Bloc magazine summer 25.

17 With its olive groves, Baroque towns, and traditional trulli houses, Puglia feels like a world apart from Italy’s more tourist- trodden locales. Start in Lecce, often dubbed the "Florence of the South", where ornate limestone buildings glow honey-gold in the sun. Then venture to Alberobello, a UNESCO site known for its whimsical cone-roofed houses. The whitewashed villages of Ostuni and Locorotondo are also must-sees, offering picture-perfect scenes perched on rolling hills. Along the coast, Puglia boasts some of Italy’s most stunning - and least crowded - beaches. The Salento peninsula, with its Caribbean-blue waters and hidden coves, is perfect for swimming, snorkelling, or sipping a spritz at a beach bar. Puglia’s cuisine is another draw. Expect fresh orecchiette pasta, creamy burrata, and bold local wines. Many towns still follow age-old recipes and traditions, giving every meal a homegrown, heartfelt feel. Puglia delivers everything you love about Italy — food, history, scenery — but without the crowds and inflated prices. It’s a dream destination for those looking to immerse themselves in authentic southern Italian life.