📷 Photo by Vincenzo De Simone on UnsplashPuglia: trulli, white towns and the heel of Italy
Cliff towns, olive groves and cone-roofed trulli, then Baroque Lecce and the lighthouse at the tip of the heel.
- Distance
- 283 km (176 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 55 min
- Suggested days
- 5
- Stops
- 7
- Countries
- Italy
- Updated
- September 16, 2026
At a glance: 5-day road trip of about 283 km (176 mi) with 7 stops, from Bari to Santa Maria di Leuca. About 3 h 55 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Italy · More road trips from Bari
Route description
From Bari, the SS16 follows the Adriatic coast south to Polignano a Mare, whose whitewashed houses stand on the edge of a limestone cliff above a tiny pebble cove. The terraces are best at sunrise, before the day trippers arrive.
Inland, in the Valle d’Itria, Alberobello is a town of whitewashed trulli with conical stone roofs, and you can sleep in one. The country roads between olive groves and dry-stone walls lead on to Ostuni, a white town on a hill above the plain.
Further south, Lecce is known for its Baroque churches and palaces carved from soft golden stone. On the Adriatic coast, Otranto has a castle, a cathedral with a large medieval floor mosaic and clear water below the walls.
The coast road south of Otranto runs along cliffs and coves to Santa Maria di Leuca, where the lighthouse marks the tip of the heel of Italy. Old town centres have ZTL limited traffic zones monitored by cameras, and August is very busy, so late spring and September are the best months.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Bari
Italy - 240 km
Polignano a Mare
ViewsPolignano a Mare, ItalyWhitewashed houses on the edge of a limestone cliff above a tiny pebble cove. The terraces are best at sunrise.
- 330 km
Trulli di Alberobello
StaysAlberobello, ItalyA town of whitewashed trulli with conical stone roofs. You can sleep in one.
- 437 km
Ostuni
Italy - 582 km
Lecce
Italy - 644 km
Otranto
Italy - 750 km
Santa Maria di Leuca
Italy
Suggested stages and overnight stops
5 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Bari → Trulli di Alberobello · 70 km · 0 h 58 minOn the way: Polignano a Mare.Overnight nearby, for example: Camping Bosco Selva (1 km); Dei Trulli (2 km).
- Day 2: Trulli di Alberobello → Ostuni · 37 km · 0 h 30 minOvernight nearby, for example: Il Pilone Camping Villaggio (9 km); Villaggio Camping Pineta al Mare (13 km).
- Day 3: Ostuni → Lecce · 82 km · 1 h 08 minOvernight nearby, for example: Torre Rinalda Camping Village (15 km); Punto sosta camper Zollino (17 km).
- Day 4: Lecce → Otranto · 44 km · 0 h 37 minOvernight nearby, for example: Baia dei Micenei (< 1 km); Agriturismo Fontanelle (6 km).
- Day 5: Otranto → Santa Maria di Leuca · 50 km · 0 h 42 minOvernight nearby, for example: Camping Villa Paradiso (3 km); Camping Santa Maria di Leuca (3 km).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June–August and November. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- Italy: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autostrade; pay at the barrier by card or cash. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Puglia: trulli, white towns and the heel of Italy?
5-day road trip of about 283 km (176 mi) with 7 stops, from Bari to Santa Maria di Leuca. About 3 h 55 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Puglia: trulli, white towns and the heel of Italy?
We suggest 5 days: about 3 h 55 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Puglia: trulli, white towns and the heel of Italy start and end?
It starts in Bari and ends in Santa Maria di Leuca.
Which countries does Puglia: trulli, white towns and the heel of Italy pass through?
Italy.
Where can you camp along Puglia: trulli, white towns and the heel of Italy?
OpenStreetMap lists 69 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: La Baia, Camping Santo Stefano and Camping Bosco Selva.
When is the best time for Puglia: trulli, white towns and the heel of Italy?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June–August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
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