The beautiful Italian seaside spot that's 18C in April and the 'Maldives of Europe'

At the heel of the Italian boot, Puglia is an area of that . Stretching between the to the east and the Ionian Sea to the southwest, it has some of the most beautiful beaches and coves in the entirety of Italy. With a fraction of the visitors you'll find in Rome or the Amalfi Coast, compared to other popular destinations, delicious local dishes and fresh seafood, as well as endless olive groves, traditional trulli houses and with crystal clear waters.

Whether you're exploring the picturesque white buildings of Polignano a Mare or the ancient trulli houses in Alberobello, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1966, Puglia offers plenty of sights and natural beaches to discover. Its capital, Bari, is known for its vibrant port and charming old town, as well as the stunning Basilica di San Nicola and the Strada delle Orecchiette, where you can watch locals making fresh pasta.

The region is so beautiful in fact, that it was described as "Italy's mysteriously well-kept secret" with "Maldives-like beaches" by

They added that the region is "off the beaten track for foreign tourists" and foreign voices are "looked upon as a novelty."

Make sure you try the traditional Orecchiette con Cima di Rape while in Puglia, which is a dish that translates to "orecchiette with turnip greens" made with the ear-shaped pasta, local ingredients and broccoli rabe, which gives it a subtle bitterness, fresh olive oil from the region and grated pecorino.

Famous for its trulli houses, walking through Alberobello is like stepping into a fairy tale with its small, narrow streets filled with white houses, recognisable thanks to their conical stone roofs. The houses date back thousands of years.

Located in Salento, Lecce is famed for its unique Baroque architecture with its many palaces and buildings built out of a golden coloured limestone and for being like an outdoor museum. The ruins are located right in the city centre, including those of a Roman amphitheatre from the second century on Piazza St Oronzo.

The port town of Monopoli is another underrated gem that should not be missed with its medieval churches, colourful coves harbour and majestic town castle that overlooks the sea.

Puglia has good weather all-year round with an average daily temperature of 18C in April, according to .

Don't miss the Faraglioni di Sant'Andrea while in Puglia, which has stunning sea stacks, secluded coves, dramatic cliffs, and the Poetry Cave, which has crystal-clear waters.

Some of the best beaches in Puglia also include those of the Tremiti Islands, Vignanotica, Marina di Pescoluse, Torre Guaceto, Torre dell'Orso, and Punta Prosciutto.

One person on TripAdvisor wrote: "All in all, we loved Puglia; it is so diverse, from acres of olive trees and vineyards, so quaint little Trulli, impossibly pretty towns (I love how that decorate their streets with plants) and plenty of history."

Another person from Dublin said: "Well we are back from a wonderful trip to some of the highlights of Puglia and Bascilicata and it was amazing, totally exceeded our expectations and left us wanting to return again as soon as possible.

"Our FIRST trip to this region reached beyond our expectations and left us with such a warm fuzzy feeling for Southern Italy, we just cannot wait to return and explore more, both some places we visited this time and then of course, adding new places to love."