Sharing Puglia’s Soul
Puglia has always been home.
Ciao, I’m Chiara, born and raised in Salento, the southern part of Puglia. Through Tales of Puglia, my boutique tour operator for bespoke Puglia holidays and small-group tours, I introduce you to the Puglia I grew up in: its people, its tables, its traditions and its magic.
Ciao
MY STORY
Home, near Lecce.
From Salento to the wider world, and back to Puglia.
I was born into a family where having twenty people around the lunch table was nothing unusual. I grew up spending summer days at the beach until sunset, taking boat trips, going to local festivals and lingering over lunch with family and friends.
After completing my master’s degree, I lived and worked across Italy, the United States and Australia, building a career in marketing, including luxury real estate, that taught me to listen closely, notice the details and take service seriously.
Travelling made me realise just how unique my Puglia is. Its traditions, generosity, sense of community and appreciation for life’s simplest moments had always felt ordinary to me. From a distance, I began to understand that what felt ordinary to me might be someone else’s dream holiday.
Puglia has given me so much that I can’t bear the thought of someone going through life without experiencing how fulfilling and magical it can be.
After years in the corporate world, I knew my love for my homeland and my knowledge of it had to be shared, I also saw how much a visitor could miss without someone to introduce them to the region, its people and its way of life.
That is how Tales of Puglia was born: as an act of love for my land and an act of service for those who want to experience it meaningfully.
So here is my gift to you.
Chiara
WHY TRAVEL WITH US
Local knowledge, personal visits and the right introductions.
Growing up here gives me a starting point. The work is to stay curious, keep visiting, and see how a place feels today.
See Puglia through local eyes
I know Puglia through its people, traditions and everyday rhythms. I know the differences between its towns and coasts, and how to put together a journey that makes sense. Splitting my time between Lecce and Australia also means I understand what international travellers hope to find.
I speak Italian, English and the local dialects. That helps me listen, ask questions and get to know the people I may introduce to you.
Discover what you'd never find alone
Your journey might include a maker in a small town, a family table or an estate you’d never have thought to visit.
I spend weeks each year scouting beyond the usual places. An old friend might make an introduction, or a conversation in a small town might lead me to a maker or host.
That’s how I find distinctive places, experiences and people to share with you.
Stay somewhere that suits your journey
The right stay should suit your style, your route and the mood of the holiday, whether it is quietly rustic or beautifully opulent.
When I visit a masseria, a palazzo or an estate, I sit down with the staff, management and owners. I ask about their vision, the challenges they face, their hopes for the estate and the kind of guests they most enjoy welcoming.
Those conversations help me understand what a property can genuinely offer you.
Almost all the accommodation providers and experience hosts I recommend have been personally visited and vetted by me.
TALES OF PUGLIA APPROACH
Judgement shaped by growing up here
I know what makes sense together: where to stay, who to meet, how far to travel and when to leave time unplanned. Whether I design your bespoke holiday or welcome you on a small-group tour, I look for the right Puglia for you.
A mix of tradition and uniqueness
I look for places you’re unlikely to find on your own and people who have a story to tell. It might be a family meal, time with an artisan or a visit to a private estate. I want you to see Puglia as I know it: both humble and grand, with room for its traditions and the way people live here today.
Care for Puglia and its community
I strive to share a less-seen Puglia in a way that benefits everyone: guests who experience more of the region, small communities whose work is valued, and places spared some of the pressure of over-tourism.
The Puglia I love
A day well spent
On a boat off Salento or the Gargano
What I always come back to
A rustico leccese (or two!), the warm, flaky Lecce pastry filled with béchamel, tomato and mozzarella.
A tradition close to my heart
The Sepolcri. On Holy Thursday, churches across Puglia decorate their altars with pale sprouted wheat and flowers, and families walk from church to church.
“What you give is the only wealth you will ever have.”
Marcus Valerius Martialis
Tell me how you want Puglia to feel
Tell me what you’d love from your Puglia holiday. I’ll reply personally and explore how we can bring it to life.
Phone
+61 426 106 229