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The Bond story. The James Bond story. ☺️ . Tacky or not, the very first time I got to know about Matera was from a James Bond movie. I’m far from being a fan, but my boyfriend at that time was, so I watched the 25th episode, “No time to Die” in a big screen cinema. Remember that iconic car chase scene with the elegant silver Aston Martin DB5 speeding through the narrow cobblestone streets? That is Matera… Boyfriend got fascinated and glued to the screen by the action scenes, meanwhile I quietly started to google the filming locations… . James Bond indeed made a good PR for Matera old town, and its old cave cut dwellings, the sassi; thus nowadays Bond maniacs can sign up for 007 set tours! . It is important to note, that the filming crew was very cautious to protect the UNESCO heritage site. Interesting fact is that to avoid the slipping of vehicles in the car drifting scenes, they poured down 8400 gallons of Coca Cola onto the cobble stone for a better grip. ☺️ . To boost tourism, some of the old caves of the sassi are turned into boutique hotels, and for a unique experience, it’s worth to splurge on them. For example Sant’Angelo Cave Hotel advertises itself as the place to stay to feel the real Bond life “shaken, not stirred”. ☺️ . . . . . #italy #italia #matera #basilicata #jamesbondlifestyle

“Dolce far niente!” - “the sweetness of doing nothing”. One of the things I envy from Italians is this simple phrase and the lifestyle going with it. . To slow down, relax, enjoy life, and be happy for the tiniest little pleasures happening to you. A cup of tasty espresso, a nice stroll among flowers, a great laughter with friends, an any time short nap, splashing water on the beach, a good book which helps to reconnect with yourself… . We should somehow carve out more time and more often for these simple but very important moments to feed our souls. Do you remember when was the last time that you were “dolce far niente”?! ☺️ What about doing it this weekend? ☺️ . . . . . #italy #italia #puglia #summerdestination #dolcefarniente

Volare, oh-oh Cantare, oh-oh-oh-oh… . Have you heard this song from Louis Armstrong? Ray Charles? Gipsy Kings? Frank Sinatra? Or maybe in Woody Allen’s ‘To Rome with Love”? It might be Italy’s essence when it comes to music, and yes, it is originally from Puglia, from Polignano a Mare. . The original recording artist and writer is Pugliese local Domenico Modugno, and the title of the later 2 Grammy winning song is “Nel blu dipinto di blu”. . The little fishing village is so proud of Domenico, that he has a statue on the sea side, and his catchy evergreen lyrics are displayed as an illuminated inscription along Via Roma, the main pedestrian street in the historic center of Polignano a Mare. . Check this cute Italian gem, it’s totally worth it! . . . . . #italy #italia #puglia #polignanoamare #summerdestinstion

Do you know why Ostuni is called the Città Bianca D’Italia – The White City of Italy? . According to a local legend, in the 17th-century, 1656-57 precisely, a plague ravaged the region of Puglia. Back in time, “the black death” was believed to be a punishment from God, because of people’s evil deeds. So to justify their honesty and purity, the citizens of Ostuni started to paint their houses white - the symbol of flawlessness - with lime whitewash. There were also huge gatherings to pray collectively to Saint Orontius/Sant’Oronzo to protect the community. . The plague was easy on Ostuni, so Saint Orontius was venerated with even greater respect. Every year, at the end of August, the Cavalcata di Sant’Oronzo is an equestrian procession to honor him. And the tradition of painting the walls white remained as well. . While nobody can state, that it was not a miracle which spared Ostuni from the plague, keep in mind, that limestone acts as a natural antibacterial disinfectant increasing hygiene during a pandemic. ☺️ . By the way, besides the “Plague Myth”, there is another explanation for the city’s whiteness. According to the “Mirror Myth”, the white homes were meant to blind invaders navigating the maze-like, medieval city layout. . . . . . #italy #italia #ostuni #puglia #europe

How far would you go to avoid tax??? 😂 . Welcome to fairy tale land, Alberobello, and its thousands of mushroom looking trulli houses! But what is the trullo? Trullo houses are specific to Puglia, made of lime stone, rocks and chiancarella slabs. They have a conical roof and they are constructed without mortar, which is very unusual, considering that they date to the 17th century. . A law in force in the Kingdom of Naples, the Pragmatica de Baronibus obliged the payment of large sums, when a new village was built. The landlord of Arbellobello, Giangirolamo II ordered the new habitants of Alberobello to build their new houses from local materials, and without mortar, so they looked like older makeshift constructions of sheperds and farmers. The first trulli appeared in Alberobello around 1635, but due to the clever idea, tax collectors could do nothing here. . Alberobello, the “Capital of Trulli” is a UNESCO site. About 1000+ trulli are in the famous Rione Monti quarter, which is very picturesque, full with cute souvenir shops, cafés, and boutique accommodations. Another 500+ can be found in the Rione Aia Piccola district, which is less commercialised, and some of the houses are still habited. . The best plan in Alberobello is to have no plan at all, and just simply meander and wander to your heart’s desire (early, before the crowds!). The little gnome shaped mushroom houses are extremely adorable just to look at. . BUT! Here’s a pro trip: if you see the sign “Casolare Panoramica”, go inside, buy something small from the local vendor, who then will allow you to go to the rooftop, to see the town from a totally different perspective. 😉 . . . . . #italy #italia #puglia #alberobello #bestcitiesofeurope

Cacti in Puglia?!?! . All around Puglia you’ll see a lot of peddle cactus or fico d’India hanging above doorways, windows or on the walls. Some of these are real, some are ceramics. But is this just decoration? Or what are they for? . Well, in this southern region of Italy paddle cactus is believed to be an apotropaic amulet to guard against intruders, negative energy, evil spirits, and of course to avert the “malocchio”, the gaze of envy. The thorns of the cactus act as a symbolic and physical shield, and also “prick” or blind anybody with the evil eye. . The ceramic version is a popular souvenir as well, so it’s perfect if you want to take home something unique from Puglia! . . . . . #italy #italia #puglia #summerdestination #europe

Ciao Ostuni! . Driving through the beautiful Valle d’Itria in Puglia, you will see Ostuni long before you arrive. And it’s like a visual orgy: the aqua blue water of the Adriatic sea, the thousands of silver olive trees topped with harsh green leaves, the azure sky… then on top of a hill, a bright white city appears. . Ostuni is another typical, but at the same time unique smaller town of Southern Italy. It is tranquil, laid back, full with medieval buildings and churches ranging from romanesque to baroque, and of course hundreds of historical white houses. They provide its Italian nickname: Città Bianca D’Italia – The White City of Italy. . Getting lost in old town, in the “centro storico” is is the best way to explore Ostuni. Its meandering small streets, the little flower covered shrines on the corners, the small gardens with Methuselah-aged olive trees and cacti, or the colourful clothes hung out to dry among the blinding white alley walls is as atmospheric as charming… 💕 . . . . . #italy #italia #puglia #ostuni #summerdestination

PORTO ANTICO DI MONOPOLI - Can you hear the marvellous melody of these words in your head? ☺️ . Monopoli is an old fishing village with a lot of charm, and though it is an up and coming destination lately, it still preserved its authentic vibe. Sit into a café to sip a cappuccino (do not upset the Italian nonnas, so strictly in the morning time! ☺️) or have an Aperol/Campari spritz on one of the terraces (strictly any time! 😉) and most likely you’ll be surrounded just by smiling locals. There’s not much of a rush here. Tranquility is valued and praised. . So is simple beauty. One of the best parts of the city is the old port, the “porto antico” where the red and blue fishing boats - called gonzo - still do their duty on a daily basis, and carry their heavy loads of morning catch. And in the afternoon? They just rest peacefully anchored colouring and beautifying the turquoise water of the Mediterranean… . . . . . #italy #italia #Puglia #Monopoli #europe

Matera… Might be among the most fascinating but still underrated UNESCO sights of Italy. Although it is not in Puglia, but Basilicata, the easiest access (bus/train) is from Bari, so if you happen to be to the south, do not miss it! . Matera got famous of the “sassi” (from latin saxum-rock), which are well-preserved rock-cut cave houses dug into the limestone rocks. The origin of the Sassi dates back to at least 7000 BC!, but they had been inhabited well until the 1950s by really poor families, and the area was called “the shame of Italy”. . You can find the sassi on both sides of the valley/“ravine”. The southern one, Sassi Caveoso preserved more from its authenticity, although many of the cave houses and cave churches are fenced off, and considered statically dangerous. . The northern part is called Sasso Barisano. It has undergone a significant amount of development: caves got stone facades, restaurants and boutique hotels opened. Restoration and preservation was so successful, that Matera was chosen as the European City of Culture in 2019. . Matera doesn’t really have highlights per sé. You should just get lost in the labyrinth-like narrow alleyways, wander the piazzas and the countless stone arches to soak up the vibe, and climb as many stone stairs as you can in search for the best viewpoints. Spending the whole day here is easy, just be cautious with the sun! . . . . . #italy #italia #matera #summerdestination #europe

Spinning around to find a husband? Anybody? ☺️ . Even the smallest town in Italy will have several ageing Catholic churches - and Bari is no different. As the home to the Vatican City, the Pope, and centuries of artistic legacy, Christianity is deeply embedded in Italian life. . Nowadays, according to statistics, only 1/3 of the citizens practice their religion actively, but as a historically rich nation, Italy is deeply intertwined with Roman Catholicism, serving as the foundation for much of its art, culture, and social fabric. While religion is is often experienced as a cultural tradition - celebrating only holidays, Saint days, and community festivals - still many people visit churches to find some inner peace and quietness. . But the St. Nicholas Basilica in Bari has another aim to visit. In the crypt, there’s a reddish marble pillar which unmarried women kept circling around for centuries to find a husband. Spinsters circling the column three times on the day of St. Nicholas (aka “Santa Clause”) were guaranteed to marry within the year. . In 2007 due to structural issues the crypt was remodelled, and the column cannot be circled any more. But to keep the tradition alive, worshippers started to place small praying cards around it instead. 📍Cathedral of Bari . . . . . #italy #italia #summerdestination #puglia #dolcevita

LOCOROTONDO 💕 . A bit away of the aquamarine waters of the Mediterranean, perched atop a smaller hill, and nestled in the bucolic countryside area of Valle d’Itria, Locorotondo offers to be not more than what it is: Locorotondo. . The old district of this little Italian town might have been my favourite place on this trip: peaceful, calm, traditional, pretty. I was not exaggerating, Locorotondo doesn’t offer any unmissable tourist spots; the must see sight is the town itself: just get lost in its vibe, and enjoy wandering around its charming little streets and alleys. . 2 tips: - after harvest time - similar to Siciliy - locals tend to decorate their big round shaped straw bales with pretty white lace circles. If you happen to see them, they are cool photo opts. - I wish to go back and visit Locorotondo once in the winter too. Not a well known fact, but it has adorable and stylish Christmas decorations popping up on its white painted streets! . . . . . #italy #italia #puglia #summerdestination #dolcevita

So here’s what you can cover in 6 days around Puglia / Apulia, Southern Italy, known for its rocky coastline, sunshine, and picturesque towns - with public transport. . Surely, renting a car gives a lot more flexibility, but honestly, you can manage a lot by trains and buses also! . Most likely you’ll fly into Bari, to the “Heel of the Italian boot”, which is not so super interesting, but serves as a good base. Making day trips from here is absolutely possible: - Ostuni, the beautiful white washed city is about 2 hours away by train - the coastal cities of Monopoli and Polignano a Mare are less than an hour, and as they are pretty close to each other, it’s easy to cover them on the same day - Alberobello with its fairy tale looking UNESCO protected trulli is also an easy day trip (bus) - nearby Locorotondo, another cute gem for a half day just to stroll and enjoy - and let’s not forget the stone city of Matera, another amazing UNESCO site, which is technically not in Puglia, but in the neighbouring region of Basilicata; still, it’s so close, that it would be a shame to miss it. . Also, you can optimise travel time and the fun factor, if you sleep over in one of the traditional “cave” boutique hotels in Ostuni old town, or in one of the converted trulli in Alberobello. And if you have more time than I had, consider fitting in Lecce and the southern beaches as well! . . . . . #italy #italia #summervibes☀️ #bestcitiesofeurope #dolcevita