Places To Stay In Apulia

Casa Bina e Nick is a newly remodeled non-smoking apartment for 4+1 in the center of Monopoli, an adorable whitewashed fishing village. All the interesting sites and the pristine coasts of Apulia are with easy distance. From 122. EURO/night. Click here for more information.

Below is a short list of hotels in parts of Apulia where we do not offer accommodations. We cannot help you book these properties. To do it on your own, contact them well in advance. We recommend you telephone first, then follow up by sending our form letter in Italian.

• Bosco di Mudonato (Via per Salice-Casella Postale 2, 74020 Avetrana; tel./fax 99/870-4597). A few miles inland, this sprawling whitewashed inn has ten rooms, all facing onto a cool breezeway. Rooms are spacious and nicely furnished, and there's a lovely swimming pool surrounded by forest and olive groves. The restaurant has garnered lots of praise. About $100./double with breakfast.

• Riviera (in Santa Maria al Bagno; tel. 833/573-221, fax 573-024). This modern hotel overlooking the sea has its own pine forest, a swimming pool and a private rocky beach. 100 rooms, all with terrace. The restaurant is excellent, and half board is obligatory in August. Open June-Sept. About $80./double or $75./person half board.

• Il Melograno (Contrada Torricella, 70043 Monopoli; tel. 011-39-080-808656, fax 011-39-080-747908). Everyone agrees that this is Apulia's premier hotel, because of its lovely grounds, exquisite furnishings (the owner is a former antique dealer) and world-class restaurant. Located halfway between Bari and Brindisi, it makes a great base for visiting the trulli region and the seaside, only 5 miles away. Spa, tennis, pool, shuttle to private beach; some rooms have Jacuzzis. Open March-January.

• Hotel dei Trulli (Via Cadore 28, 70011 Alberobello, tel. 011-39-080-932-3555, fax 011-39-080-932-3560). This unique resort village offers accommodations in authentic trulli, the local gnomelike beehive cottages. Each consists of a bedroom, sitting room, bathroom and private garden. A pool is on the lushly landscaped grounds.

• Relais Villa San Martino (Via Taranto 59, km 2, 74015 Martina Franca; tel. 011-39-080-480-1026, fax 011-39-080-480-5152). Harmony and natural beauty are the most important features of Villa San Martino, a superb country resort, immersed in a park, at the gates of Martina Franca catering to travellers who appreciate relaxation, art, culture and good food.

• Pizzomunno Vieste Palace (Spiaggia di Pizzomunno, 71019 Vieste, tel. 011-39-0884-708741, fax 011-39-0884-707325). A luxury spa for enjoying the Gargano seacoast, this huge complex has its own park and private beach, pool, tennis courts, windsurf school, gym, full beauty spa, even its own cinema. Rooms have balconies overlooking the magnificent sea or the lushly forested hillside. Open March-October.

• Hotel La Bufalara (Via Uria, Isola Verano, 71010 Ischitella; tel. 011-39-0884-97037, fax 011-39-0884-97374. A more economical base for enjoying the Gargano, this hotel is in a pine grove on the strip of land between Lake Varano and the sea. Pool and restaurant.

• Royal (Via de' Robertis 29, Trani [BA]; tel. 011-39-0883-588777, fax 011-39-0883-582224). Built around a flowery courtyard, this hotel is simple but comfortable, with air-conditioned rooms.

• Apeneste (Piazza Turati 3, 71030 Mattinata; tel. 011-39-0884-4743, fax 011-39-0884-4341). Small, simple hotel with a pool, tennis courts, a private beach and a great restaurant. On the southern tip of the Gargano.

• Orsa Maggiore (Litoranea per Santa Cesarea 303, 73030 Castro Marina; tel. 836/97766) is a very simple but well-maintained and friendly modern hotel with an acclaimed restaurant. $70./person for mandatory half board.

• Panoramico (Via Panoramico, 73030 Castro Marino; tel. 011-39-0836-97007, fax 011-39-0836-97865). This picturesque hotel's balconies and terraces overlook the southernmost section of Apulia's seacoast. Clean and simple; half board required in August.

• Risorgimento (Via Augusto Imperatore 19, 73100 Lecce; tel. 011-39-0832-42125, fax 011-39-0832-51775). Although the centrally located President is more modern and thus has more amenities, this older establishment oozes with Old World charm. Rooms are dark, but air-conditioned.

  Here's what one of our readers had to say:

  "You are right about this hotel. It is nice and comfortable. Unfortunately the restaurant leaves much to be desired even though the desk clerk assured us that it was the best in town. We did not try others but compared to others we had tried further north and south it was pretty ordinary."
  Bob Levine
  rjl@gurus.com

• The Grotta Palazzese Hotel-Restaurant, with 20 air-conditioned rooms and a spectacular restaurant in a huge natural grotto, it is located at Via Narciso 59, Polignano a Mare, tel. 011-39-080-424-0677; fax 011-39-080-424-0767.

• Hotel Minerva in Brindisi.