The Puglia Podcast

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 massa...

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 mo...

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 o...

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 you...

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 th...

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 cl...

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 cir...

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...

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 dishe...

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...

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO 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. In o...

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.   Benvenuti a Polignano a Mare. Welcome to Polignano a Mare and to our city guide podcast. Our city guide podcasts supplement our online guide found at gaypugliapodcast.com . Each podcast will include some background on some of Puglia's most popular destinations. Maybe a little history, some trivia but most importantly information on...

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.   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. This was recorded for a fuller "Weddings in Puglia" episode, but covid happened and the episode was abandoned...

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.   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. David and Scott review the nominees and reveal your best of Puglia...

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.   Greg and Andrea live in northern Italy but spent three weeks travelling all around Puglia at the end of summer 2020. In the second of a two part podcast we pick up with them again in Santa Maria di Leuca, from where they travel up the Ionian coast to Gallipoli and beyond. Find out why they are full of praise for the much overlooked...

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.   Greg and Andrea live in northern Italy but spent three weeks travelling all around Puglia. It was Greg's first time in our region, and for Andrea a return visit after 20 years. In the first of a two part podcast they take in the Gargano, Imperial Puglia, Matera (in the neighbouring region of Basilicata), the Valle d'Itria and end up...

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.   David and Scott stop off in Lecce for a spot of Christmas atmosphere and pizza (Lecce officially has the best pizza in Puglia), albeit because of Covid19 it had to be delivered. The delicious pizza inspires talk about traditional Christmas dinner here in Puglia and in the UK. For David means 13 starters, 2 first courses and 2 mains...

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.   While staying at Lune Saracene at Spiaggia d'Ayala in Campomarino inspired by Scott's last stay in a B&B, David and Scott share some true tales of terror - including a story of demonic possession in Ostuni's Parco della Rimembranza remembered by David when he was just 8 years old...

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.   For the second naked podcast Scott and David head to D'Ayala Beach - Puglia's most popular gay naturist beach. Where it's hot, hot, hot and not just because of the golden Salento sun... For socio-economic reasons so many young men continue to live at home with their mothers well into their 30's here in Puglia. So where do they go fo...

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.   Scott and David visit the gay section of Torre Guaceto's naturist beach. Secluded and relaxed, it is one of Puglia's most popular gay beaches. Adult content and themes are discussed. See the pictures and supplemental information - including directions how to access the beach - at the Gig Gay Podcast from Puglia Torre Guaceto FAQ .

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.   After the Big Gay Podcast from Puglia's final summer fling at Por do Sol in Gallipoli where we meet Sergio from Italy Gay Travels we head to Porto Salveggio with David to refect on the covid-19 summer that saw us travel from Vieste and Peschici in Gargano at the very north of Puglia, to deepest Salento at the very heel of Italy's bo...

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.   We meet with Colombian supervet Dr. Jairo. Currently undertaking research for a second postgraduate doctoral degree at the University of Bari's renowned Department of Veterinary Medicine, he tells us about his love for reptiles and his continuing mission to make us love and understand snakes. And if you want to know the difference b...

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.   Before the Covid-19 lockdown we travelled to Reims in France, the champagne region, to take part in an Erasmus Plus programme. We took some prosecco with us to see whether people could tell the difference between the prosecco and champagne. Back in Italy we ran the same test with Italians. In this the first part of 2 we are in Pugli...

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.   David is back. We talk about driving in Puglia, dispelling the stereotypes of Italian drivers. Which is not to say that Italian drivers are without bad driving habits ... look out for roundabouts, and overtaking. Then there are the challenges of parking (first find a space then try and fit into it). Look out also for ZTL restricted...

LEGACY EPISODE. For reboot start at season 2 WELCOME TO PUGLIA.   We visit Roberto in Bergamo, the 4th largest city in Lombardy and one of its most beautiful, to find out how he is spending his time in lockdown.