We have been to Puglia several times but we wanted something different on this journey. We rented a Trullo in Locorotondo located in Southern Puglia. There are several wonderful little towns within 15-20 minutes of Locorotondo. Included among these towns is Allberobello, with the highest concentration of Trulli in Puglia and therefore Italy, since these structures are unique to this region. They are a curious shape with a conical roof built out of stone. The walls are very thick and keep the Trulli cooler than expected in the hot summer heat. The best way to describe them is with a picture and here are some to give you an idea about the construction.
They come in all sizes and can be used for different purposes. Some have been modernized and are very comfortable. Our rental included an outdoor pizza oven and lovely pool with a shaded area where you can relax.
One section of the property does not contain the typical Trullo roof.
Main entrance of the Trullo with the typical conical roofs.
My first pizza in a wood fired oven.
Beautiful private pool.
Lounge Area
As you can see the property is wonderful. One of the many good things about Puglia is that the prices are much cheaper than in the North. This rental was approximately $450 per night. It can easily accommodate 2 couples and up to 3. If you split the cost between two couples, then it is even more of a bargain.
Pasta Lesson - Our first orichiette and cavatelli.
I grew up in an Italian Deli/Luncheonette and have been cooking since I was a child. I have always thought that a pasta course would not be beneficial for me because I make my own homemade pasta. However, the one pasta that I really wanted to learn about is orichiette. We ended up in a class with a very charming man who showed us how to make orichiette, cavatelli and a larger version of orichiette. The location was at a Masseria in Martina Franca. The cost was 90€ per person which I thought was very reasonable. The visit included a wonderful lunch with multiple delicious plates including a zucchini dish which was made by his mother. It was phenomenal. I have attached a link to the company that connected me to this lesson. Ask to do the lesson in Masseria Pupino.
Day Trips
Locorotondo is an excellent location for many day trips. For more information on towns located in this area, see my Puglia blog link below. https://www.simplyitalytravel.com/post/puglia
There are a couple of other towns that were not included in that blog that we enjoyed. Here is some information on those towns. .
Santa Marie di Leuca
Admittedly quite a drive for a day trip. It takes about 2 hours to get here. What we ended up doing is staying one night and visiting both this town and Otranto. The draw of of the town is that it is the point where the Ionian sea and meets the Adriatic sea with a beautiful rocky shoreline. You are far removed from the tourist crowds and you get a real feel for Italy as lived by the locals.
A lovely restaurant to enjoy a lunch with a view of the sea is Lo Quito. We enjoyed Salad and grilled vegetables, pasta frutti di mare which has a combination of clams, mussels, shrimp and calamari. This was a thoroughly enjoyable experience with great seafood and a wonderful view of the sea.
Otranto
We visited Oltranto centro. The cathedral here has an awesome mosaic floor with two elephants that held up the tree of life. The old town is located directly on the sea and there is a wonderful promenade to take a walk or as the Italians would say a passeggiata. It is very nice to explore with many ancient buildings. A prime attraction is the Castello Aragonese which was completed in 1485. Overall a very nice place to spend a couple hours or half day if you are doing lunch.
Accommodation near Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca
Masseria Montelauro
Located very close to Otranto and an easy drive to Santa Maria di Leuca. This is an excellent location to explore the area. You do not have to venture out to get dinner as the hotel has good restaurant.
Enjoy your time in this area of Italy. I consider it a great location to experience the "Real Italy".
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