Puglia: land of sun, sea and heart-stealing Paths.
Here, in the heel of the Italian boot, paths tell stories and the footsteps of wayfarers mingle with the footsteps of ancient pilgrims and farmers.
Imagine walking among centuries-old olive trees, passing through villages, such as Ostuni or Locorotondo, admiring the trulli of Alberobello, a UNESCO heritage site, and, as if all this were not enough, being welcomed by wonderful hospitality.
And then there is the sea, always present, accompanying many of the routes with its deep blue, typical of the beaches of Salento.
Get ready for warm encounters, impromptu chats over a glass of Primitivo. Handmade orecchiette, creamy burrata, savory olives and much more.
Apulian Paths are waiting for you, let’s go discover them all!
We remind you that you can search for the path to do for you in the section “Paths” using the various filters (Example “Region Filter”).
Complete list of Paths in Apulia
Below is a list of all the Paths in Apulia on the Paths of Italy portal.
Il Cammino della Pace
Length: 518 km
Stages: 29
Departure: L’Aquila, basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio
Arrival: Monte Sant’Angelo, underground basilica of San Michele Arcangelo
IL CAMMINO DELLA PACE is a route that crosses three Italian regions-Abruzzo, Molise and Puglia. It runs more than 500 kilometers, through five provinces (L’Aquila, Pescara, Chieti, Campobasso and Foggia), three national parks (Gran Sasso, Maiella and Gargano) and various nature reserves and protected areas.
The origin of this modern itinerary is linked to a tragic event: the earthquake that struck L’Aquila in 2009. A young student from Guardiagrele, grateful to have survived the earthquake, conceived the idea of a Way that would unite L’Aquila with San Giovanni Rotondo, later extended to Monte Sant’Angelo. This insight led to the rediscovery of a millennia-old route used over the centuries by shepherds, abbots, pilgrims and merchants.
Along the way, one encounters an invaluable heritage of abbeys, shrines, hermitages and castles, surrounded by panoramas ranging from the mountains to the sea.
Thus, IL CAMMINO DELLA PACE represents a unique opportunity to explore the beauty and diversity of central and southern Italy, following in the footsteps of those who, over the centuries, have walked these ancient paths.
Discover the Il Cammino della Pace!
Cammino di Don Tonino Bello
Length: 393 km
Stages: 17
Departure: Molfetta
Arrival: Alessano
The Cammino di Don Tonino Bello is a route that crosses Puglia from north to south, offering a physical and spiritual journey in the footsteps of the beloved Salento bishop.
Conceived to honor Don Tonino’s memory 25 years after his passing, the Cammino invites pilgrims to explore the wonders of Puglia through Don Tonino’s perspective and teachings.
Don Tonino, Monsignor Antonio Bello, was not only a priest and a bishop, but also a writer and a poet. His life was characterized by courage, theological sophistication and a deep sensitivity to the marginalized.
From Molfetta, Don Tonino’s bishopric, to Alessano, his hometown, the Cammino is an opportunity to experience “contempl-activity,” combining spiritual reflection with concrete action, in line with the bishop’s teachings.
To quote Don Tonino, “The road is long, but there is only one way to know where it may lead: to continue the journey.”
Discover the Cammino di Don Tonino Bello!
The Materani Paths in Apulia
The Cammini Materani are a network of routes that traverse the heart of southern Italy, offering walkers a journey to discover the most authentic and lesser-known lands of the South.
These Paths, six in total, wind through the mountains of Basilicata to the trails and white coasts of Puglia, following ancient Roman, medieval and historic sheep-tracks.
The goal of these routes is to connect the inland areas of the South, often overlooked by mass tourism, revealing an area that for millennia has been a crucial crossroads of peoples and cultures in the heart of the Mediterranean.
Prominent among these routes in terms of popularity and beauty are the Via Peuceta and the Hellenic Way, both in Apulia, part of the larger Cammino Materano project and featured in our portal.
Now, let’s delve into these fascinating routes!
Via Peuceta – Cammino MATERANO
Length: 166 km
Stages: 7
Departure: Bari
Arrival: Matera
The Via Peuceta is a 166-kilometer route through the heart of Puglia and Basilicata, offering a journey through time and nature. The path takes its name from ancient Peucetia, a historical region that this route crosses.
The starting point is the famous Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari, a symbol of pilgrimage in Puglia and a spiritual landmark. From here, the Camino continues through expanses of centuries-old olive trees on the coastal plain and wide steppes of the Murgia plateau, interspersed with patches of forest that provide shade and coolness for walkers.
Along the seven STAGES of the Via, walkers will discover the extremely rich cultural heritage of Apulo-Lucano. They pass through medieval villages such as Bitetto, Cassano delle Murge, Santeramo in Colle and Altamura, each guardian of millennia-old histories and traditions that are still alive. A significant STAGE is the Sanctuary of Picciano, a place of spirituality surrounded by nature.
The authentic and genuine flavors of Apulian and Lucanian cuisine accompany the walker throughout the journey, making this Cammino ideal for those who also want to discover Apulian food and wine traditions.
Discover the Via Peuceta!
Via Ellenica – Cammino Materano
Length: 166 km
Stages: 8
Departure: Alberobello
Arrival: Matera
The Hellenic Way connects two UNESCO sites of extraordinary beauty: Alberobello, famous for its characteristic trulli, and the city of Matera, with its ancient districts carved into the rock. This 166-kilometer path winds through the enchanting Terra delle Gravine, an area that holds multiple natural and man-made wonders.
The route is divided into 8 STAGES, each of which offers a unique glimpse of the most authentic Puglia and Basilicata. Lush forests, ancient farms, spectacular rocky gorges, real canyons housing ancient villages and rock churches, embellished with precious medieval frescoes, are just some of the wonders one will encounter along the journey on the Hellenic Way.
Highlights include centers of great historical and cultural interest such as Martina Franca, Crispiano, Massafra, Mottola, Castellaneta, Palagianello, Laterza and Ginosa. Each of these places offers a unique piece in the region’s cultural mosaic, allowing walkers to fully immerse themselves in the local atmosphere and traditions.
Discover the Hellenic Way!
La Rotta dei due Mari
Length: 136 km
Stages: 6
Departure: Polignano a Mare
Arrival: Taranto
LA ROTTA DEI DUE MARI is a 136-km-long itinerary through some of the most beautiful rural locations in Apulia, a mix of nature, history and traditions that connects the Adriatic to the Ionian Sea, for a coast-to-coast Path.
The route begins in Polignano a Mare, the pearl of the Adriatic Sea famous for its sheer cliffs. From here, walkers enter the Apulian hinterland, traversing ancient sheep-tracks and crossing centuries-old olive groves.
The route ends in Taranto, a city of two seas, rich in millennial history.
Among the most significant STAGE stops are Castellana Grotte, renowned for its karst caves; Alberobello with its characteristic UNESCO heritage trulli; Locorotondo, one of Italy’s most beautiful villages; Martina Franca, famous for its Baroque; and Crispiano, gateway to the Gravine Park.
Each location offers a unique glimpse of Apulian culture and traditions, allowing walkers to have an authentic experience in just a week’s walk.
Discover the La Rotta dei due Mari!
The Paths of Salento
The Cammino del Salento offers two different Ways, both with the same starting and ending point, but with distinctive routes and characteristics.
Whether you choose the Street of the Villages or the Via del Mare, the journey begins at Porta Napoli in Lecce, the baroque heart of Salento, and ends at the striking De Finibus Terrae sanctuary in Santa Maria di Leuca, Italy’s extreme southern tip, where the waters of the Adriatic and Ionian seas meet.
The two Routes separate at Piazza Sant’Oronzo in Lecce: the Via dei Borghi heads toward Porta San Biagio, delving into the hinterland rich in history and tradition, while the Via del Mare heads toward the Carlo V Castle, then follows the easternmost coast of Italy.
Both routes offer total immersion in Salento culture, but let’s take a closer look at their peculiarities!
Cammino del Salento – Via dei Borghi
The Cammino del Salento – Via dei Borghi winds through the heart of Salento, offering walkers an experience to discover the inland areas of this wonderful peninsula.
135 km in 6 STAGEs, starting from the beautiful Baroque city of Lecce and ending in Santa Maria di Leuca, the southernmost point of the heel of Italy.
The landscape is varied and rich in history, characterized by ancient towns, countryside dotted with centuries-old olive trees and fortified farms. Each STAGE reveals a different aspect of Salento, allowing you to discover the cultural, historical and gastronomic richness of this land.
The walk culminates in Santa Maria di Leuca, at the De Finibus Terrae Sanctuary, literally “at the end of the earth.” This symbolic place, where the Ionian and Adriatic Seas meet, represents not only the geographical conclusion of the Camino, but also a point of spiritual and personal reflection for many walkers.
Discover the Cammino del Salento’s Via dei Borghi!
Via del Mare of the Cammino del Salento – VIA DEL MARE
Length: 115 km
Stages: 5
Departure: Lecce
Arrival: Santa Maria di Leuca
The Cammino del Salento – Via del Mare leads walkers through coastal landscapes in the south of the region to the southernmost point of the heel of Italy.
This 115-kilometer itinerary is spread over 5 STAGES and, like the Cammino del Salento’s Via dei Borghi, the journey begins in Lecce, known as the “Florence of the South” for its extraordinary Baroque heritage.
Unlike the Via dei Borghi, which travels through inland areas, this itinerary heads straight to the Charles V Castle, taking the direction of the sea.
You will see sheer cliffs overlooking the Ionian Sea, hidden coves and long golden beaches. The route alternates between stretches along the coast and passages inland, offering a variety of landscapes ranging from Mediterranean scrub to centuries-old olive groves, from expanses of prickly pear cactus to ancient masserias.
Walking along the coast, gazing toward the horizon of the sea, offers moments of reflection and strong connection with nature. Evocative sunrises, with the sun rising on the horizon over the sea, become an integral part of the Seaway experience.
Discover the Cammino del Salento – Via del Mare!
Did you enjoy the Cammini in Puglia? Stay up to date on all the news about the Italian Cammini, subscribe to our Telegram channel!
For those who would like to learn more and better plan their own Camino, we invite you to visit each Cammino’s fact sheet, via the links in the article, or in the “Cammini” section of the website, filtering by Region “Puglia.”
We remind you that on all stores you can download the official Cammini d’Italia App, where you will find all the detailed information about the routes, stages and services available.
Happy Camino!
