As we pulled off the paved back road just off the sea onto the quiet dirt road per our TomTom instructions, we came upon two white stone pillars and a gate which opened to the gorgeous grounds of Masseria Torre Coccaro. We circled around the drive and into view came the pure white washed main [...]
A cuisine born of peasants living seasonally off the land, Pugliese cuisine is rooted in olive oil, wheat and vegetables. Puglia produces more than 50% of Italy's olive oil and it has been a thriving industry here for centuries, thus the huge olive trees and there are 50 million of them! Durum wheat grown here [...]
After a few days lounging by the pool and beach at Masseria Torre Coccaro and touring towns of Valle d'Itria, we drove south to explore the splendors of the Salento region, often considered the third island of Italy because it's very hot, dry and lined with beaches. Lecce Our first stop was the capital of [...]
The Valle d'Itria's (Itria Valley) rolling green landscape chalked full of fairytale-like trulli and pergola style vineyards is home to three of the unique towns we visited this trip. Alberobello The trulli capital is what captured my attention many years ago on the cover of Italia! Magazine and drew me to Puglia. As you walk [...]
Puglia, the heel of Italy's boot, first captured my attention several years ago when I saw pictures of Alberobello's fairytale-like trulli, white houses with conical roofs, on the cover of Italia! Magazine. Not only is it Italy, it has sun, beach, culture, cuisine, wine and spa, making it the perfect vacation spot in my book. [...]