The Territory
Villa Curri is divided into apartments, which can be rented individually or all together, and is situated in what many consider to be the most beautiful part of Puglia, the Itria Valley. Throughout the year, there are many authentic regional and cultural events for you to explore and experience here, whether you are interested in art, nature, history or culture, food and traditions of Puglia, there is usually something for almost everyone. Imagine wandering through the beautiful countryside amongst the vast green expanses of the suggestive olive groves with their velvet like leafed trees just waiting to donate their fruit to the excellent extra virgin olive oil which is produced here and bought and consumed throughout Italy, or perhaps going for a stroll or a drive surrounded by the well-tended fruit orchards and vegetable patches or the vineyards that stand to attention with pride to contribute to the production of some of the finest wines the region has to offer, all this undulates timelessly along with the lush valley. Wherever you go, or whatever you decide, you will most likely be accompanied by such splendid scenes, all bordered by endless kilometres of beautifully constructed traditional dry-stone walls. The Itria Valley is characterized by the beauty of the many white towns and villages, just a few kilometers from each other however, if you travel along the Adriatic coast, from the archaeological site of Egnazia to the Regional Park of the coastal dunes, you will be pleasantly surprised by the unspoilt sea, together with cliffs, coves and long sandy beaches. During the summer, you can choose to relax on one of the many private furnished beaches or enjoy one of the many free beaches.
LOCOROTONDO
Considered by many to be one of the most beautiful and elegant villages in Italy, Locorotondo is a splendid example of some of the most typical buildings in the Itia Valley: trulli and cummerse, and has been awarded the Orange Flag by the Italian Touring Club, which is ”the environmental quality mark of the Italian Touring Club” and is only “assigned to the most beautiful villages in Italy, those in which particular historical and landscape conditions meet to offer visitors unforgettable experiences”.
Locorotondo gets its name from the shape of the village, which is round Loco (place) rotondo (round) and is perched upon a round hill overlooking the Itria Valley. Locorotondo may be small, but it is most certainly perfectly formed, with its beautiful, picturesque streets and suggestive alleyways you will find some of the best examples of the Itria Valley’s characteristic buildings. In August, Locorotondo celebrates its patron saint, Saint Rocco, in style with a firework competition where local companies go head-to-head to see which firework display is best … you can imagine the atmosphere; if you can make it, this is a must!
FASANO – ZOOSAFARI
Fasano is well known for its lush vegetation and ancient olive groves, which stretch from the coast, along its plains and undulate up into the green hills of Selva of Fasano. Fasano has much to offer from the Zoosafari wildlife park, which the children will love, to the health spa in Torre Canne, not to mention all the lovely farms, restaurants, shops and Fasano’s beautiful old town centre.
Fasano, like Locorotondo, is also well positioned as it borders some of the most beautiful towns and villages in Puglia Alberobello, Cisternino, Locorotondo, Monopoli and Ostuni and has a wealth of attractions to offer interested tourists or visitors, such as the Dolmen and Archaeological Park, National Archaeological Park of Egnazia,and much more. Having been the feudal home of the Knights of Malta in the 14th century and having defeated the Turks in a battle for its freedom in 1678, Fasano is rich in history; in fact, the famous defeat against the Turks is celebrated every June which culminates in a processional parade in full costume of the time.
CISTERNINO
Cisternino, also bearer of the prestigious Orange Flag awarded by the Italian Touring Club, is a beautiful old town with whitewashed buildings, floral balconies, pretty arches, suggestive alleyways, and some fabulous stairways. At the entrance to the old square, you will find Cisternino’s “Mother Church”, dedicated to St Nicolas, on one side, and on the other side, its famous Norman Swabian Tower, both proudly ushering you into the heart of the old town.
Cisternino is well known for its butchers and meat restaurants, where you can choose your meat in the butchers and request for it to be cooked as you desire!
ALBEROBELLO
Alberobello is a wonderful World Heritage site, recognised by UNESCO in 1996 for its unique round buildings with conical “hat like” roofs known as trulli. It is the only town in the Itria Valley to house so many trulli in one place. The trullo is not only uniquely beautiful, but it is also synonymous with Puglia, and, in particular, with the Itria Valley, so a visit is a must; you will not be disappointed!
Alberobello, meaning beautiful tree, is a unique “magical” town where you can meander the pedestrian roads, see and experience architecture you have more than likely never seen before, pop into the shops or simply sit and have a coffee whilst watching the world go by; whatever you choose to do, Alberobello will remain a memorable experience.
MARTINA FRANCA
Martina Franca, unlike Cisternino, Locorotondo and Alberobello, is a Baroque town and is commonly recognised as being the capital of the Itria Valley. A stroll around Martina Franca will allow you to admire the beautiful architecture it has to offer, from the beautiful, majestic Basilica of St Martin to the enchanting square known as Piazza Plebiscito and taste its famous Capocollo, much appreciated by other regions. Martina Franca hosts the famous Itria Valley Festival in the summer, an absolute must for music lovers with its suggestive baroque buildings and elegant structures.
OSTUNI
Otherwise known as the “Citta’ Bianca” (the White City), Ostuni is situated on the top of a large hill; its old historical centre still fortified to this day. A slow meander to the top of Ostuni will take you along cobbled streets lined with quaint craft shops, where you can pop in to peruse what is on offer or buy something for yourself or as a gift. The walk will also take you to the famous historic 15th century Cathedral with its Romanesque-Gothic rose window, by all accounts, a rare beauty. Once you reach the summit, you will be rewarded with stunning panoramic views of Ostuni’s “Blue Flag” coast, a mere 8 kilometres away.
Ostuni has plenty of monuments and beautiful buildings, it also has plenty of bars where you can rest and enjoy a coffee or restaurants to have lunch or dinner in. A great day of festivities is in August, when Ostuni celebrates the feast of its patron saint, St Oronzo … well worth a visit!
CASTELLANA GROTTE
Castellana Grotte, literally translated is Caves of Castellana, which they are indeed, in fact there are even caves that are circa 90 million years old, which house the most magnificent stalagmites and stalactites buried deep below the Itria Valley at approximately 60 to 70 metres deep,and run approximately 3 kilometres long … a true maze of wonder with their strategically positioned lights to create the most suggestive atmosphere. The Caves of Castellana are a well-known tourist attraction with the red hued Desert Corridor, due to the presence of iron, the Red Corridor, Dome Cave and Crystal Pond, all culminating in the arrival at the stunning White Cave, apparently one of the brightest in the world. Since its opening in the 1930s, the Caves have had over 50 million visitors from across the globe – if you have not seen such a wonder, it is well worth the visit.
Castellana also offers night tours and even performances, such as “Hell in the Cave”, inspired by Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy “Inferno”.
POLIGNANO A MARE
Polignano al Mare is a quaint coastal village perched high on the top of a cliff overlooking the Adriatic Sea, the most perfect setting to house the famous Red Bull cliff Diving events, which, of course, it does. Not only does Polignano al Mare boast this, but it also boasts being the birthplace of one of Italy’s greatest singers of all time, Domenico Modugno.
A gentle stroll through the narrow picturesque streets of Polignano al Mare’s historic centre will often lead you to balconies, with the most spectacular views of the coastline and the sea, some of which are regularly used by fearless divers. If you are looking for a very special experience, why not book a table to eat at Polignano al Mare’s famous restaurant – Grotta Palazzese! If you like art, you may like to visit the Pino Pascali Foundation, the only permanent museum of contemporary art in Puglia.
MONOPOLI
Monopoli is a beautiful coastal town with 99 districts which stretch from the beautiful Adriatic Sea with its pristine beaches, all the way up to the lush green hills inland. Well known for its entertainment, such as the water park, bars and nightclubs, Monopoli also offers a rich cultural portfolio which boasts a lovely old historic centre with typical narrow streets, an impressive Cathedral, an ancient harbour and a castle which belonged to Charles V. If you have the time, visit one of Monopoli’s great fish restaurants followed by some wonderful “Monopolitan” ice cream.