The Puglia Podcast
Conversation about life, culture and travel in Puglia and Italy. Served up (usually) twice a month, in English with a drizzle of Italian. Che bello! Follow us on Instagram @PugliaGuys
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Guided Travel In Puglia
11/12/2025
Guided Travel In Puglia
Not everyone visiting Puglia wants to go it alone. Some travellers prefer the security and structure of a guided experience. It allows for connection — with the people, places, and traditions that make Puglia so special. And sometimes, having someone local by your side can open doors you’d never find alone. For travellers who don’t want to drive around Puglia but also don’t want the challenge of using public transport to reach harder-to-access corners of the region, guided travel offers the perfect solution. We speak with Luca Oliva of , a specialist travel designer and certified tour leader from Taranto, Puglia. For more information, check out our . Remember to for reels, stories, and daily inspiration.
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From Saints to Shadows: The Dark Legends of Gargano
10/29/2025
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. - if you dare - for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.
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A Taste of Puglia | 20 Traditional Dishes to Try
10/22/2025
A Taste of Puglia | 20 Traditional Dishes to Try
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 . for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.
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Olive Oil Tasting at Frantoio Savoia
10/08/2025
Olive Oil Tasting at Frantoio Savoia
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 , or visit where you can arrange a visit. for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.
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Slow Travel in Puglia, Plus Tips for Travelers from the USA
06/11/2025
Slow Travel in Puglia, Plus Tips for Travelers from the USA
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 . And . 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 for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.
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Monopoli City Guide
05/28/2025
Monopoli City Guide
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 . for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your visit to Puglia.
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Alberobello City and Walking Tour Guide
05/21/2025
Alberobello City and Walking Tour Guide
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, . for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.
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What's a Masseria?
05/14/2025
What's a Masseria?
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 . for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your visit to Puglia.
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Polignano A Mare City Guide
05/07/2025
Polignano A Mare City Guide
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 . for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your visit to Puglia.
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Matera City Guide | From Caves to Culture
05/01/2025
Matera City Guide | From Caves to Culture
We take a trip out of Puglia to nearby Matera, in the neighbouring region of Basilicata. According to Keith Jenkins, founder and publisher of , 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: . for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.
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A Practical Guide to Driving in Puglia
04/23/2025
A Practical Guide to Driving in Puglia
Driving in Puglia is a convenient and practical option for getting around our region, whether you’re hopping between towns or heading to the beautiful beaches. However, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure a smooth driving experience. In this episode we share our observations and driving tips based on our driving experiences in and around the region and the rest of Italy, plus insights on what to watch out for and expect from other (especially Italian) drivers. IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER | Every care has been taken to accurately represent the legal requirements for driving in Italy as also the law and rules of the road at the time of writing. However these may have changed since the original publication so you should not rely on the information contained in this post, which is indicative only. It is your responsibility to ascertain what these are at the date of your travel and to ensure compliance with Italian law and driving requirements as they apply at the date of your travel. Further information, photos, links and routes are included in the Puglia Guys companion website guide: . for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your visit to Puglia.
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Taranto City Guide | The Beauty Underneath
04/16/2025
Taranto City Guide | The Beauty Underneath
Taranto's old town - the borgo antico - is one of our favourite places to visit in Puglia. Much neglected by visitors, like the city itself, Taranto is an antidode to Puglia's favourite tourist hotspots. Packed full of history, with a world class archaeological museum, and with some of the best seafood and seafood restaurants in Puglia, Taranto is raw, gritty and authentic. For full details of the destinations, restaurants and food (with pictures) mentioned in this episode visit our . for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.
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What to See During Settimana Santa (Holy Week) in Puglia
04/09/2025
What to See During Settimana Santa (Holy Week) in Puglia
We preview Holy Week in Puglia, the week leading up to Easter. During Holy Week many towns in Puglia hold elaborate processions and ceremonies to commemorate the Passion and Death of Christ. These rituals are often marked by solemn music, prayers, and the use of symbols and images that evoke feelings of sorrow and mourning. From the Vattienti of Martina Franca and the Pappamusci of Francavilla Fontana to the Procession of Maria Addolorata in Taranto. Whether you are a believer or not, there is something deeply moving about the devotion and passion that is on display during la settimana santa. For more detail and photographs from the events mentioned in this podcast episode, visit our . for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia (including videos in our stories from Holy Week events).
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Pizzica, Pizzica! Celebrating Puglia's Traditional Folk Music.
04/02/2025
Pizzica, Pizzica! Celebrating Puglia's Traditional Folk Music.
We were asked about the music that we use in our opening and closing podcast credits. It is pizzica music, old folk music from Salento, the southern part of Puglia. Like other tarantelle, legend says that pizzica was a cure for women bitten in the olive groves by the spider, explaining its hypnotic energy. In this episode, accompanied by the pizzica music played by our friends, we explore the sound, the stories and the dance moves of pizzica. For more information on Puglia's pizzica festivals, events and how to take part, check our . for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your visit to Puglia. In this episode we feature our own recording of the pizzica di San Vito, a traditional musical piece, featuring our friends who perform as musicians and singers. .
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Martina Franca City and Walking Tour Guide
03/26/2025
Martina Franca City and Walking Tour Guide
We are back in Puglia's Valle d'Itria, visiting Martina Franca. Known for its great food and baroque architecture, we walk around the town, discovering its history and taking time to explore the Palazzo Ducale and the Basilica di San Martino. With restaurant recommendations along the way and insider tips, enjoy one of the Valle d'Itria's favourite destinations. Check out our on the PugliaGuys.com website for fuller information and details on the locations vitisited, some more recommendations, and a more detailed guide to Martina's main churches. for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.
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Gallipoli City and Walking Tour Guide
03/19/2025
Gallipoli City and Walking Tour Guide
Gallipoli has become a hotspot for travellers seeking both history and hedonism. The summer season sees a seismic shift as Gallipoli becomes synonymous with revelry and celebrations extending well beyond the old and new towns. Nearby beaches – especially those in and around Baia Verde – echo with the rhythms of music festivals, vibrant parties, and a diverse crowd. Our insider tips on when best to visit the old town, where by day fishermen still meet to drink, chat and mend their nets. We recommend some fine seafood restaurants and tell you where we enjoy the best sunset in Salento. Details of the locations on our walking tour of Gallipoli can be found in our companion . for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.
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Otranto City and Walking Tour Guide
03/12/2025
Otranto City and Walking Tour Guide
We walk you around Otranto, its city beaches and visit geologically stunning and popular nearby beaches along the coast, including the Grotta della Poesia, the Baia dei Turchi, the faraglioni of Sant'Andrea and Torre dell'Orso. Otranto is packed with history. From the famous mosaic floor of its cathedral, the castle of Otranto that inspired the first Gothic novel, and the tragedy of the 1480 massacre of 800 martyrs, whose bones are still on display. Plus those city beaches and where to eat the best seafood in Otranto! Details of the locations of the spots visited, the recommended restaurants and parking for the nearby beaches can be found in our companion . for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.
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Bari Eating Out and Restaurant Guide
03/05/2025
Bari Eating Out and Restaurant Guide
Puglia is considered to be Italy's 2nd most visited foodie destination. With Andrea in his home city Bari, Puglia's regional capital, we eat out in the old town. Bari Vecchia is one of Puglia's culinary hubs. We talk about the typical must-eat traditional dishes of Bari, along with our favourite restaurants where we go to eat them. For detailed information on our favourite Bari restaurants and more recommendations visit . for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your visit to Puglia.
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Ostuni City Guide (2025 Edition)
02/26/2025
Ostuni City Guide (2025 Edition)
We visit Ostuni, Puglia's città bianca - the White City. Because we live in Puglia all year round we keep our finger on the pulse. Insider tips and hacks (parking in Ostuni? We have it covered), plus our recommendations on where to eat = where we eat. Eat like a local. Avoid the tourist traps, recommended by one tourist to another, where no locals would go - because the food is just average, and overpriced. We eat better, for less. We explain why Ostuni makes the perfect base for your Puglia vacation, help you plan the perfect Puglia itinerary from a base in Ostuni, and list the Valle d'Itria's best beaches (and tell you where to park). All that plus a hack on saving money on booking accommodation in Ostuni. For links, addresses and detailed information on the places mentioned in this episode, check out our . for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.
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Plan the Perfect Puglia Itinerary
02/20/2025
Plan the Perfect Puglia Itinerary
We don't all travel equally. Some travel solo, in couples or groups, with families, and with different expectations and aspirations. That's why we don't think there's a "one size fits all" itinerary for visitors. We take a different approach. Instead of suggesting actual itineraries we break down Puglia into bite size pieces so you can mix and match destinations to plan an itinerary that suits your travel style and circumstances. Whether you're here for a quick getaway or a slow immersive experience. For further information on the destinations with links, check-out our . for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.
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Spaghetti all'Assassina
02/13/2025
Spaghetti all'Assassina
Spaghetti all'assassina is the iconic pasta dish of Bari, Puglia's regional capital. It's unlike any other pasta dish you might have tried. On his visit to Bari for the TV show Searching for Italy, actor and food writer Stanley Tucci was blown away. "This goes against everything I know about pasta... Honestly, I’ve never seen anything like that before… And I’ve been around, too!” We discover the origins of spaghetti assassina, aka spaghetti bruciati (burnt spaghetti), why there are three official academies to protect its heritage, where to eat the best spaghetti assassina in Bari and how to cook it at home. We include the official accademia assassina recipe plus our own adapted Puglia Guys spaghetti assassina recipe. For more spaghetti assassina resources (including these plus more recipes) visit the . for frequent video stories and reels (including our assassina cooking), photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia.
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Lecce City Guide 2025
02/06/2025
Lecce City Guide 2025
Our insider travel guide to Lecce, Puglia. What to see and do, and our guide to traditional food, as well as our favourite places to eat. From a pasticciotto and caffe leccese for breakfast, to lunch, aperitivi and dinner. We live in Puglia all year round and provide practical tips on getting around, cultural insights and unique local experiences – from pizzica dancing to wine tastings, cooking classes to road trips. for frequent video stories, reels, photos, ideas and other information to inspire your stay in Puglia. Fuller details and links referenced in this episode can be found on the .
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Find the Best Base for Vacation in Puglia
01/31/2025
Find the Best Base for Vacation in Puglia
Welcome to the rebooted Puglia Podcast by the Puglia Guys, Puglia ambassadors. Puglia offers endless choices: where to go, when to visit, how to get here, and what to do. Our goal isn’t to dictate your journey, after all, only you know what you want from your vacation in the heel of Italy's boot. Instead we give you the information to make informed choices based on your travel preferences and circumstances. Do you want to soak up the sun or a lively atmosphere, maybe both? Are you looking to experience the slow rhythm of a southern Italian summer in a small Salento town? Some mindful quiet solitude and off the beaten track wilderness? Or do you want to hop from destination to destination, packing your cases and changing accommodation every day or two, to fit-in as much as possible? In the rebooted Ep1 we give a brief overview of Puglia as Italy's favourite staycation holiday hotspot. We weigh up the pros and cons of some of Puglia’s better known destinations and some more general considerations to factor in. For links referred to in the episode and more resources, check out our . Follow us on Instagram @
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Accessible Puglia: A Wheeler In Ostuni
06/26/2022
Accessible Puglia: A Wheeler In Ostuni
LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at WELCOME TO PUGLIA. We literally grabbed Regan and Allie off the street for this short episode. The sisters are from the US. Regan is a wheeler. She uses a wheelchair and has been navigating Ostuni while visiting for the Allora film festival. We ask Regan how her visit has been, given the narrow cobbled streets of many of Puglia's old towns. It was a delight to hear that Regan's experience had been very positive and much better than had been anticipated at the other end, before getting here. She also praises the organisers of Ostuni's first for their thought in presenting an inclusive and accessible festival. Photo: Torre Guaceto, one of Puglia's accessible beaches.
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Eat Puglia 2022
05/26/2022
Eat Puglia 2022
LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA. Food is an integral part of Puglia’s identity. Puglia is Italy’s biggest producer of olive oil - around 40% of Italian extra virgin olive oil comes from Puglia - and Italy’s 2nd largest wine producing area, well known for rich, full bodied reds. Our tradition of la cucina povera (“peasant food”) serves up simple but inventive dishes using seasonal, locally produced, fresh and flavourful ingredients. And we gave the world burrata. Recorded at we speak to Italian food writer and travel consultant , Virginia Newton from Copenhagen’s 3 Michelin-starred , currently . We find out about , Trani’s only Michelin-starred restaurant from Michele Di Ceglie one of the chefs who support Stefano Di Gennaro and we finish off with some blow your mind carbonara from the guys who came all the way from Trento in the north of Italy to cook for us - and we are very happy they did. Read more about our visit to RebelExpFood including further links, photographs on our .
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LGBT+ History Month Italia
04/27/2022
LGBT+ History Month Italia
LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA. As Italy's first ever LGBT+ History Month draws to an end we speak to one of its co-founders and organisers, Alessio Ponzio. Alessio talks about Italy's fascinating queer history. From the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the late 19th century that led to Italy becoming a destination for same sex tourism to the reshaping of men and Italian masculinity in the second half of the 1930s under Mussolini's fascist regime We also consider Puglia's dark history. In 1939 gay men were sent to an internment camp on the beautiful Island of San Domino in the Tremiti Islands, where they suffered harsh conditions. Mussolini unwittingly created Italy's first openly gay community. Find out more about LGBT+ History Month Italia on . More information about the podcast episode and links to futher information can be found on .
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The BIG 2021 Guide to Alberobello, Puglia
03/17/2021
The BIG 2021 Guide to Alberobello, Puglia
Undisputed capital of the trulli in the gorgeous Valle d'Itria, Alberobello is one of Puglia's most iconic - and perhaps most visited - destinations. But with tourism front, back, left, right and centre finding authentic Alberobello, the Alberobello that so inspired Pier Paolo Passolini can be hard to find. But it still exists.
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The BIG 2021 Guide to Polignano a Mare, Puglia
03/01/2021
The BIG 2021 Guide to Polignano a Mare, Puglia
Welcome to Polignano a Mare and to our city guide podcast. We are an inclusive travel blog and podcast. We might have some information that is of particular relevance to LGBTQ+ travellers, but we all love to eat, drink, visit the beach, sight see and shop. Our recommendations will be of interest to anyone visiting Puglia and the destination covered.
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Puglia In Love
02/14/2021
Puglia In Love
As a Valentine's Day bonus we speak to wedding planner Viola from Emotions in Puglia about planning a wedding in Puglia. Recorded at Puglia's BTM tourist fair in February 2020.
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Best of Puglia 2020 Survey | The Results
02/01/2021
Best of Puglia 2020 Survey | The Results
3,154 votes were cast in our Best of Puglia 2020 survey. We asked our local gay community and visitors who came to Puglia on vacation to tell us their favourite destinations, restaurants, gay beaches, bars and clubs in Puglia, as well as their favourite things to do.
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