It is a city in the center of the valley La Valle d'Itria, where 11,000 people live. The unusual Trulli houses, which built up the center of Alberobello, were recognized as a national monument of Italy and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

• WHAT TO SEE AROUND ALBEROBELLO

Although the entire city is dotted with trulli, there are 5 specific places, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO:

• Rione Monti, with about a thousand cones, is the largest and most famous Trulli district, located on the southern side of the city.
• Rione Aia piccola, a short distance from the first, smaller but exclusively residential (it is forbidden to open commercial activities), with about 400 cones.
• Casa Pezzolla, a complex of 15 connecting cones used as a Museum of the Teritorio (Museo del Teritorio).
• Casa D'Amore, first city hall linked to the official recognition of the city.
• The house-museum of the Sovereign Trullo (La casa-museo del Trullo Sovrano). The only two-storey trullo in the city.

Sitting on Puglia's Adriatic coast around 30km south of Bari, Monopoli is a lovely town for a trip. Like so many towns on the Adriatic, Monopoli's history has been thoroughly influenced by its east-facing position and its fortified sea-front walls and castle tell many a story.

• WHAT TO SEE AROUND MONOPOLI

It is best to start walking around the city from the Piazza XX Settembre or around it, where there is a colorful street market. Then you should go east to the cathedral. To find it just look upwards and you are sure to see its elegantly conceived bell tower thrusting into the sky. Built in 1693, the tower is over 60 metres high, completely dominating the town below.

Passing by the cathedral (or after a quick look in), continue heading east and you will soon come to the first part of the sea-front, with its defensive walls and sandy bay, ideal for a refreshing dip. Continue down the lovely Via Papacenere, which will take you behind the walls and onto the Lungomare sea-front promenade, complete with some fine buildings, including the curvaceous Church of Santa Maria della Zaffira (La chiesa di Santa Maria della Zaffara), a cannon-mounted bastion and the impressively robust Charles V Castle (Il Castello di Carlo V), built in 1552. The castle is visitable and the view from the top is wonderful.

Passing under an archway outside the castle, you will arrive in the port, comprised by a series of little harbours. Wandering half way round the first one, busy with fishermen mending their nets or unloading the day's catch, a little street will take you back into town and, along Via Cimino, back to your starting point at Piazza XX Settembre.

One of Puglia's most picturesque enclaves, Ostuni is known as the White City (Città Bianca) thanks to its plenitude of white-washed houses. A quick trip from the coast, the city is also celebrated for its labyrinthine streets, cathedral, and ancient defensive walls.

• WHAT TO SEE AROUND OSTUNI

Built on top of a hill, Ostuni was a defensive town overlooking the valley. As in many cities of Puglia, walking along the city walls is the main activity in Ostuni for tourists. Part of the old structure, built to keep the invaders out of the city, is still open and accessible to the public.

Despite the fact that Citta Bianca is a small town in the wilderness, it is ideal for spending a few days in relaxation. Corso Vittorio Emanuele II is a place worth visiting to admire the incredible views. This is the perfect place to relax, enjoy an aperitif with a wonderful view.

Ostuni is rich in history and architecture. There are many beautiful churches in the historical center. The impressive 15th century Gothic cathedral (Duomo di Ostuni) is located in the center of the Old Town, magnificent from the outside and stunning inside.

Finally we got to Bari! It is the capital of Puglia. The second largest city in southern Italy after Naples, Bari is Italy's main gateway to the East. Frequent ferries that arrive at and depart from the port of Bari connect Italy with some of its closest neighbors, such as Greece, Albania, Croatia and Montenegro.

• WHAT TO SEE AROUND BARI

Walking around the enchanting narrow streets of the Old Town of Bari (Bari Vecchia) definitely tops the list of best things to do. Built between the city's two ports (the modern and the old one), Bari Vecchia, as locals call the historic centre, is a maze of narrow alleys lined with gorgeous buildings that have remained the same since the medieval times when the city was constructed.

Murat Quarter (Quartiere Murat): built in the 19th century, it is the heart of modern Bari and the main shopping area of the city. It's named after Joachim Murat who was a Marshal of Napoleon Bonaparte and head of the government of the Kingdom of Naples, who ushered in the construction of the new area. The walls surrounding the Old Town were dismantled on the landside and replaced by Corso Vittorio Emanuele which allowed the city to expand.

The harbour-front Teatro Margherita originally opened in 1914, is one of the city's most loved and iconic buildings. Luciano Pavarotti and Rudolf Nureyev are just some of the famous names who have performed here. Recently restored, the theatre has become a hub for contemporary art in the city, with a jam packed calendar of concerts, exhibitions and performances.