We first visited Puglia years ago, when it was still the forgotten part of Italy and not the chic destination it has now become. It drew us in because we were chasing sunlight — the kind that gilds olive groves and dances across the Adriatic.

We had two weeks and our plans were vague by design: long, unhurried days by the sea, a slow rhythm of discovery. The Old Town of Gallipoli wasn’t even on the map at first. Yet one spontaneous morning, we followed the coastal road west and found ourselves stepping into its ancient heart — a maze of stone lanes and sea breezes that felt instantly timeless.

This is how it began. For two weeks, we stayed across the peninsula, where the horizon glowed blue and the days unfolded like watercolor. Mornings began with fresh orange juice and warm bread from the village bakery. After breakfast, we’d drive without a plan — guided by wind, whim, and the occasional church bell in the distance. It was in this spirit of wandering that Gallipoli revealed itself, not as a destination but as a quiet revelation: a place that seemed to breathe with history and salt air.

SANTA CESAREA TERME : FORGOTTEN BY TIME

Our base was Santa Cesarea Terme, a faded beauty along the southern coast of Puglia and a long way from Gallipoli. Here, grand but shuttered 19th-century villas gazed toward the sea and sad-looking souvenir shops lined the promenade.

At first glance, the town seemed to have dozed off — a single winding road, boarded up buildings, and echoes of a more glamorous past when visitors came here for the healing thermal springs. Yet even in its stillness, Santa Cesarea Terme possessed an undeniable grace: Moorish-inspired domes glowed in the afternoon sun, balconies framed with bougainvillea, and the slow hum of waves against the cliffs below.

We quickly grew fond of its quiet rhythm. Our apartment overlooked the sea, and each evening we walked along the wide promenade that curved above the water. There was a small pizzeria with only four tables and five kinds of pizza — simple, perfect, and always served with a smile. A pizza cost five euros, a bottle of local wine about the same. Sitting outdoors in the golden light, listening to the hush of the sea, we couldn’t have asked for more.

La Esperanza Granada — a luxury villa and private hacienda in Spain surrounded by olive groves

After a few days in Puglia, I found myself wishing I could slow time itself — to linger a little longer under southern skies where beauty feels effortless and days unfold gently by the sea. It reminded me of another place where the Mediterranean spirit lives on, just across the water in Spain.

For travelers who love authentic design, slow living, and sun-drenched landscapes, consider continuing your journey west to La Esperanza Granada — an award-winning hacienda in the hills of Andalusia, Spain. Surrounded by olive groves and mountains, this luxury private villa offers everything from farm-to-table meals to unforgettable destination weddings.

 Experience the art of Mediterranean living at its most beautiful.

 Discover La Esperanza Granada here.

WHERE TO GO FOR A WEEKEND IN PUGLIA

One morning, after another slow breakfast overlooking the turquoise sea, we decided to drive west until we found something interesting. The roads wound through olive groves and sleepy villages, each with a bar, a church, and a single piazza where life unfolded unhurriedly. Somewhere between the fields and the horizon, Gallipoli appeared, shimmering across the Ionian, its old town rising from the water like a mirage of limestone and sun.

WALKING ACROSS TIME

Crossing the bridge into Gallipoli’s Old Town felt like stepping into another century. The air grew saltier, the light more golden. Narrow lanes curled past faded palazzi, laundry fluttered from iron balconies, and cats slept in doorways carved from coral-colored stone. Every turn revealed a glimpse of the sea, a reminder that this island town has always lived by and for it.

There was no plan, only discovery. We followed the scent of coffee into quiet courtyards, paused at small churches with open doors. Then, we listened to the bells echo across the rooftops. Gallipoli was not merely beautiful; it was alive with layers of memory, still breathing through its cobblestones and sunlit walls.

EXPLORING THE OLD TOWN OF GALLIPOLI

The heart of Gallipoli’s Old Town unfolds in a maze of narrow streets that seem to twist and turn toward the light. It is a place where time feels suspended, where the rhythm of the sea dictates the pace of life. Fishermen mend their nets on the stone piers, women chat in shaded doorways, and the scent of salt and grilled seafood lingers in the air.

At midday, when the sun turns every wall into gold, the town glows. You can wander aimlessly and still feel as though you are part of something timeless. Small artisan shops line the cobbled lanes, selling hand-painted ceramics, coral jewelry, and bottles of olive oil pressed from groves that have stood for centuries. Every corner invites you to pause — for an espresso, for a photograph, or simply to breathe in the sea breeze.

THE SECRETS OF THE OLD TOWN

Beyond the streets, Gallipoli’s seafront offers another kind of beauty. The ramparts that once protected the town now make the perfect promenade for sunset walks. Locals gather to watch the horizon burn with color before the night begins. The air fills with the sound of laughter, church bells, and the clinking of glasses from rooftop terraces.

Gallipoli is not a grand city. It is something rarer — an intimate world of light and shadow, of salt and stone, of stories whispered by the sea.

COFFEE WITH A VIEW OF THE IONIAN SEA

As the afternoon softened into gold, we followed the sea walls until we reached a tiny café perched above the water. The sound of waves echoed against the stones below, and the breeze carried the scent of salt and espresso.

“Let’s stay here a while,” I said, as we found two bar stools overlooking the Ionian. Before us, the whitewashed houses of Gallipoli shimmered in the fading light. The sun sank slowly behind their rooftops, turning the sky into a painting of amber and rose. Beneath our feet, the sea crashed and foamed, catching the last light of day. That evening, the coffee tasted richer than ever — the kind you remember not for its flavor but for the moment itself.

READ ABOUT THE MOST ROMANTIC WEDDING VENUE IN SPAIN

THE BEST HOTEL IN GALLIPOLI

The light faded, and we lingered until the café owner began stacking chairs. That golden evening sealed my affection for Gallipoli. So when it came time to choose where to stay, I knew I wanted to remain close to the old town’s rhythm. The sea, the sunsets, and that sense of timeless ease were intoxicating.

We booked rooms at the Hotel Palazzo del Corso. This stately residence, just off the road leading to the Old Town, is as the finest hotel in Gallipoli. Officially, it carried five stars. However it felt more like a luxury boutique property. It was intimate, elegant, and gracefully designed. This jewel of a hotel became our home during those sunlit days on the Ionian coast.

PAINTED CEILINGS OF BEAUTY

Each morning, I awoke beneath a ceiling painted with frescoes. I observed with wonder the soft clouds, cherubs, and endless blue. To open my eyes to such beauty felt like a daily benediction, and I never failed to whisper a quiet thank you for the gift of this life.

Breakfast was served on the rooftop terrace, a civilized affair of fresh fruit, pastries, and espresso strong enough to rival the sea breeze. Often, I lingered there with my laptop for an hour or two. It was wonderful to work here while gazing at the marina below, where fishing boats shimmered like small jewels in the sun.

WHERE TO HAVE LUNCH IN GALLIPOLI

By midday, the streets shimmered in the sun, and we wandered toward the Old Town in search of a small, inviting trattoria. The plan was simple: a long, lazy, and liquid lunch. After all, it feels almost criminal to rush a meal in Italy — especially by the sea. Diets are forgotten here, replaced by the joy of slow living and good wine.

We found a restaurant tucked beneath flowering vines. Here, time seemed to pause between courses. A plate of handmade pasta, a carafe of local white wine, and the hum of conversation from nearby tables. It was enough to make the whole afternoon disappear.

ROOFTOP TERRACE WITH A VIEW IN GALLIPOLI

Back at the Hotel Palazzo del Corso, the rhythm of the day unfolded like a ritual. First, a dip in the rooftop seawater jacuzzi, followed by sunset cocktails overlooking the Ionian Sea. And then finally, dinner beneath a sky filled with stars. Each day felt perfect in its simplicity — radiant, restorative, unforgettable.

TOP THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN GALLIPOLI – A QUICK GUIDE

What makes Gallipoli’s Old Town so special?

Gallipoli’s Old Town sits on a small island connected to the mainland by a bridge. Its maze of narrow streets, whitewashed houses, and dazzling sea views give it an unmistakable charm. It’s the perfect place to wander slowly, discovering hidden courtyards and centuries-old churches.

Is Gallipoli Castle worth visiting?

Yes. The Castello di Gallipoli guards the entrance to the Old Town and offers panoramic views of the harbor. Inside, rotating exhibitions and ancient walls tell stories of defense, trade, and the city’s maritime legacy.

What can I see at the Cathedral of Saint Agatha?

This baroque masterpiece stands in the heart of the Old Town. It has frescoed ceilings, ornate altars, and golden light filtering through tall windows. Moreover, it’s considered one of southern Italy’s most beautiful churches and a must for architecture lovers.

Where is the best beach in Gallipoli?

Purità Beach is the local favorite — just steps from the Old Town. Its calm turquoise waters and golden sand make it ideal for a swim or a lazy afternoon under the sun.

What’s the best way to experience Gallipoli at sunset?

Stroll along the seafront promenade as the sky turns gold and pink. Locals and travelers mingle at cafés and bars facing the sea, and the entire city glows with evening light — a fitting finale to any day in Puglia.

Your Questions About Gallipoli, Answered

Is Gallipoli worth visiting?

Absolutely. Gallipoli Old Town combines history, beauty, and authenticity in one unforgettable coastal destination.

What is Gallipoli known for?

For its baroque churches, sun-drenched architecture, whitewashed lanes, and vibrant seafood culture. It’s also one of the best spots in Puglia for sunsets.

Where to eat in Gallipoli Old Town?

Seek out family-run trattorias with sea views — try grilled seafood, fresh pasta, and local wine for a true taste of southern Italy.

Where to stay in Gallipoli?

Luxury travelers love Hotel Palazzo del Corso, an elegant boutique hotel just across the Old Town of Gallipoli that captures the essence of Gallipoli with its frescoed ceilings, rooftop jacuzzi, and marina views.

Some photos courtesy of the Hotel Palazzo del Corso

Read more about traveling around Italy in Travelife Magazine.

The post Exploring the Old Town of Gallipoli appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

What makes for a great vacation? Two weeks in a villa in Umbria, with simple food, warmth of family, and small-town laughter.

I would love to call this graceful seven-bedroom villa in Umbria my home in Italy. However, I don’t think Signora Patrizzi, daughter of a patrician Roman family, would approve. She owns everything my eye rested on in this part of Umbria. And this is her favorite family holiday home, nestled among vineyards and olive groves in the Italian countryside.

However, for two weeks in the summer, I felt this graceful house, with its flower-laden awnings, wooden shutters and terra cotta floors, was truly mine.

MY VILLA IN UMBRIA

We rented Signora Patrizzi’s villa in the hamlet of Montoro. This is a village in Umbria, 90 minutes out of Rome. Here we experienced authentic Italian country life.

It was love at first sight with this stone house. It had large terraces on the second floor and two living rooms below that opened up onto stone patios. There was also a flowery pergola for outdoor dining. The sprawling grounds provided a closeness to nature impossible elsewhere. There was no other house nearby, although we saw some lights from a farmhouse across a couple of hills.

During the day, we visited the famous hilltop towns of Umbria including Spoleto, Assisi, and Perugia. Meanwhile, at night, we cooked pasta dinners and ate al fresco under the stars.

SUMMER IN ITALY

My own memories of our summer in Italy consist of incredibly blue skies and the smell of flowers everywhere. I also recall scorching afternoons in Montoro when the world shut down for a nap. Then there were the cool evenings when entire towns reawoke for the traditional passagiatto. This is basically a walk around the neighborhood square and a drink at the local bar afterwards, by the way.

There were long lines at the gelateria stands in Umbria where people sought relief from the heat. In towns, too, homegrown wine was being sold pumped like gasoline into large vats at five euros a pop and drunk by the locals like water.

RENTING A VILLA AND TRAVELING TO UMBRIA

I’ve been to Umbria in all sorts of seasons. It’s very much a “salt of the earth” type of place all year-round.  Even the famous hilltop villages of Perugia, Assisi and Spoleto offer pretty vignettes of local life rather than tourist traps for scrapbook photo ops.

There is none of the glamour and energetic frenzy of its fancier rural cousins on both sides. including Tuscany further north and the Amalfi region down south. But in the summer, it temporarily sheds the heaviness and coarseness of its usual sensible agricultural existence. Instead it takes on a mantle of carefree-ness and vitality.

SUMMER FESTIVALS IN ITALY

Italy’s summer calendar is filled with lively celebrations of food and music in every town, large or small. Umbria is no exception. During our stay, both Spoleto and Assisi had their world-famous music festivals where operas and classical music concerts are performed nightly right in the cathedral squares. These events are eagerly awaited by visitors to Umbria.

THE SAGRADA DI FRITATA IN MONTORO

And even in our own town of Montoro, a village so tiny that it only has one sleepy restaurant, the highlight of summer is the Sagrada di Fritata. This is an annual three-night extravaganza of outdoor dining in the school fields to raise funds for the village. Of course, being foreigners, we were oblivious to this social event of the year. However, we did suddenly notice an extraordinary number of handwritten signs posted throughout the area. Many had crude drawings of a potato man holding a frying pan.

Fortunately, in rapid Italian, our housekeeper invited us to join the fun. And with my shopping Italian, I managed to figure out that we needed to be in town at 830 PM and that  she was going to be cooking.

“For the Sagrada di Fritata, tables are set up cafeteria-style
with the whole community in Sunday best,
raring for a good meal and a night of dancing.
The children are tasked with welcoming guests and serving food,
and they do so with surprising adult seriousness.”

Christine Cunanan
Publisher, Travelife Magazine

SUMMER FESTIVALS IN ITALY

For the Sagrada di Fritata, tables are set up cafeteria-style with the whole community in Sunday best, raring for a good meal and a night of dancing. The children are tasked with welcoming guests and serving food, and they do so with surprising adult seriousness.

Six-year-old Marina, our housekeeper’s daughter who sometimes came along to the house and played by the pool while her mother tidied up, welcomed us with the gravity of a hotel maître’d. She led us to our reserved table and announced the menu with a little bow afterwards.

Meanwhile, the food is simple. The villagers serve wine is in plastic cups. They serve only basic spaghetti pomodoro and assorted fritters — thus the festival name. But the event is lots of fun.

RELATED CONTENT: What truffle hunters eat in Spain

SALSA DANCING IN ITALY

After dinner, the tables are cleared for the local band so that the hardcore salsa dancing can begin. Everyone joins in.

The aging grandmothers are wiggling their hips supported by canes and the local flirts in flowery strapless gowns are dragging the single men to the dance floor. Even the little girls in their First Communion dresses join in. Long after we had gone home to my villa in Umbria, music and laughter still echoed through the rolling hills and vineyards and olive groves around.

Read more about summer festivals in Umbria in Travelife Magazine.

The post My beautiful villa in Umbria appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

On holiday in the wild and beautiful region of Puglia in Italy for two weeks, on a whim we drove inland to world-famous Alberobello to see the ancient cone-shaped houses of Italy.

It was a day off from our usual ones by the sea. You see, we’d spent most of the time by the coast, swimming in the many natural pools and coves of the Salento Peninsula. One day, however, we drove across Puglia to stay overnight at the Palazzo Scotto boutique hotel in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Alberobello.

THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF ALBEROBELLO

We decided to visit Alberbello on a whim, and we were rewarded with the experience of walking around one of the most unique towns in Italy. Alberobello is known for the trulli, the fairytale cone-shaped stone houses that farmers in this region of Puglia once lived in.

There are still quite a lot of trulli that are being used by the local people for living and working. But many trulli are now empty. Or else they have been converted into hotels and museums. Tourists are always willing to pay a fee to see the original interiors of a trulli.

PALAZZO SCOTTO : WHERE TO STAY IN ALBEROBELLO

 

 

The Palazzo Scotto is a lovely little hotel, full of simple but tasteful details. The owner, Valerio carefully chose everything in the hotel to create a simple but upmarket boutique hotel in Alberobello. He’s obviously been successful with this as the hotel is always full.

A TRULLI WITH A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN

The post The cone-shaped houses of Italy appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

So there I was in the south of Italy on a two-week beach holiday, living a Travelife. Every day, we went swimming before lunch and before dinner, in some picturesque rocky cove along the coast.

“The waters must be freezing,” many of my friends from Asia messaged me, when they learned I was swimming along the coast of Salerno. And, indeed, the temperatures generally hovered between 18 and 20 degrees on a good day. So this was certainly no leisurely float in the sea.

JUMPING INTO COLD WATERS

However, I’ve already had lots of practice from my trips to Russia over the years. In Russia, I was jumping into lakes and plunging into pools at temperatures similar to the water in my fridge. But, apart from the obvious health benefits of swimming in cold seawater, here’s what I realized from that summer in Italy.

Everything in life is a state of mind. And, yes, that includes swimming in the Mediterranean in June, when that first plunge isn’t cold enough to kill you. Nevertheless it’s still a shock to the senses if you’re used to the warm waters of Asia. Or to the 39-degree hot springs pools of Japan and Taiwan, for that matter.

READ MORE FREQUENT FLIER COLUMNS HERE

THAT STORY INSIDE YOUR HEAD

Quite simply, one morning in Italy, I just decided to tell myself the water was warm enough. And then just like that, my experience of swimming in Salerno changed even if the sea really hadn’t.

Everything in life truly is relative. We may not be able to change the cards and the circumstances that Fate has dealt us. However, we can revise our story of these and this simple act becomes the gamechanger.

SWIMMING IN SALERNO

So what you have in front of you is actually immaterial. Your happiness does not depend on what you have. It depends on what you think of what you have.

Changing your thoughts towards the direction you choose will change your state of mind. In turn, this is key to determining what will happen next every moment of your life. I can’t over-emphasize this enough. Mindfulness is key, and you do get what you expect.

So, yes, surviving cold waters is simply a state of mind. And the fact that daily cold seawater swimming in Salerno jumpstarts the metabolism and does wonders for the skin sure kept me motivated to do it twice a day. Everyone can definitely use less cellulite in their life.

Read more about adventures in Italy in Travelife Magazine.

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In the sunny peninsula of Salento for two weeks of sunshine and good food, we followed a strict schedule of cold swimming and happy eating. Salento is literally the heel of Italy So everyday, we looked for a beautiful natural cove to swim in the morning, and then we indulged in a very long liquid lunch in the best restaurant we could find somewhere by the sea.

So this post is about where to eat good seafood in Puglia, and one of the places I can recommend is a small restaurant called Taverna del Porto in a small village by the sea on the peninsula of Salento in Puglia.

On one of our many drives along the coast of Salento, I noticed a stylish restaurant by a tiny marina in a tiny village. I had to sit up and take notice of this blue-and-white restaurant because it had a sophisticated atmosphere even at first glance from the outside. This stylishness seemed rather out of place in this quiet town in the middle of nowhere.

INSPIRATION FOR GOOD FOOD IN THE SALENTO PENINSULA OF PUGLIA

“We must eat here,” I said to my companions. The restaurant is called the Taverna del Porto. I had never heard of it, as it really is a small restaurant off the tourist track in Salento. But somehow I felt it would have good food.

So one day, we drove over to this village, which is about 40 kilometers away on a coastal road, just to have lunch at Taverna del Porto.

LOTS OF LUCK AND NO RESERVATIONS

We were lucky we went early because we had no reservations. Every table was booked except for one, and we were able to get this because we were the first customers in.

At first glance, the Taverna del Porto in Salento did not disappoint at all. It had the most amazing array of fresh seafood I’d seen so far in the heel of Italy. Everything imaginable from the sea was arranged so beautifully on a long counter, and everything was fresh from the water.

DELICIOUS SEAFOOD IN PUGLIA

I ordered the local oysters of Salento, which were ever so tasty. Then I had a mixed plate of raw seafood. Basically, it was sashimi, but Italian style. So we had salt and olive oil instead of soy sauce and wasabi. This was very good and it was interesting how the seafood in Italy tasted so different from seafood in Japan.

INTERESTING PASTA COMBINATIONS IN ITALY

For a main course, I ordered a pasta with local fish. I can’t have the typical Italian meal of three courses and dessert. So I usually have an appetizer and a pasta, followed by dessert. I order pasta every chance I get in Italy because the chefs in Italy create interesting and delicious pasta that you cannot find anywhere else.

The pasta was delicious. At Taverna del Porto, there is no set menu for pasta dishes. Every day, the chef creates a set of pasta dishes based on the catch of the day and the ingredients available.

Click here to read about one of the best seafood restaurants in the town of Lecce, in Puglia

For dessert, I ordered a homemade tart with chocolate sauce. The tiramisu at the end was also excellent. The tiramisu is made by the mother of the owner of the restaurant, according to a special family recipe. Compared to tiramisu in other places, it’s full of fresh cream.

PRICE OF A GOOD MEAL IN PUGLIA

As for the price of the meal at Taverna del Porto, all I can say is that it isn’t cheap. We paid about the same price as a good meal in Tokyo. It’s obviously an upmarket restaurant in spite of its casual atmosphere.

And in spite of my initial impressions of this being just some small restaurant in the middle of nowhere. The clientele who arrived later, most of them obviously regulars, were certainly not your average Italian villagers. In fact, many of them looked like they walked out of a page of Travelife Magazine.

The post Where to eat good seafood in Puglia appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

HOW DID YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH TRAVELING?

When I was 16 years old, my best friend who I grew up with in Boston took me to her family home in Connemara. This is in Ireland, outside Galway. It was the first time I had been abroad, an experience that was both a shock to the system and completely exhilarating at the same time. I haven’t stopped traveling since.

It was actually by the pool at the Hotel Il Pellicano on the Tuscan coast that I decided to quit my job and start my own luxury handmade pillow company. Now each and every pillow that I design is inspired by a place in the world I have traveled to. My inspirations have included the patterned dome of a church on the iconic Amalfi coastline and a beautiful wrought iron gate found on the Left Bank in Paris.

Travel directly influences my work as each of my pillow designs are inspired by a place in the world I have visited. I am also the author of a luxury travel blog called Destinations Perfected. So in order to have new content I have to keep traveling.

WHAT KIND OF TRAVELER ARE YOU

My hostel days are over! I am definitely a luxury traveler, so 4-star or 5-star hotels, without a doubt. However, when it comes to food I much prefer eating in a tiny restaurant where a local is cooking in the kitchen as opposed to a Michelin-star restaurant. Authenticity over pretension.

WHAT’S YOUR TRAVEL PHILOSOPHY?

Be open for whatever comes your way and don’t be afraid to veer off a planned itinerary. Interact as much as you can with the local people. Embrace and immerse yourself in the diversity.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE YOUR NEXT DESTINATION?

I read a lot to discover new places—from magazines to newspapers and travel blogs; then I add them to a running list of must-visit locations. If a friend returns from a trip absolutely raving about the destination, then I will add that to the list as well.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL ACTIVITIES?

Eating! I love experiencing new cuisines and regional food specialties; it tells you a lot about the culture. A good dose of shopping is always high on my list as I really like buying special pieces that you would not find at home—be it artwork or clothing. If the hotel has a spa, a massage after a long day of sightseeing is definitely an indulgence.

WHICH CITY IS MOST MEMORABLE FOR YOU?

I remember the first time I went to Venice, Italy. I was completely blown away by the fact that it was entirely constructed using a series of small bridges. I still think it is one of the most unique cities in the world. I studied at the University of Padova, so almost every weekend I would take the train 20 minutes to Venice and just wander. There’s nothing like Venice in the dead of winter when you can hear your own footsteps.

DESCRIBE ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE PLACES IN THE WORLD

St. Tropez in the off season before the maddening crowds get there is pure heaven. You can eat your breakfast in the morning sunshine at one of the cafes on the port, then browse the local market in town, and then drive to one of the beach clubs for lunch. I can’t get enough of the local tarte tropezienne, an indulgent cake made with thick cream sandwiched by two brioche and sprinkled with rock sugar on top.

Marrakech. I was blown away by the patterns, designs, hotel interiors, level of craftsmanship, sights, sounds and smells. It is hands down the most inspiring city I have ever been to and truly engages all of your senses.

I’m half Italian so call me biased, but Italy is the one country not lacking in any of my travel requirements: gorgeous landscapes, beautiful coastlines, delicious food that varies from region to region, inspiring fashion and design, and of course, the warm people and their ability to embrace the dolce far niente lifestyle.

TELL US ABOUT A TRAVEL EXPERIENCE THAT BLEW YOUR MIND AWAY

It’s either running out in the dead of winter in a snowstorm wearing nothing but a swimsuit and jumping into the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, or waking up at 4 AM to witness the famous fish auction at the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo followed by a 7 AM breakfast consisting of the freshest sushi I have ever eaten.

WHERE WOULD YOU GO IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW?

Boston. It is where I was born and raised and where all of my family live. I would eat my Italian mother’s delicious home-cooked food and sit in the sunshine on Boston Harbor.

The post How to travel around the world in style appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

Good afternoon from the sunny peninsula of Salento, which is literally the heel of Italy. I’m in Italy for two weeks of sunshine and good food, living a #Travelife. So everyday, we look for a beautiful natural cove to swim in the morning, and then we indulge in a very long liquid lunch in the best restaurant we can find somewhere by the sea.

This post is about where to eat good seafood in Puglia, and one of the places I can recommend is a small restaurant called Taverna del Porto in a small village by the sea on the peninsula of Salento in Puglia.

On one of our many drives along the coast of Salento, I noticed a stylish restaurant by a tiny marina in a tiny village. I had to sit up and take notice of this blue-and-white restaurant because it had a sophisticated atmosphere even at first glance from the outside. This stylishness seemed rather out of place in this quiet town in the middle of nowhere.

INSPIRATION FOR GOOD FOOD IN THE SALENTO PENINSULA OF PUGLIA

“We must eat here,” I said to my companions. The restaurant is called the Taverna del Porto. I had never heard of it, as it really is a small restaurant off the tourist track in Salento. But somehow I felt it would have good food.

So one day, we drove over to this village, which is about 40 kilometers away on a coastal road, just to have lunch at Taverna del Porto.

LOTS OF LUCK AND NO RESERVATIONS

We were lucky we went early because we had no reservations. Every table was booked except for one, and we were able to get this because we were the first customers in.

At first glance, the Taverna del Porto in Salento did not disappoint at all. It had the most amazing array of fresh seafood I’d seen so far in the heel of Italy. Everything imaginable from the sea was arranged so beautifully on a long counter, and everything was fresh from the water.

DELICIOUS SEAFOOD IN PUGLIA

I ordered the local oysters of Salento, which were ever so tasty. Then I had a mixed plate of raw seafood. Basically, it was sashimi, but Italian style. So we had salt and olive oil instead of soy sauce and wasabi. This was very good and it was interesting how the seafood in Italy tasted so different from seafood in Japan.

INTERESTING PASTA COMBINATIONS IN ITALY

For a main course, I ordered a pasta with local fish. I can’t have the typical Italian meal of three courses and dessert. So I usually have an appetizer and a pasta, followed by dessert. I order pasta every chance I get in Italy because the chefs in Italy create interesting and delicious pasta that you cannot find anywhere else.

The pasta was delicious. At Taverna del Porto, there is no set menu for pasta dishes. Every day, the chef creates a set of pasta dishes based on the catch of the day and the ingredients available.

Click here to read about one of the best seafood restaurants in the town of Lecce, in Puglia

For dessert, I ordered a homemade tart with chocolate sauce. The tiramisu at the end was also excellent. The tiramisu is made by the mother of the owner of the restaurant, according to a special family recipe. Compared to tiramisu in other places, it’s full of fresh cream.

PRICE OF A GOOD MEAL IN PUGLIA

As for the price of the meal at Taverna del Porto, all I can say is that it isn’t cheap. We paid about the same price as a good meal in Tokyo. It’s obviously an upmarket restaurant in spite of its casual atmosphere.

And in spite of my initial impressions of this being just some small restaurant in the middle of nowhere. The clientele who arrived later, most of them obviously regulars, were certainly not your average Italian villagers. In fact, many of them looked like they walked out of a page of Travelife Magazine.

The post Where to eat good seafood in Puglia appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

We landed in Bari in Italy yesterday to start our two week holiday by the sea in sunny Puglia in southern Italy. It was a warm and dry day, and driving out of Bari towards the coast, there was really no scenery to recommend it. But we began it with a nice lunch in the lovely and historic town of Lecce.

WHAT TO DO IN LECCE

But eventually we reached Lecce, a prosperous and ancient Roman town with beautiful architecture. It’s the perfect size. It’s big enough to have some sophistication, but small enough to walk around in in a day and feel happy.

We didn’t have a particular itinerary on this trip to southern Italy, and deliberately so. Practically every hour of my Travelife is usually accounted for because I like seamless trips, and I actually dislike missing out on some great dining and sightseeing experiences just because I didn’t do any advance planning for it.

HOW NOT TO PLAN A HOLIDAY IN ITALY

But just before Italy, I was just way too busy. I’d hosted several lunches and dinner, packed enough work for a month into my only week in Manila between trips, and just had my hands full. So when we arrived in Puglia for our Travelife, I had no maps, guidebooks or printouts.

Just a vague reservation at a hotel I’d never heard of and a document guaranteeing that I had a Jaguar SUV waiting for me at the airport packing lot. I had no idea where to go or what to do.

USING SKYROAM ON HOLIDAY

But everything always works out in a Travelife. With the aid of my Skyroam, I used the two-hour drive to get to Lecce, the biggest city on the coast of Puglia, to check out what to do and where to eat in Puglia on my phone.

This was still a #Travelife, after all, so my requirements for a really good lunch, the real deal gelato and a nice walk around the city were non-negotiable.

THE BEST RESTAURANT IN LECCE

We booked the best restaurant in Lecce for lunch from my phone using a new App I just downloaded. The prices at this local restaurant were about the same as the price for lunch a fancy Italian restaurant in Tokyo. This was rather a surprise, but the food was done in a new style for me and rather nice.

I had a very fresh local buratta from Noci, which is near Bari, to start and a plate of raw seafood caught from the sea a few kilometers away. I order fresh buratta everywhere in Italy when I see it on the menu, by the way, because Italy is the only place in the world you can get the real burrata.

A NEW KIND OF PASTA

The biggest surprise for lunch was a seafood pasta I ordered simply because this entire holiday by the sea will be about seafood. The noodles were homemade and perfectly al dente, and on these rested coarsely chopped raw shrimps and heavy cream, that needed mixing. Then there was just a hint of lemon oil.

This was certainly a combination I would never have thought of. And what a nice surprise on the first day of my holiday in Puglia, and it was definitely an omen of things to come for this holiday on the wild side of Italy, living a Travelife.

The post Perfect summer holiday in Puglia appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

Galal Mahmoud design

HOW DOES TRAVELING INFLUENCE YOUR WORK?

Whenever we sign up for a new job, I will try and catch a plane to a new destination related in one way or the other to the type of job and challenges we will have to tackle. We signed up for the renovation of a landmark 19th century palace in upper Egypt on the Nile. I am therefore planning to visit recently renovated palaces in Europe and Asia. I will probably start with Italy and then Rajasthan in India.

HOW HAS TRAVELING CHANGED YOU?

I have been traveling with my parents since the age of four throughout Europe and mainly on the Mediterranean coast line. Traveling definitively has awakened my never-ending curiosity and broadened my exposure to different cultures and environments. This has had and is still having a strong influence in my work and in the way I read and understand new environments I design projects in.

WHAT KIND OF TRAVELER ARE YOU?

I tend to become more and more demanding in terms of comfort and quality. I guess age has taken its toll on the extensive flight hours.

Galal Mahmoud

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 3 TRAVEL ESSENTIALS?

A good book, preferably about the destination to immerse myself fully, an extensive playlist, and contacts of locals that can help me immerse into the destination’s life styles.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE YOUR NEXT DESTINATION?

I have it all planned according to a very long bucket list, although, of course, there is always the last minute plan that is full of surprises. But as long as a place is culturally diverse, bewildering and beautiful, I will hop on a plane and go visit.

Galal Mahmoud design

 

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO EXPLORE A NEW CITY?

Depending on which city, I pinpoint important things to see on a map and link the rest by walking or by just getting lost between each if the city is safe. I also like to stop by cafes to get a flavor of the local habits and colors. My favorite indulgences are early morning coffee in a typical café with the local newspaper and late afternoon drinks in one of the old hotel palaces of the city.

WHICH DESTINATIONS ARE MOST MEMORABLE FOR YOU?

Paris remains magical for me at any time of the day. It is so diversified; and after 30 years of knowing it, I still always discover. new things there. But my favorite place in the world is our family retreat on the island of Mykonos. I have been going there for the past 40 years and it is where I feel totally relaxed and in contact with my favorite natural environment, the Mediterranean sea that lies beneath the house.

GALAL MAHMOUD’S FAVORITE CITIES

Paris

New York

Rio de Janeiro

Beirut

Tokyo

WHERE IN THE WORLD CAN YOU FIND THE MOST CREATIVE INSPIRATION?

Sitting by the sea in a typical sea shore Greek taverna having a glass of ouzo, white cheese, tomatoes and Greek olives on a secluded island.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE TRIP.

My first visit to the island of Bali 16 years ago was short, but I was blown away by the simple quality of the traditional Balinese architecture where you live in complete symbiosis with nature around you and where every viewpoint seems to be framed by nature. It is the essence of ecological living since all the materials are sourced locally, and this produces the necessary environment for harmonious living.

The post It’s all about details, for a hotel in Morocco appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.

A villa in Umbria, Italy

I would love to call this graceful seven-bedroom villa with a swimming pool, nestled among the vineyards and olive groves of Umbria in Italy, my house in the Italian countryside. But I don’t think Signora Patrizzi, of a patrician Roman family and owner of everything my eye rested on in this part of Umbria, would approve. 

However, for two weeks one summer, I felt this graceful house, with its rustic Italian decor — flower-laden awnings, wooden shutters and terra cotta floors — was truly mine. Some years back, you see, we rented Signora Patrizzi’s villa in Umbria, 90 minutes out of Rome, and experienced authentic Italian country life. With the house, it was love at first sight. It was a beautiful estate of rolling fields, and at the centre of it, at the end of a long driveway next to a helicopter landing pad, was the stone house.  

This Italian villa had large terraces on the second floor, two living rooms below that opened up onto stone patios, a flowery pergola for outdoor dining, and sprawling grounds that provided a closeness to nature impossible elsewhere. There was no other house within neighborly distance, although we did make out some lights from a farmhouse across a couple of hills.

During the day, we visited nearby iconic Italian hilltop towns including Spoleto, Assisi, and Perugia; and at night we cooked pasta dinners and ate al fresco under the stars. 

My own memories of this particular Italian summer consist of this: incredibly blue skies and the smell of flowers everywhere; scorching afternoons when the world shuts down for a nap, and cool evenings when entire towns in Italy reawake for the traditional passagiatto—which is basically a walk around the neighborhood square — and a drink at the local bar; long lines at the gelateria stands where people sought relief from the heat; and homegrown wine pumped like gasoline into large vats at five euros a pop and drunk by the locals like water.

I’ve been to Umbria in all four seasons, and in the summer I can say that it’s an entirely different animal. Outside of the famous hilltop villages, which are — thankfully — still more colorful vignettes of local Italian life rather than tourist traps for scrapbook photo ops, this provincia is very much a “salt of the earth” type of place all year-round, with none of the glamour and energetic frenzy of its fancier rural cousins on both sides, including Tuscany further North and the Amalfi region down south. 

And in the summer, Umbria temporarily sheds the heaviness and coarseness of its usual sensible agricultural existence for a mantle of carefree-ness and vitality that’s perfect for a #Travelife.

The post Renting a villa in Umbria, Italy appeared first on TRAVELIFE Magazine.