PUGLIA WITH LAUREN MUNTING

NAME: Lauren Munting

WHAT YOU DO: Global Brand Manager - State of Escape

STAR SIGN: Pisces

SOCIALS: @theycallhermunting

LIVING: Sydney

LOCATION: Polignano e Mare, Puglia

SLEEP

We made Polignano e Mare, site of the world’s most instragrammed beach, our base to explore the vast Puglia region.

We ended up in a little Airbnb apartment on Via Roma, just a short stroll into the old town. We made use of the private rooftop most nights, watching the sunset over the sea with friends, drinking campari and soda’s, and about as much burrata as we could carry from the local salumeria.

Polignano did not disappoint, the romantic old-town with its marble paved streets and building perched on the edges of cliffs that plummet straight down to the Adriatic sea.

We found ourselves taking part in passeggiata most nights (along with the Italians locals and holiday-makers alike) walking around the piazza stopping by the town’s iconic gelateria just outside the old town walls, Il Mago Del Gelato, for our nightly fix of pistachio gelato. The atmosphere was so authentically Italian.

EAT

Bella Mbriani for their Carpaccio pizza.

The sun setting over the Adriatic is best enjoyed with Peroni’s in plastic cups and take away pizza slices.

Any of the small wine bars on Via Roma for an afternoon spritz, or after dinner night cap, this place really kicks off after the sun goes down.

Puglia is famous for Orecchiette pasta, we discovered it translate roughly to ‘little ears’ which they kind of look like. Order it with greens and turnip tops to eat like the locals do in Polignano e Mare.

DO

Relax.

The Italian know how to enjoy doing nothing.

We rented a private boat out of San Vito, a tiny fishing port 10 minutes down the road, our captain Davide took us south to Monopoli, stopping to swim in the caves and grottos that dot the coastline.

We grab a bottle of Campari and cruised back to sun downers after hours of exploring.

Hire a car, it is the best way to get around, spend days exploring, and navigate the pebble-beaches and join the local teenage cliff diving, if you are brave enough?

If you aren’t (like me) just catch some rays on the rocks. Wear SPF.

SHOP

We stocked up on great Italian linen shirts for the boyfriend, in really bold interesting colours. Italian men are not afraid of a bold yellow or an emerald green.