Driving the Litoranea del Gargano–the coastline of Gargano–that snakes along the “spur” of Italy’s boot, centuries-old fishing trabucchi are revealed, their wooden arms stretching over the sea. In Gargano, Puglia’s northern promontory, the whitewashed villages and idyllic beaches feel quintessentially Puglian, but inland, nearly 500 square miles of protected parkland hide ancient forests, karst caves, and medieval towns.

This region is also home to UNESCO-listed sanctuaries, an island archipelago, Puglia’s only mountain range, and DOP citrus, cheeses, and wines. With the Italian airline Neos Air launching the first direct U.S. flight to Puglia, from New York-JFK to Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport, in June 2025, there’s never been a better time to explore the rugged, lesser-traveled corner of Italy: Gargano.