Holiday Villas in Martina Franca Resort

Martina Franca has a weekly market each Wednesday morning. Local farmers bring their seasonal produce to see so you buy cherries in spring, fresh vegetables in summer and figs, chestnuts and almonds in the autumn. There is a supermarket for basic supplies for your villa and smaller bakeries, butchers and other specialist shops which are open at certain times of the day. In the historic centre, you can find a variety of boutiques.

One of the oldest cafes in Puglia, Caffe Tripoli is located on the Piazza Maria Immacolata and has several pavement tables perfectly situated for people watching. It’s renowned for a local cake called bocconotto ricotta e pera. There are plenty of other restaurants and cafes serving Italian specialities like capocollo, a spiced sausage made in the town.

Martina Franca is only 30 minutes' drive from the Adriatic Coast, where the shoreline alternates between rocky coves and small sandy bays. From the imposing cliffs of Polignano a Mare to the gentle sand dunes south of Torre Canne, there is something to suit everyone. If you choose to visit one of the private beach clubs, there will be sunbeds available to hire and an onsite restaurant for lunch. The public beaches often have limited facilities so you may want to pack a picnic. If you are heading to the coast, the best place to sample the fish restaurants is Savelletri.

For a fun day out, head to Fasanolandia, about 30 minutes’ drive away towards the coast where you can visit the zoo and enjoy the rides in the theme park. Closer to Martina Franca, just a few kilometres from Alberobello is a smaller water park, Acqua Park Alberobello which is more suited to younger children.

In the centre of the town, you’ll see many fine buildings and elegant squares. The Basilica of San Martino is the town’s main church and is highly decorated inside and outside. The Palazzo Ducale is a large palace which is split between the council offices and a museum where you can see the elaborate Baroque frescoes. Grottaglie, a town famed for its ceramics is within 40 minutes’ drive and you can visit the workshops in the Ceramic Quarter where the potters produce a wide range of table and homeware.