Italy’s southern region of Puglia has been branded as a hidden gem for those looking to escape the busy tourist crowds of places like Santorini and Mykonos. Michael Donovan, a travel expert and the co-founder of staynewengland.com, told the Express that Puglia is a great alternative for travellers looking for an authentic experience without the overwhelming number of tourists.

Donovan claimed that overtourism is causing a lot of problems in many popular European destinations. He said: “Europe is an amazing destination, but overtourism is becoming a real issue in some areas, especially in places like Santorini, Mykonos, and Venice”.