b'TALK TO OUR EXPERTHeather Alcott-Moritzheather.a@enchantingtravels.com+1 720 637 2874"Heather has beenCathedral (with bell tower) dedicated to Maria wonderful to workSantissima Assunta. Lecce is about 7 miles with on planning ourinland and it is connected to the coastal town family trip to Italy. Sheof San Cataldo and lovely sandy beaches.had many fantasticMonopoli is a bustling city and fishing hub suggestions, havingwith an intact historical center (centro storico). lived in Italy herself." Narrow lanes take you to the pretty main Donna Barbour square of Piazza Garibaldi and to Palazzo Martinelli-Meo Evoli, the towns most beautiful building. A 15th-century gate leads to the towns historic harbor (Porto Vecchio), where small, blue fishing boats (gozzi) dot the waterfront. A seafront promenade (lungomare) on the citys outer edge has an ancient defense tower and a medieval castle, and offers endless views of the Adriatic.One of the nicest ways to discover the stunning coastline of Monopoli and Polignano a Mare and explore hidden treasures, caves, and aquamarine waters is on a boat or catamaran tour.From your base in Puglia, you can take day trips inland to explore the Valle DItrias whitewashed villages and historic towns like Locorotondo, Ostuni (a white city set on a hilltop with views of the Adriatic Sea and surrounded by olive groves and vineyards), and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of PHOTO: VALERIA-SANTORO ON UNSPLASH (OUTDOOR SEATING IN LOCOROTONDO)Outdoor seating inAlberobello. Picturesque Alberobello is Locorotondo where you can see numerous trulli, the regions characteristic traditional cylindrical stone dwellings with cone-shaped roofs. Many of these trulli house restaurants, bars, accommodations, and boutique shops.On the east coast of Puglias Salento peninsula, the Strait of Otranto connects the Adriatic and Ionian seas and separates Italy from Albania. The fortified port town of Otranto, with its rich cultural heritage, gazes out over this strait. Otrantos highlights include a Romanesque cathedral dating back to 1088, an impressive Aragonese castle from the 15th century, and white sandy beaches fronted by crystal-clear turquoise waters. Its seafront promenades are perfect for sampling local dishes at waterfront restaurants or admiring panoramic sea views. Otranto has several fine sandy beaches, including one in the middle of the town. enchantingtravels.com/italyENCHANTING TRAVELS\x1a37'