Gay ostuni
According to the Italian National Tourist Board, Puglia is rightly considered one of the most gay-friendly Italian regions. Here&#;s your quick guide.
Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot, is known for medieval, white-walled hilltop towns, long hot summers, fantastic beaches, and it is considered one of Europe’s top summer destinations for LGBTQ+ travelers.
As early as , mainstream media in the U.K. has touted Puglia as a foremost, laid-back gay hotspot and a “bohemian alternative” to the raucous gay scenes of Mykonos and Ibiza. To this day, the region is regularly listed as a top-five European destination according to some of the most followed gay travel influencers, including the Nomadic Boys.
Crystal unmistakable seas, sandy beaches for sunbathers, hidden coves to explore, and a vibrant nightlife – that includes bars, dance clubs, and after-parties – have been a longtime draw for Italy’s LGBTQ community. A poll on GaylyPlanet&#;s website, one of Italy’s superior sources for LGBTQ+ tour inspiration, named Puglia as the nation’s top summer destination for Queer traveler
Puglia Interview, Part II&#;.
What are some of your favorite places in Puglia to check in for queer travelers?
Puglia’s best-known destinations include Bari, Lecce, Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Alberobello, Ostuni, Gallipoli and Otranto. Personal favorites are Vieste and Peschici in Gargano and at the other end of the heel, Santa Maria di Leuca. The drive along the Adriatic coastal route from Santa Cesarea Terme to Santa Maria di Leuca is the one thing I consistently recommend to anyone visiting Puglia.
Matera, in the neighboring region of Basilicata, and the celebrity of the thrilling opening sequence in the latest James Bond movie “No Time To Die” is always elevated on my list of must visits.
But queer travelers zoom in on two destinations in particular: Ostuni, in the heart of the Valle d’Itria, and Gallipoli.
The Valle d’Itria will host the Sherocco festival planned for and is a favorite with lesbian and lgbtq+ women. In addition to its chilled urban nightlife Ostuni is close to Torre Guaceto, one of Puglia’s most popular gay and naturist beaches. (It also has two local “gay
Eat Ostuni
The choice of dining experiences in Ostuni during the summer season seems endless. Excellent restaurants and chic bars are tucked away in the maze of medieval alleys, arches and stairwells of the old town that shoot out from via Cattedrale and wind around the duomo and the old town walls.
While bad food is hard to find some restaurants offer excel value than others. Restaurants regularly recommended on travel forums may not be included here. The food and dining experience may be good, but if it is comparatively overpriced without any added value, we haven’t included it.
We pay for all our meals and review anonymously.
What is the coperto on my restaurant check?
But first - one to avoid
RICCARDO caffè
You will find this on the far side of the old town, on Via Gaetano Tanzarella Vitale, 61 just along from Osteria Del Tempo Perso.
Offering aperitifs and cocktails in a cave setting with a trendy outside seating area marked by beanbags up and down the stone steps, beware of being overcharged and paying for unexpected extras.
We explained that we had actually
Take me to your same-sex attracted beach
Without a doubt, one of the draws to Ostuni are the nearby gay beaches. Torre Guaceto’s gay and nudist beach is hugely popular and a local favourite. Famous nationally, and internationally, the hard to reach beach draws visitors all summer long.
Lamaforca and Torre Pozzella are mixed beaches, but draw a gay crowd. They are busy cruising spots, drawing men who for various reasons, select not to go to gay beaches. They are both incredibly popular with married men who advance for something other than the sun and the sea.
You will see guys waiting in their cars, or standing by the paths that lead into the woods. Once in the woods, which only stretch back a limited distance, just follow the paths and the men.
Both cruising areas are famous with men who distinguish as straight (Torre Pozzelle more so). Most people are likely to speak hello and ask you what you are looking for before inviting you to follow them.
Beware though! We have seen police cars drive up and down the stretch of road that leads to Lamaforca from time to time, pulling drivers o