Putignano

Day Trips

Begin with a leisurely breakfast at a local café, sampling fresh brioche and Italian coffee while soaking in the town’s slow pace. Stroll along Corso Umberto I to admire the medieval gates and Baroque façades. Check into your accommodation early and unpack before your first afternoon outing.

Wander through the narrow alleys of the historic center, popping into artisan shops that sell ceramics and locally woven linens. Visit the Church of Saint Peter Apostolo to admire its ornate marble altar and soaring nave. Pause for a glass of Apulian white wine on a terrace overlooking the town.

Dine at a traditional trattoria, savoring orecchiette with fresh tomato and ricotta cheese. Enjoy an aperitivo of local olives, taralli, and a chilled rosato. End the night with gelato as you stroll under the softly lit archways.

Join a guided walking tour of Putignano’s historic center, hearing stories of its medieval origins and the evolution of its famous Carnival. Snap photos of carved stone balconies and hidden courtyards. Pick up biscotti dolci from a family-run bakery.

Explore the Museo della Cartapesta to learn how papier-mâché floats are crafted for the annual Carnival. Then visit the Church of San Domenico to see its frescoes and baroque altar. Enjoy a light lunch at a nearby enoteca featuring local salumi and cheeses.

Head to Piazza Plebiscito to watch locals gather for evening passeggiata. Sample bombette, grilled meat rolls stuffed with cheese and herbs, at a popular street-food stand. Finish with a limoncello in a cozy wine bar.

Drive or take a regional bus to Alberobello to marvel at its UNESCO-listed trulli houses. Wander through the Rione Monti district and peer inside conical dwellings turned into shops. Stop at a café for almond granita amid the whitewashed streets.

Visit the Trullo Sovrano museum to explore an authentic two-story trullo interior. Enjoy a leisurely lunch at a restaurant serving local specialties like pureed fava beans with chicory. Shop for handcrafted ceramics and trullo-shaped souvenirs.

Return to Putignano and relax with an aperitivo on your hotel terrace. Savor regional pizzica music wafting from a nearby square. Dine on seafood risotto paired with crisp local Chardonnay.

Head to the nearby Castellana Caves for a guided spelunking adventure through vast underground caverns and stalactite formations. Marvel at the Grotta Bianca and its alabaster stalagmites. Warm up with hot espresso at the cave entrance café.

Enjoy a picnic lunch in the lush park surrounding the cave site, sampling local focaccia bread and fresh tomatoes. Then visit a nearby olive oil mill to see cold-pressed oil production and taste several varietals. Buy a bottle of extra-virgin olive oil as a souvenir.

Return to Putignano and soak in the town’s peaceful evening ambiance. Choose a family-run osteria for dinner and try coniglio alla putignanese, a rabbit stew with aromatic herbs. Conclude with espresso and a slice of pasticciotto at a late-night pasticceria.

Take a day trip to Martina Franca and wander its elegant baroque center, admiring Piazza Plebiscito and the Ducal Palace. Pop into boutiques selling fine lace and regional textiles. Enjoy a cappuccino in a sunlit piazza.

Drive to Locorotondo, dubbed one of Italy’s most beautiful villages, and explore its circular old town. Stop at a winery on the outskirts for a tasting of Verdeca and Bianco d’Alessano wines paired with bruschetta. Capture panoramic views of the Itria Valley from the town walls.

Return to Putignano and dine at a seafood trattoria serving freshly caught Adriatic fish. Pair your meal with a local Negroamaro rosso. Take an evening stroll to the medieval walls to admire the town lit up against the dusk sky.

Join a hands-on cooking class with a local chef, learning to make fresh orecchiette dough and filling. Enjoy the fruits of your labor served alongside other regional dishes. Receive recipes and tips for creating Apulian classics at home.

Visit a nearby family-run vineyard for a guided tour of the vineyards and cellars. Participate in a tasting flight that features reds, whites, and rosés paired with local pecorino cheese. Buy your favorite bottle as a memento.

Attend an al fresco dinner at the winery or back in Putignano, where the wines you sampled accompany a multi-course meal. Listen to live folk music as the sun sets over olive groves. Toast the day with a final glass under a canopy of stars.

Drive to Polignano a Mare and begin with coffee on a terrace overlooking the Adriatic clifftops. Take in the views of the turquoise sea and dramatic limestone arches. Wander through the whitewashed streets toward the main beach.

Relax on Lama Monachile beach, soaking up the sun and swimming in clear blue waters. Enjoy freshly grilled seafood at a beachfront kiosk. Try local gelato as you explore sea caves by kayak or paddleboard.

Return to Putignano with sand still in your shoes and fresh salt air in your hair. Dine casually on pizza bianca topped with prosciutto at a local pizzeria. Savor a nightcap of amaro in the quaint town center.

Browse Putignano’s weekly market to discover seasonal produce, handmade ceramics, and woven baskets. Chat with vendors about traditional crafts and pick up regional specialties. Try a sample of seasoned taralli.

Attend a lace-making demonstration at a local workshop and learn about centuries-old bobbin lace techniques. Then visit a leatherworker to see handmade sandals in the making. Stop for lunch at a café offering bruschetta with burrata and cherry tomatoes.

Head to a small square for aperitivo time, sampling artisanal salumi and cheeses. Join locals in impromptu conversation over glasses of primitivo. Cap off the night with a scoop of stracciatella gelato.

Visit the Museo del Carnevale to explore the history and creativity behind Putignano’s famous carnival celebration. Examine papier-mâché masks, costumes, and float models. Listen to stories of ancient traditions blending pagan and Christian rituals.

Stop at a nearby café for a light lunch of focaccia topped with olives and oregano. Then take a guided tour of the old granary and town archives to see medieval manuscripts. Enjoy coffee in a sunlit courtyard.

Attend a small concert or folk-dance performance if available, soaking up regional music and dance. Dine on a multi-course meal featuring seasonal vegetables and handmade pasta. End your evening with a glass of local Moscato di Trani.

Savor a final Italian breakfast of cappuccino and cornetto at your favorite café. Take a last stroll through the historic streets, revisiting any favorite spots or hidden corners. Pick up any final souvenirs from artisan shops.

Enjoy a relaxed lunch at a trattoria, ordering your favorite dish one last time. Return to your accommodation, pack your bags, and settle any remaining bills. Arrange transportation to the train station or airport.

If time allows, gather at a local bar for a goodbye aperitivo with new friends you’ve made. Reflect on your favorite moments in Putignano as the sun sets. Depart with memories of historic streets, delicious flavors, and warm Apulian hospitality.