From Saints to Shadows: The Dark Legends of Gargano

In this Halloween special, the Puglia Guys take you deep into the Gargano — Puglia's wild northern promontory where faith and fear have shared the same mountains for centuries. We begin in San Giovanni Rotondo, today one of the world's busiest pilgrimage sites, where millions come to honour Padre Pio, the friar who bore the stigmata and claimed to battle demons in the skies above his monastery. Then we climb higher still, to Monte Sant'Angelo, the ancient shrine of Saint Michael the Archangel — a place once said to mark the very gate of heaven. But where heaven opens so near to earth, shadows gather too. From Padre Pio's letters describing his nightly assaults by unseen forces, to the mist-filled Foresta Umbra, where locals whisper of the lupi mannari — the werewolves of Gargano — we follow the line where sanctity blurs into superstition. Pour yourself a glass of dark Puglian red — Negroamaro or Primitivo — and listen as we journey from pilgrimage to possession, from light into darkness. Faith, folklore and fear intertwine in this chilling exploration of Puglia's holiest and most haunted land. Follow us on Instagram - if you dare - for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.

In Puglia, food isn't just something you eat – it's how you understand the region itself. Every dish tells a story of the seasons, the land, the sea, and the people who live here. This is Italy's largest olive oil producer, its breadbasket, the country's second-biggest wine region – and the birthplace of burrata. From pasta scorched in its pan in Bari, to stuffed meat rolls sizzling on a braceria grill, to raw seafood eaten straight from the shell on a harbour wall, these are the dishes every visitor should try. They're the foods locals still cook, order, and argue over. These are the 20 must-eat dishes that define Puglia. For photos of all the dishes described (and more), check out our companion guide to the Taste of Puglia podcast episode. Follow us on Instagram for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.  

Olive oil is the lifeblood of Puglia's landscape, culture and cuisine. With over 60 million olive trees, Puglia is Italy's top olive oil producer, accounting for around 40% of Italy's olive oil. From the monumental groves of Fasano to the sunburnt fields of Salento, olive oil has shaped Puglia's economy, its traditions and even its identity. October marks the start of the olive harvest in Puglia. The harvest marks the arrival of new oil, freshly pressed and full of flavour, and it's the moment when centuries of tradition and hard work come together in the groves and the mills. And there's no better way to celebrate this than with an olive oil tasting at Frantoio Savoia in Pezze di Greco, Fasano. Set in Masseria Pezze d'Aglio, an 18th-century farmhouse surrounded by sixty hectares of olive groves, the Savoia family produce award-winning extra-virgin olive oils that bridge past and present.  Join us on our Puglia olive oil tasting with guide, Rosaria Pace, engaging and enthusiastic, one of the reasons why olive oil tasting at Frantoio Savoia is a stand-out experience. To find out more, check out our Puglia Guys guide to olive oil tasting, or visit Frantoio Savoia's website where you can arrange a visit. Follow us on Instagram for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.

In Puglia we embrace a slower pace of life. Il dolce far niente (sweet idleness). It's part of our culture, reflected in all of our daily rituals. We give you our suggestions to leave behind the noise of daily life and experience Puglia in the here and now. And for visitors from the USA who really like to pack a full itinerary, we offer additional tips to slow down and help manage expectations for a more meaningful, local-friendly stay in Southern Italy. We're taking a summer break. See you the other side of summer. We will still be posting on our website and socials, so be sure to follow us on Instagram for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.  

We meet with US based writer Katerina Ferrara currently exploring Puglia through food, festivals and cultural immersion. Katerina is writing a series of travel guides on Italy, taking readers on a journey with her using festivals as a focus. The 4th book in her series "Ultimate Festival & Travel Guide Puglia" is launched on June 1, 2025. Find out about Katerina's mission on her website katerinaferrara.com. Follow us on Instagram for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.

Take a Chance. Advance to Go! Welcome to Monopoli (the city in Puglia, not the board game). Adjacent to and sometimes overshadowed by its near neighbour Polignano a Mare, Monopoli offers a quieter alternative for lunch or dinner. It has a pretty old town and enjoys a less frenetic pace. The old port with its characteristic light blue and red blue fishing boats and green fishing nets drying under the sun invites you into the beating heart of its centro storico. Its medieval center, characterised by churches and convents, is compact and charming. For details and locations of the beaches, churches and restaurants mentioned in this episode, see our companion Puglia Guys Monopoli City Guide. Follow us on Instagram for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your visit to Puglia.

Think of Puglia and you will probably picture Alberobello's trulli - as iconic as Polignano a Mare's Lama Monachile - and just as likely to grace the cover of the latest edition of The Lonely Planet Guide to Puglia. Although they feature across the Itria Valley, it is the concentration of trulli found in Alberobello that makes it unique. Drawing a stream of visitors all year round tourism takes centre stage in Alberobello. Most trulli in the crowded commercialised Monti district are shops; those that are not are restaurants. Unprepared for its crowds and commercialisation, visitors can leave Alberobello feeling underwhelmed. The crowds, souvenir shops, and selfie sticks can distract from the magic. Yet no trip to Puglia would be complete without visiting Puglia's trulli. And it is still possible to discover some of the town's quieter, "secret" spaces. For fuller details, including map locations nd full restaurant details, visit our companion Puglia Guys Alberobello Guide. Follow us on Instagram for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.

The masseria is one of the defining features of Puglia's landscape.  And, let's get one thing straight: a masseria is not a villa. Where northern Italian villas were retreats for the wealthy, all frescoes and fountains, Puglia's masserie were born of necessity. Masserie (that's one masseria, two masserie) are living records of a region that has always had to defend itself — from pirates, plagues, bandits, and even bureaucracy.  With our resident Bari Puglia Guy, Andrea Visaggio, we explore the history and timeless legacy that is the Puglia Masseria. For more information and recommended masserie to visit, check out our Puglia Guys Masseria Guide.  Follow us on Instagram for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your visit to Puglia.

We visit Polignano a Mare, the place with the iconic beach you've probably seen in every guide book to Puglia. The eating is great, from polpo panini, to gelato (Polignano is known for its gelato) and special coffee. There's even a Polignano version of spaghetti all'assassina, with octopus. But there's more to Polignano than seafood and gelato. There's Domenico Modugno. Everybody knows his most famous song, right? It came 3rd in 1958's Eurovision Song Contest. But it spent five non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, and subsequently became Billboard's number-one single for 1958. In 1959, at the 1st Annual Grammy Awards, Modugno's recording became the first ever Grammy winner for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. The combined sales of all the versions of the song exceed 18 million copies worldwide, making it one of the all-time most popular Italian songs. We know it as Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu. You know it as Volare (oh-ho)! For more information on the places, restaurants and locations mentioned in this episode visit our Puglia Guys Polignano a Mare city guide. Follow us on Instagram for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your visit to Puglia.  

We take a trip out of Puglia to nearby Matera, in the neighbouring region of Basilicata.  According to Keith Jenkins, founder and publisher of Velvet Escape, Matera is "one of the most extraordinary towns I've ever laid my eyes on". He explains, "Italy excels in extraordinary cities - I've visited many of them - but Matera surely belongs in the upper echelons of 'the most extraordinary cities' list". In this guide we suggest a walking tour route and a bus tour. Places to eat, including our favourites, and the remarkable cave dwellings and churches to visit. A UNESCO World Heritage List destination, recognised for being "one of the most outstanding organised urban settlements ever created in the world, a real materpiece of human creative genius and capacity to adapt". Map and links for our walking tour suggestions here: Love Matera | From Caves to Culture, Shame to Pride. Follow us on Instagram for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.