The Region
Introduction to Puglia
Puglia is a region in southern Italy flanked by the Adriatic Sea to the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the gulf of Taranto to the south and bordered by the regions of Molise, Campania, and Basilicata. Puglia’s unique geography gives way to a fascinating history that still resonates today. Once part of the Greek empire, Puglia was major trading hub and was a very active area for many civilisations. Today, Puglia offers an enormous amount to explore. From stunning beaches to hilltop towns, plenty of opportunity for outdoor activity and delicious food and drink, Puglia is a destination with something to offer for everyone.
As Casa Amahoro is located between two striking hilltop towns (or ‘citta bianche’), Cisternino and Ostuni, it serves as a great jumping off point to explore Puglias many stunning historic cities and picturesque coastlines.
Climate
Perhaps one of the most attractive aspects of Puglia is its quintessentially Mediterranean climate, with long, sunny summer days and mild winters. During the summer, it is warm enough most days in summer to spend all evening outdoors in shorts and a T-shirt.
If you're looking for bright blue skies and sun-kissed days you'll certainly find it in Puglia.
May
June
July
August
September
15
20
22
21
17
Average rainfall (days per month)
3
2
1
2
4
Average low temperature (C)
Month
Average high temperature (C)
Average daylight hours
23
28
31
30
26
14.5
15.1
14.7
13.7
12.5
Cooking and Eating
Casa Amahoro has a fully equipped kitchen as well as a wood-fired pizza oven and BBQ grill, so you will have plenty of opportunity to sample Puglia’s famous local ingredients including seafood, artisanal cheeses, pasta, olive oil, and fresh seasonal vegetables. Uniquely puglian products include burrata and stracciatella cheeses, orecchiette pasta and wines made from local grapes such as Negroamaro (“black bitter”) and Primitivo (“early ripening” also known as Zinfandel in the USA). Puglia is a leading producer of agricultural products like tomatoes, grapes, olives and durum wheat. Local fresh markets in Ostuni and Cisternino have an amazing array of seasonal fruit and vegetables. Fresh seafood is of amazing quality and is readily available.
A fun activity that can include the whole family is making use of our pizza oven. Wood is provided for the pizza oven and in the house we have a number of books dedicated to the art of pizza making. Our main piece of advice is to prepare well and leave enough time to make sure the oven is very hot. Under these ideal conditions a pizza will cook in just a few minutes.
For a “jump start” in Puglian cuisine we can arrange cooking classes at Casa Amahoro conducted by local chefs. A guide book for the house contains recommendations for local shops and some of the excellent nearby restaurants.
