Where Is Puglia? A Map of Italy’s Heel
Puglia, or Apulia in English, is the region that forms the heel of Italy’s boot, in the far south-east of the country. It is a long, narrow strip of land in southern Italy, running down between the Adriatic Sea on one side and the Ionian Sea on the other, with the city of Bari as its capital. If you have wondered where Puglia is and wanted to see it on a map, the short answer is: look at the very bottom right of mainland Italy, at the spur and the heel that jut out into the sea.
Where is Puglia in Italy?
Puglia sits in the far south-east of Italy and forms the country’s heel. On a map of Puglia, Italy, you can see it as a long, thin region stretching roughly north-west to south-east, with the flat Adriatic coast facing across the water towards Albania and Greece. The Adriatic Sea lies to the east and north, while the Ionian Sea washes the region’s south-western shore and the Gulf of Taranto.
Inland, Puglia borders three other Italian regions: Molise to the north, Campania to the west and Basilicata to the south-west. It is one of the most southerly parts of mainland Italy, so it enjoys long, warm summers and a genuinely Mediterranean climate. In area it covers about 19,300 square kilometres, and roughly 3.9 million people live there, which makes it one of the larger and more populous regions of the Italian south.
The provinces and regions of Puglia
Administratively, Puglia is divided into six provinces. Here is a quick guide to each and what it is known for.
| Province | Known for |
|---|---|
| Bari | The regional capital, the seafront old town and the main transport gateway |
| Barletta-Andria-Trani (BAT) | The clifftop Castel del Monte and the harbour town of Trani |
| Brindisi | A historic port and ferry hub and the second main airport |
| Foggia | The Gargano promontory, the Tremiti Islands and the wide Tavoliere plain |
| Lecce | Baroque Lecce and most of the Salento peninsula in the deep south |
| Taranto | The Ionian coast, the Gulf of Taranto and the western Salento |
Travellers, though, tend to think of Puglia in four broad areas rather than by province. In the north is the Gargano, the mountainous, forested spur that sticks out into the Adriatic. Around and below Bari is the central coast, home to whitewashed cliff towns. Inland from there lies the Valle d’Itria, the famous trulli country of cone-roofed stone houses. And right at the tip of the heel is the Salento, the sun-baked peninsula with the region’s best-known beaches. For a fuller tour of each area, see our guide to Puglia’s destinations, and if you are ready to build a trip, our advice on how to plan a route.
Main cities and towns
Bari is the capital of Puglia, Italy and the main gateway for most visitors, with an airport, a busy port and fast train links to the rest of the country. Beyond Bari, the other main cities are Lecce, celebrated for its honey-coloured Baroque architecture, Taranto on the Ionian coast, Brindisi with its port and airport and Foggia in the agricultural north.
For most travellers, though, it is the smaller towns that make Puglia special. A few of the most famous include:
- Alberobello, the UNESCO-listed town of trulli in the Valle d’Itria.
- Ostuni, the dazzling white hill town looking out over olive groves.
- Polignano a Mare, perched on limestone cliffs above the Adriatic.
- Lecce, often called the Florence of the South for its ornate stonework.
For a fuller shortlist, see our roundup of the best towns in Puglia.
How to get to Puglia
Puglia has two airports, both handy for visitors. Bari Airport serves the centre and north of the region, while Brindisi Airport is the better choice for the Salento and the deep south. Both handle flights from across Italy and much of Europe.
If you are already in Italy, the train is an easy option. High-speed services run down the Adriatic side of the country to Bari and on towards Lecce, so you can arrive without a car. Driving is also straightforward, with motorways linking Puglia to Naples, Rome and the north. Once you are in the region, a hire car is the most flexible way to reach the countryside and the coast. For the full picture, read our guide to getting to Puglia, along with our arrival guides for travellers coming from Rome to Puglia and Naples to Puglia.
How far is Puglia from Rome, Naples and the Amalfi Coast?
Puglia is closer to the rest of Italy than many visitors expect. From Rome, the high-speed train to Bari takes around four hours, and the drive is a similar length. From Naples, Bari is roughly three to three and a half hours away by car, crossing the peninsula from the Tyrrhenian side to the Adriatic. That makes Puglia a realistic add-on to a trip that starts in Rome or the Bay of Naples.
The Amalfi Coast is a common point of confusion. It sits on the western, Tyrrhenian side of southern Italy, near Naples and Sorrento, which is a completely different area from Puglia over on the eastern, Adriatic side. The two are not next door to each other, and reaching one from the other means crossing the whole width of the south. If you are weighing them up, see our comparison of Puglia vs the Amalfi Coast.
Where is Puglia? FAQ
Is Puglia in southern Italy?
Yes. Puglia is one of the regions of southern Italy, lying in the far south-east and forming the heel of the boot along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts.
What is the heel of Italy?
The heel of Italy is Puglia. If you picture the country as a boot, the long piece of land pointing towards the south-east, into the sea, is the heel, and that is exactly where Puglia sits.
Is Puglia the same as Apulia?
Yes. Apulia is simply the English and Latin name for the region, while Puglia is the Italian name. They refer to the same place, so "Puglia, Italy" and "Apulia" are interchangeable.
How do you pronounce Puglia?
POOL-ya, with the stress on the first syllable (IPA /ˈpuʎʎa/). The tricky part for English speakers is the "gli", a soft sound close to the "lli" in "million" rather than a hard "g".
What is Puglia known for?
Puglia is known for its trulli houses, whitewashed hill towns, Baroque Lecce, long stretches of coastline, olive oil, orecchiette pasta and some of the best beaches in Italy.
Is Puglia near Naples or the Amalfi Coast?
Naples is about three to three and a half hours from Bari by car, so it is reachable but not on the doorstep. The Amalfi Coast is near Naples on the opposite, western side of southern Italy, so it is not close to Puglia.