North Puglia

Dreaming of the perfect retreat to Italy? Our luxury villas in North Puglia offer scenic views.

We offer a range of breathtaking villas & apartments for rent in North Puglia to fulfill your holiday experience including the options of: villas with private pools, villas for couples, villas for groups, family-friendly villas & beachfront villas. Find your ideal villa below.

The Gargano peninsula

North Puglia is a varied, less visited part of the region. Its most striking feature is the Gargano, the spur of Italy's boot, a limestone headland covered by a national park. Inland is the Foresta Umbra, an ancient beech forest that is cool in summer and good for walking, while the coast has white cliffs, sea caves and sandy bays.

Vieste and Peschici are the main seaside towns, both with old quarters on rocky headlands above the beaches. Up in the hills, Monte Sant'Angelo is home to the sanctuary of St Michael, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and San Giovanni Rotondo is a major pilgrimage centre linked to Padre Pio. In summer, boats run from the Gargano to the Tremiti Islands, a small archipelago with clear water for swimming and snorkelling.

Castles, cathedrals and the Bari coast

South of the Gargano, the coast towards Bari has a string of handsome towns. Trani's pale Romanesque cathedral stands right on the edge of the sea, and Barletta and Molfetta have historic centres worth exploring. Inland, Castel del Monte, the octagonal castle built for Emperor Frederick II, is UNESCO listed and visible for miles across the countryside.

Bari itself has a lively old town, Bari Vecchia, where the Basilica of San Nicola draws pilgrims and local women still make orecchiette by hand in the lanes.

Food, wine and travel

This is a place for simple, excellent food: burrata, which originated around Andria, orecchiette with turnip tops, focaccia barese, fresh seafood and some of Italy's best olive oil. Look for red wines made from Nero di Troia, especially from the Castel del Monte area.

Bari airport is the main gateway, and a car is needed to explore. Late spring and September are warm and quieter than August. The area suits families, walkers and travellers who want beaches and history without the crowds.

Discover more of Puglia, or browse the villas listed below to find your base in the north of the region.