Puglia, the heel of Italy's boot, has quietly become one of the country's most rewarding regions — and it still feels a world away from the crowds of Tuscany or the Amalfi Coast. Think whitewashed hilltop towns, 800 kilometres of clear coastline, centuries-old olive groves and some of the best food in Italy. The Travel Magazine has rounded up ten highlights, and together they make a strong case for a road trip through the south.

Start in Alberobello, the capital of the trulli — those conical stone dwellings that look like something out of a fairy tale. You can even sleep inside one; several guesthouses here are converted trulli, from stylish suites in the historic centre to family-friendly countryside resorts with pools.

Lecce, often called the Florence of the South, is baroque architecture at its most theatrical. The old town is full of boutique hotels set in restored palazzi and 16th-century mansions, while nearby masserie (converted farm estates) offer gardens, pools and quiet, a ten-minute drive out.

On the coast, Polignano a Mare is built dramatically on limestone cliffs above turquoise coves — and it's home to Grotta Palazzese, a restaurant set inside a sea cave that's been wowing diners for centuries. Further south, Otranto marks where East meets West on the Adriatic, with fortress hotels and rooftop pools, while Gallipoli sits on its own island off the Ionian coast.

Ostuni, the White City, is visible for miles: brilliant white buildings stacked across three hillsides above olive groves, with a medieval maze of arches and terraces. May and September are the sweet spot, when the lanes are almost empty. Bari Vecchia, the old heart of Puglia's port city, is the place for street food — the local focaccia, studded with roasted cherry tomatoes and olives and drenched in olive oil, is essential eating.

Beyond the towns, the guide points to a few experiences that define the region. Staying in a masseria is Puglia's signature move: options range from the luxe 15th-century Masseria Torre Coccaro and Rocco Forte's Torre Maizza (spa, beach club, golf) to working farms near Cisternino where simple rooms and genuine hospitality come cheap. The Castellana Caves offer an underground spectacle near Locorotondo, and the Salento coast delivers golden sands and hidden coves, from Punta Prosciutto to Santa Maria di Leuca at Italy's southeastern tip.

Practically speaking: fly into Bari or Brindisi, and hire a car — trains link the main towns but you'll want wheels for the countryside and beaches. May-June and September-October bring warm, quiet and affordable conditions; July and August are gorgeous but packed. And eat everything: burrata, orecchiette with turnip greens, grilled lamb, fava bean purée with chicory, washed down with a Primitivo di Manduria.

Who's it for? Couples after romance, families wanting space and beaches, food lovers, and anyone who's done Tuscany and wants the same quality with fewer queues. Ten highlights, one region — Puglia rewards a slow loop with plenty of stops.

Story via The Travel Magazine.