Puglia

Before you go

• Summers are hot, dry and sunny, with temperatures that can pass 40 degrees in Lecce and Foggia. Spring and early autumn are milder for driving.
• Under Italian traffic law, parking a camper is not camping if it rests only on its wheels, discharges nothing and takes no extra space. Municipalities can set their own rules.
• Many historic centres are small and busy. Use campsites or camper areas with shuttle service, or park at the edge of town and walk.

Planning

Puglia covers about 19,500 km² between the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea. Bari is the regional capital. The Gargano promontory lies in the north, the Murgia upland inland and Salento in the south. UNESCO sites include the trulli of Alberobello and Castel del Monte. Alta Murgia and Gargano are national parks. A loop from the Gargano via Trani, Bari, the Valle d'Itria and Lecce to Otranto is a common route.

Camping

Article 185 of the Italian road code says that parking a camper on a public road, where parking is allowed, is not camping if the vehicle touches the ground only with its wheels, discharges nothing and takes up no extra space. Waste water may be emptied only at proper facilities. Municipalities can issue their own rules and bans, so check signs and local ordinances. Campsites and camper areas are the safer option in peak season.

Getting around

Distances between the main sights are moderate, but town centres have narrow streets and traffic-restricted zones. Park at the edge or use a campsite or camper area with a shuttle to the sights. Municipalities can restrict overnight stays in campers locally, so verify with the municipality. Expect heavy traffic along the coast in summer.

FAQs