Puglia takes sustainable steps
We land at Bari’s modest airport in Puglia, the sun-drenched region perched on the heel of Italy’s boot. Long overshadowed by the country’s wealthier north, Puglia has traditionally relied on agriculture, producing much of Italy’s olive oil, pasta wheat and wine. Its humble roots gave rise to cucina povera—the “kitchen of the poor”—where simple, seasonal ingredients are transformed into rustic satisfying dishes. During our stay, we discover that this culinary heritage remains one of the region’s greatest treasures, celebrated in family-run trattorias where local wines and generous hospitality are served with equal pride.
Yet Puglia is changing. Over the past decade, its whitewashed villages, dramatic coastline and exceptional gastronomy have transformed it into one of Italy’s most sought-after destinations. Tourism has brought new opportunities, but it has also inspired innovative ways to protect the landscapes, traditions and communities that make the region so special.
Puglia – the bycatch problem
Our journey begins in the Adriatic port of Manfredonia, gateway to the spectacular Gargano National Park. This is home to one of the Mediterranean’s busiest sea turtle rescue centres. Operated by Legambiente, the Centro Recupero Tartarughe Marine has rescued and rehabilitated more than 1,600 injured loggerhead turtles over the past decade,. The centre treats animals caught in fishing gear, struck by boats or weakened by pollution and plastic waste. thye whole project is supported by TUI Turtle Aid one of TUI’s flagship wildlife projects.
We are privileged to join Giovanni Furii, the centre’s Scientific Director, aboard a small inflatable boat as he prepares to return one of those survivors to the sea. Vito, an endangered loggerhead turtle, arrived with a fishing hook embedded deep in his skull after becoming accidental bycatch. Following delicate brain surgery and nine months of painstaking rehabilitation, he is finally ready to return to the Adriatic.
The dinghy skims across the bright spume of the morning sea before Giovanni gently lowers Vito over the side. For a brief moment he floats on the surface. He takes in his surroundings, before disappearing with a powerful sweep of his flippers into the clear blue water. It is a quietly moving moment, made all the more poignant by the knowledge that every turtle returned to the wild strengthens the future of an endangered species.
As the Adriatic continues to warm, loggerhead turtles are extending their nesting grounds northwards along Puglia’s spectacular Gargano coastline. But new nesting beaches also bring new threats—from fishing nets, plastic pollution and boat strikes to increasing pressure from coastal tourism. It is here that partnerships between scientists, conservationists, fishermen, local communities and tourism businesses are proving invaluable. Together, they are creating a model of conservation that protects not only one remarkable species but the fragile marine ecosystem it calls home.
My darling Clementine
From the sea, our journey moves inland to the citrus groves of Palagiano We meet Annalisa who has a very different kind of conservation story. A fourth-generation clementine farmer, she has dedicated her life to growing fruit using traditional methods, but like many small producers, she has found it increasingly difficult to compete with mass-market prices.
Rather than abandoning generations of family heritage, Annalisa is embracing a new future with support from the TUI Care Foundation’s Field to Fork programme. By opening her farm to visitors, she is creating an additional source of income while sharing the traditions that have shaped her family’s life for more than a century.
We are among the first to experience what will soon become a TUI Collection excursion. Wandering through fragrant orchards heavy with green ripening clementines, we learn about the rhythms of the harvest. We then settle onto rustic hay bales beneath the shade of the trees for a tasting that celebrates the flavours of Puglia. Freshly pressed clementine juice is followed by homemade marmalade generously drizzled over creamy local ricotta. A wonderfully refreshing mandarin ice cream delivers an explosion of citrus flavour. Accompanied by a chilled glass of delicate Puglian rosé, it is a simple yet memorable feast. It perfectly captures the warmth and generosity of southern Italian hospitality.
The experience is about far more than delicious food. Every visitor who books the excursion will help provide a sustainable income stream. This will enable Annalisa to continue farming traditionally while safeguarding a way of life for future generations. With her teenage son already preparing to take over the farm, the project offers hope that this family legacy will continue to flourish.
Taranto’s marvelous mussels
Our next stop takes us back to the water in Taranto, where another centuries-old tradition is thriving. Here, neat rows of brightly coloured buoys stretch across the shimmering bay, marking the underwater mussel beds. These beds have sustained local fishing families for generations. Climbing aboard a small boat, we come alongside the fisherman tending his mussels. We watch as thick tubular nets are hauled from the water. They reveal clusters of glossy black mussels glistening in the Mediterranean sunshine.
Taranto’s mussels owe their exceptional flavour to a remarkable natural phenomenon. Freshwater springs bubble up through the seabed. They mix with the saltwater of the Mar Piccolo. This creates ideal growing conditions and a distinctive, delicately sweet taste prized throughout Italy. They are so fresh that you can eat them raw straight from the shell.
The fishermen are now receiving a fairer price for their harvest through the project. Plans are also underway to introduce visitors to this unique form of sustainable aquaculture. Like Annalisa’s orchard, it demonstrates how carefully managed tourism can support traditional livelihoods while preserving local knowledge that might otherwise disappear.
Puglia – The trouble with Trulli
From living traditions, we step into history at Alberobello, one of Puglia’s most iconic destinations. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town is home to more than 1,500 trulli. These whitewashed limestone dwellings crowned with distinctive conical roofs that create an almost storybook landscape across the Itria Valley. Many houses have found new life as boutique accommodation. Even so, wandering the narrow lanes still offers a glimpse of the remarkable architectural heritage that has defined this corner of Italy for centuries.
Sun drenched Sustaainable Puglia
Our journey ends where land and sea meet spectacularly in Polignano a Mare. Perched dramatically on limestone cliffs above the Adriatic, the town rewards visitors with breathtaking coastal panoramas, and hidden coves. The sparkling waters ensure that this is one of Puglia’s most photographed destinations. We linger over a rich caffè speciale in a quiet piazza, reflecting on the experiences of the past few days. It becomes clear that Puglia’s greatest treasures are not simply its beautiful landscapes or celebrated cuisine. They are the people whose passion, resilience and generosity are preserving the region’s traditions while embracing a more sustainable future.
This corner of southern Italy tells a different story from the familiar postcard image of Italy. It is a place where conservation protects endangered wildlife, tourism supports family farms, and centuries-old food traditions continue to thrive. We have released a rehabilitated sea turtle back into the Adriatic and shared homemade marmalade beneath the shade of a clementine tree. Puglia proves that the most rewarding journeys are those that leave a positive legacy—for the people who live there and for the travellers fortunate enough to experience it.