“For the resolute countrymen trying to dodge the extortionate taxing system, this was a handy, and likely necessary, survival tactic.”
“Puglia is the birthplace of some of Italy’s most famed products–burrata and taralli among them–and the rest of the culinary cannon here is guided by local produce, the abundance of available seafood, and the thrifty mindset of cucina povera.”
“The stracciatella is placed inside the hollow pouch, which is tied like a balloon and either packaged or plonked ceremoniously onto an expectant plate.”
From a townhouse in Polignano a Mare with 360-degree views to a masseria with free roaming horses, these are our eight favorite stays across Puglia.
“What has become the cornerstone of Puglia’s imaginary, a revered aesthetic, is, on the other side of the coin, a symbol of Puglia’s vulnerability.”
“Get there early! Most markets start at 7 AM and are packed up around 1 or 2 PM (Puglian Sunday lunch is not to be interfered with).”
“It’s figuratively and literally holy, with depictions of Altamura bread portrayed twice on that aforementioned cathedral, which was built by Frederick II of Swabia, known as the one-eyed Duke of a long ago medieval kingdom.”
“On an elevated, fertile plain in the center of Puglia, the Valle d’Itria captures the best of the region.”
“As I walked around documenting the bakers, the dough, the wood and the oven, someone would hand me a piece of focaccia here, another piece of focaccia there.”
“Though the city counts around 70,000 inhabitants, what made this place so magical was the close sense of community I could feel even as a foreigner.”
“The crunchy rings are slightly more common in the south of the peninsula–they originate from Puglia–but are popular all over the country.”
“The feeling of these buildings comes from the architectural style–the very fussy and flamboyant Baroque.”
“If you have time, a word of advice: the Tremiti islands are a paradise, especially if you venture there by boat.”
“Our ingredients are the ones that tell the story of this territory.”
“It is a place where you grasp the rhythms of an overpowering nature, hidden in the framework of a dry stone wall, of a thorny fig tree, of a milky-white limestone alley.” In collaboration with Loro Piana
“When I was a child I could not wait for the “Day of the Festa”. I would buy my packet of olives and dried fruit, munching as I walked around the illuminated streets.”
(What you love but haven’t loved)
“To foreigners, Pulia means Valle d’Itria; whereas for Italians, Pulia is synonymous with Salento.”
