traced Rione Monti and ended up in Chiesa di Trulli, a cute little trullo church. We spent the day exploring different areas, shopping for unique, locally produced souvenirs and did some much needed wine tastings. At the end of the day we visited Trullo Sovrano, a rich family's dwelling in the 16th century, which was the only two-level trullo.
On our last day, we booked the latest flight out and opted to hire a local travel guide to drive us for the day so we could see another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Matera. Situated in the neighboring region of Basilicata, Matera is one of Italy's most impressive and visually stunning places. Its world famous Sassi of Matera cave dwellings, carved into the sides of cliffs, stand aloft and make for an extraordinary landscape. A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, Matera is said to be one of the oldest towns in the world. It's claimed to be the third-oldest town after Aleppo and Jericho.
Matera’s unique qualities reminiscent of biblical times, makes it easy to see why the location appealed to Mel Gibson and was featured in his film "The Passion of the Christ." Many of the caves have been transformed into restaurants, hotels and shops but still retain their cave-like appearance. It is also the film location of (the newer version of the movie) "Ben-Hur." If this is not enough to acquaint you with Matera, wait until it grows in popularity as it was named the European Capital of Culture in 2019.
We’re adding this short trip to our list of another adventure of a lifetime!
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