Discover Puglia
The Itria Valley, where Dolce Kerida is located, is the land of the “trulli”, these amazing little round houses with conical roofs made of flat stones that give a crazy charm to our region.
Culture
The history of Puglia is that of its conquerors: between the 8th century BC and the 19th century, the region saw a succession of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Lombard, Norman, Saracen, Ottoman, Spanish and French (for 9 years during the Napoleanoic period) rulers. In each village, there are traces of this fabulous heritage of 2700 years of history.
Ceglie Messapica,
3 km from Dolce Kerida
Ceglie is an important gastronomic stopover with its renowned cookery school (Med Cooking Scool) and many restaurants. It is also one of the oldest localities in the region. Its pretty historic centre, which can get extremely lively on summer evenings on the charming main square of Plebiscito where the clock tower stands, is criss-crossed by narrow streets with whitewashed houses. On the higher part is the “Ducal Palazzo” whose construction dates back to the 12th century. The "Chiesa Collegiata" which faces the castle, was built in the 16th century and houses some frescoes and paintings by Domenico Carella (XVIIIᵉ). Nearby is the "belvedere" which offers an unparalleled view of the plain. On the other side of the street, the MAAC or Archaeological and Contemporary Art Museum houses some Paleolithic remains and objects dating from the Messapian period. Also not to be missed is the pretty "Piazza Vecchia" and its romantic atmosphere.
Ostuni, or the white city,
10 km away
An ancient Messapian city set on a promontory, Ostuni has preserved the towers and forts that surround its historic district from its Byzantine then Angevin and Aragonese past, lending it an oriental feel. The “Piazza de la liberta” where the monumental “Palazzo del municipio” and the “Colonna di Sant’Oranzo” are located is not to be missed. Its late Gothic cathedral, built in the 15th century is notable for its remarkable facade. From there, lose yourself in the maze of white streets and flower-decked houses with colorful shutters.
Martina Franca,
19 km away
Along the alleys of this elegant city perched on the top of a hill, the Baroque style dominates and at each crossroads the visitor can expect to see a potbellied balcony, a portal flanked by sumptuous caryatids, or a church facade populated by smiling cherubs. The somewhat decadent elegance of its style is the secret of its charm. Make sure to take in its 17th century Palazzo Ducale, the Basilica di San Martino, and the “piazza del plebiscito”…
Locorotondo,
25 km away
The hilltop line of ridges of the white houses of Locorotondo can be seen from afar. It is an adorable circular village which enjoys a splendid view of the Itria Valley and its trulli. A thousand details make up the charm of Locorotondo : its immaculate staircases, porches, arches and piazzette, the baroque portal of its “Palazzo Morelli” ; in short, it is good to get lost in Locorotondo.
Polignano a mare and Monopoli,
58 km away
Polignano a Mare is proud of its Greek origins. It perches its white houses on high cliffs overlooking the sea, an unexpected creek and a network of alleys make it a superb and unique site.
Monopoli its southern neighbor, has some remarkable churches in its historic center, including the Romanesque “Santa Maria Amalfitana”, but above all a magnificent port… Incomparable charm !
Alberobello
This village built by a single family in the 15th century. is famous for its old quarter entirely made up of trulli. There are 1400 remarkably well preserved of which, alas, a large part has now been converted into souvenir shops. A unique concentration of its kind which has earned it the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the top, the Church of Sant'Antonio itself has a conical roof.
Bari
The city consists of an old town squeezed on a peninsula and a modern district with wide shopping avenues. A maze of winding streets leading to private courtyards or passing under houses with colours washed out by the sun, the "Bari Vecchia" surprises with its atmosphere where you constantly feel as if you have stumbled on to an Ettore Scola set ! The laundry hangs from the windows, the men meet in anonymous cafes and the women make “orecchiette”, traditional Puglia pasta, on the sidewalk… Bari has retained an undeniable popular charm.
Lecce
Nicknamed capital of the Baroque. How good it is to get lost in the sumptuous historical maze of Lecce, letting your gaze wander over the endless treasures. The city has seen the exuberance of its Baroque splendour flourish around its portals, fountains and balconies, as well as on the facades of its churches and palaces.
Activities
Sports, Leisure, Walks, etc.
Torre Guaceto,
13 km away
The beautiful nature reserve of Torre Guaceto, that you may have spotted if you joined Ceglie from Brindisi airport, deserves a (long) walk and of course a quiet swim.
Caves of Castellana,
39 km away
Cave lovers, here is a visit not to be missed ! You will descend more than 60m deep into the bowels of the earth to discover an extraordinary world of stalactites and stalagmites formed drop by drop for more than 90 million years, culminating in the fascinating Grotte White (White Cave).
Sunday flea markets
Objects of all kinds, often unique, sometimes rare. You won't know which way to turn at the "Mercatino antiquariato e usato". The last Sunday of the month, from 9 am, Piazza Sant'Antonio.
The 1st Sunday in Grottaglie, the 2nd Sunday in Ostuni, the 3rd in Cisternino and the last Sunday of the month from 9 a.m., piazza Sant’Antonio in Ceglie.
Cycling on the aqueduct
A beautiful walk along the great channel of the Puglia aqueduct which, in addition to being the largest hydraulic work in Europe, also offers one of the most beautiful paths in the region.
The Ciclovia dell'acquadotto pugliese is a circuit of almost 500 km that covers 3 regions (Campania, Basilicata and Puglia) following the route of the Apulian aqueduct and which passes near Ceglie Messapica. Ideal for long bike rides !
Itria Valley Festival of Martina Franca
One of the most beautiful in Italy from mid-July to early August, an opportunity to spot emerging talents, intended for all lovers of classical, lyrical and opera music.
Contact
Book your stay now (WhatsApp or by email)
- +33 (6) 60 31 10 90
- contact@dolcekerida.com