The secret’s been out a while now: Puglia is hot. The region has seen incredible spikes in tourism in recent years, with 2022 bringing some 10 million visitors in the summer months alone and the full year count exceeding pre-pandemic numbers. Part of what makes Puglia such an appealing region to visit, though, is the geography and the space it gives you to breathe, despite those numbers.

Outside of trulli hotspots like Alberobello are scores of coastal towns worth exploring, including Molfetta, where I added +1 to Puglia’s tourism stats last summer while on a voyage to rediscover my family roots. Here’s a mini-guide to what to see and do in Molfetta, a destination perfect for a low-key late-spring or early summertime day trip if you’re in the Bari area. Or, slow down and stay a few days: You’re in southern Italy, after all!