Italy again. Another trip to plan. Last time, my mother and I went on a surprise trip to Rome, but unfortunately my brother couldn't make it. This time, he's getting a taste of Italian life — and the good kind of Italian, not the Roman kind.


I believe that if you give something from the heart, the universe eventually gives something back. Maybe in a different form, but I believe it works — just like karma. So my mum liked our last trip together and now she's invited us. We've been wondering where we should go and have finally decided on the southern Italian province of Puglia. We're looking forward to seeing how southern Italians live here and how their mentality is different compared to Rome the capital city. We're also looking forward to plenty of sunshine and good food.

Crystal clear turquoise water flows around moss-covered rocks in a natural coastal setting.

"let's dive in"


I mean into the southern Italian way of life.

Let's dive into the sunshine and culinary delights. Bari and Puglia here we come.

"let's dive in"


I mean into the southern Italian way of life.

Let's dive into the sunshine and culinary delights. Bari and Puglia here we come.

Modern train platform with luggage cart at Bari Centrale station under industrial ceiling.

DAY ONE


old town and aperol spritz


The flight was in the morning, so we got to the airport in Bari at the start of the day. Bari's central train station was about 20 minutes from the airport. The sun was already much stronger than at home, and it was lovely to be able to change from a jacket to a T-shirt. We quickly checked in and set off to explore the area. Once we’d had our welcome Aperol spritz, we got our heads together and planned out the first day in Bari. There was one small problem: my mum doesn't really drink alcohol, so the three glasses were actually for two people. It was funny because several times during the trip she asked when we were going to have another Aperol. By the second time, my brother and I knew exactly what she meant.

Overhead view of bright orange Aperol Spritz cocktails with ice and straws.
Historic white church and buildings in an Italian town square on a sunny day.
Orange Aperol Spritz cocktails with ice being served at an outdoor cafe.

We walked down to the beach and watched the boats in the harbour for a while, then took a small turn towards the old town. There were lots of narrow alleyways, which made navigation tricky even for Google Maps. The history here is really fascinating. It's a great place to see how the older generation in southern Italy live. They have plenty of time for anything, and it's pretty hot anyway, so where would the hurry? The locals seemed to live on the streets, or at least it felt like social media and the internet didn't exist here. It felt like the locals were living on the streets, or perhaps it was just my impression that social media and the internet didn't exist here. The locals, young and old alike, hang out outside their houses chatting. The old ladies are famous for making orecchiette by hand — the little ear-shaped pasta that Puglia is known for. They shape it by hand and then dry it in the sun.

Charming Italian street with striped awnings and market stalls along stone buildings.

Old ladies making homemade orecchiette pasta on the street as a local attraction

Colorful display of fresh vegetables and produce at Italian street market stall.

Fresh fruit and vegetables every day — do they know what GMO is?

Lively Mediterranean street corner with a cafe and decorative balconies above.
Historic church facade with ornate windows and people walking through a charming European street.

On our way we came across the castle, so we stopped in to take a look around and check out a few of the exhibitions. But what really stood out was the Basilica of St. Nicholas. My neighbour is an icon painter priest and gave me some interesting insights. We all know St. Nicholas as Santa Claus with his white beard and red suit, but he was actually a saint who performed many miracles. His bones, which have a distinctive aroma, are stored beneath the basilica, attracting numerous pilgrims.

Imposing stone fortress wall with angular bastion corner against blue sky.

One side of the castle — either it was smaller than expected, or part of it was closed to visitors.

Beautifully carved religious relief sculpture illuminated by warm lighting in a museum setting.
Illuminated ancient stone carving in a dimly lit cathedral interior.

There were also various exhibitions, educational displays and digital projections.

Dramatic backlit mural showing silhouetted figures against an orange background in historic space.

My neighbour is an icon-painting priest, and he gave me some interesting insights into St. Nicholas. We all know him as Santa Claus, with his white beard and red suit, but he was actually a real saint who was believed to have performed many miracles. His relics are kept beneath the basilica, attracting pilgrims from all over the world.

Bronze statue of a religious figure holding a staff stands on stone pedestal in city square.
Interior of historic cathedral with wooden pews leading to altar under vaulted ceiling.
Simple church altar area with wooden pews and colorful religious artwork on stone walls.
Someone lights candles at an ornate church altar with arched stone columns and floral decorations.
Multiple lit votive candles create a warm glow in a church interior with stone columns and floral arrangements.
Close-up of burning candles on a dark surface creating a warm atmospheric glow.
People praying at an ornate church gate with golden interior architectural details.
Orthodox religious icon with golden ornate frame displayed in a church setting.

01 / 08

It was quite a long walk and we were hungry, so we made a reservation at the restaurant our host recommended. It was a small restaurant, but it was really popular, so we made a booking. We had an hour and a half to wait, so we thought we’d get an appetiser somewhere else. A ham and cheese platter with olives and a beer sounded like a great starter. On our way back, I spotted giant octopus sandwiches, so I decided to give one a try. It's easy to get it wrong with the frying, but it was done perfectly. 

The rest of the afternoon was spent walking around, trying some focaccia — a traditional Italian flatbread — and watching the locals go about their daily lives. It was a long day with lots of walking, so we had a quick rest to be ready for day two.

People relaxing at cafe tables under stone archway in historic European setting.
Appetizer plate with cured meats, cheese and olives on pink placemat with drinks.
A close-up of hands serving charcuterie and cheese alongside a Peroni beer bottle on a plate.

'Salumeria Meraviglie' in Italian means 'Delicatessen Wonders' or 'Delicatessen Treasures.' The word 'salumeria' means a deli or delicatessen, where you can buy various cold cuts, cheeses, and other gourmet items.

Urban street blocked by police tape with emergency vehicles and pedestrians in background.
Police motorcycles and vehicles lined up in front of red brick building.

On the way we witnessed a serious crime

In reality, it was just a programme to promote the police in front of the town hall

Close-up of a fresh muffin served on white plate at outdoor cafe table.
Interior of traditional deli shop with hanging meats and wooden counter display.
Fried calamari and seafood served in a white takeout container on wooden table.
Motion-blurred motorcycle speeding down urban street with trees in background.
Serene seascape with rocky breakwaters extending into calm blue Mediterranean waters.
Cyclist navigating through an urban street intersection with cars and buses during golden hour.

DAY two


molfetta & trani


The next day we decided to visit some small towns in the neighbourhood. Luckily, these are 15-minute journeys by train. Molfetta was the first destination, followed by Trani. Both were lovely little fishing towns, well worth a few hours of walking around.

A modern red and white train waiting at a snowy station platform.

There was nothing in particular we had to see. We just walked wherever our feet took us and enjoyed watching the locals go about their daily lives. We visited the old town, then the local harbour and fish market, then on to Trani.

A stone wall with colorful decorative signs and plaques in Italian.
A religious statue stands among cypress trees and Mediterranean plants behind an iron fence.
A vintage Fiat 500 parked on a cobblestone street with green shuttered buildings.
A group gathering on a bench in a traditional Italian town square.

Gathering for conversation in Italian style

People relaxing on benches in a park viewed through tree trunks.

A little health walk with friends before lunch

It was interesting to see older men getting together to talk. You can see this in almost every small town, street by street. I noticed plenty of heated arguments, but they always seemed to end in laughter.

A classic Fiat 500 parked between modern cars on an Italian street.
A beige vintage Fiat 500 photographed from the front on a narrow cobblestone street.
Classic convertible car parked outside closed storefront shutters on urban street.

The old-timer among the modern cars

Fresh caught fish and seafood displayed on a dark surface.
A fishmonger arranges fresh seafood at a market stall with white display containers.
Fresh silver mackerel fish arranged in a white styrofoam container at a market.
A vintage red Vespa scooter parked on a stone paved street in Italy.
A classic turquoise Vespa scooter parked in front of a Mediterranean building facade.

Old Vespa love everywhere

It was well into lunch time when we arrived, they take siesta very seriously here, and as we were running late we literally ran to find a restaurant that was still open. Luckily we found one and after lunch we had an ice cream in the harbour and then returned to Bari.

Diners enjoying a meal at an outdoor seaside restaurant with marina views.

Date at the harbour

A clear glass bottle of Lauretana natural water on a restaurant table.

We had to wait for lunch, but in the meantime I discovered that Pininfarina designs water bottles too.

A vanilla ice cream cone held up against a coastal harbor background.

Ice cream after lunch, of course with pistachios and caramel

People conversing on a waterfront dock with fishing boats in the background.

Quick review of who caught bigger fish in the morning

Rusty mooring hardware with green rope on a dock with fishing boats in background.
Fishing equipment and nets stored on the deck of a commercial fishing boat.
Colorful fishing nets and equipment on a harbor dock with boats in the background on a sunny day.
Rusty mooring bollard and blue fishing boat in a peaceful harbor with calm waters.

DAY three


visiting polignano a mare


I think this was the day everyone was looking forward to the most. Some of the most beautiful and famous photos of Puglia were taken here, in the neighbouring town of Polignano a Mare. So, of course, we had to see it for ourselves.

Dramatic coastal view through metal railings of a beach nestled between rocky cliffs.
White buildings perched on limestone cliffs above a turquoise beach cove in Italy.
Stone archway bridge framing a scenic coastal beach view with blue Mediterranean waters.
Aerial view of a secluded beach cove surrounded by white buildings and limestone cliffs.

I've been to plenty of places that looked beautiful in photos but didn't quite live up to them in person. Luckily, this wasn't one of them. Everything really was as beautiful as in the photos.

Outdoor seaside cafe decorated with potted plants and rustic decor.
"The sun was so bright that even with sunglasses you could hardly see anything"
Elegant seaside restaurant entrance with white walls and blue signage overlooking the ocean.
Seaside terrace with colorful flowers and ocean view seating.
Rocky beach cove with limestone cliffs and crystal clear blue waters.

Love is in the air

Tourists enjoying the scenic view of a coastal town with white buildings and turquoise waters in Italy.

My mother and brother would be enjoying the view if I wasn't taking picture of them

Historic white church and buildings in an Italian town square with tourists walking by.

Strolling in the old town

Stone viaduct bridge with arches overlooking the Mediterranean Sea against bright blue sky.

Fortunately, there were still few tourists, so the place was still pleasant and kept its charm. The sea was only for the brave, so tourists waited a few months to see it :) The sun was so bright and the brightly painted buildings and squares reflected the light so much that it was hard to see anything without sunglasses, so we decided to find a beach and go for a sunbath.

Bronze statue with outstretched arms on seaside promenade with tourists gathering around.

Statue of Italian singer and songwriter Domenico Modugno, best known for “Volare”, who was born in Polignano a Mare.

Pepperoni pizza and cocktails served with Minuty rose wine at an Italian restaurant.

Pizza and Chinotto bittersweet drink is the best combo

Close-up of palm tree fronds against bright blue sky with ocean in background.
Rocky coastal wall viewed through yellow-tinted sunglasses on a sunny day.

There were lots of cats in one of the bays where we stopped to swim. Here we got into a gang war.

Creative circular view through iron bars focusing on stone wall texture.
Beautiful secluded cove beach with turquoise water surrounded by limestone cliffs.
Small rocky beach cove with crystal clear waters viewed from above.

The weather was deceptive, we needed a jacket in the morning and a swimsuit by lunchtime. The man had not yet felt the early summer.

Blue tuk-tuk taxis parked under pine trees on a sunny street in a Mediterranean town.

Tuk-tuk taxis were waiting for tourists at the train station. Lamborghinis would be more Italian, by the way :)

The sea was still quite cold, so I only went in knee-deep, but my brother was brave enough to take a dip. For lunch we went back to the main square where the statue of Domenico Modugno stands. We found a pizza place and chose three different pizzas, all of which were excellent. The third day went by very quickly, and unfortunately it was time to catch the train back to Bari, pack our bags and say goodbye.


Southern Italy was a very pleasant surprise. The people were much friendlier than in Rome, the food was delicious, and we were lucky with the weather too. I would come back any time. Thanks, Mum, for the trip. It was great to travel together again — and finally with you too, my brother. I'm already looking forward to our next adventure together.

Passengers boarding a Ryanair aircraft on the tarmac under bright blue sky.
Concrete breakwater extends into calm blue sea under bright sky.





arrivederci Bari


Thanks for giving the Italian way of life another chance. I’m sure Puglia has more stories for us.