Last summer, I stumbled upon a charming small town on Italy’s western coast called Sperlonga. This year, I discovered Vieste, an equally quaint town located at the other end of the peninsula.
Located in the comune of Foggia on Italy’s Adriatic Coast, this modest, hidden gem is often overlooked! Like Tremiti, Vieste is also a part of Gargano National Park. Nestled directly on Puglia’s coast, in between Termoli and Bari, the drive along the water is breathtaking.
Once in Vieste, the first thing you’ll see is its long boardwalk overlooking the beach, along with a glimpse of its elevated, white-washed Old Town. The village quickly strikes me as embodying a mix of Puglia’s southern spirit with an Adriatic charm that extends to neighbouring Croatia.
But before setting off to explore, we grab lunch. Primarily known for their bruschetta, another one of their specialties is orecchiette con cime di rapa (orecchiette pasta with rapini). It has always been a favourite dish of mine so I was glad to stumble upon it in its native region. Most restaurants have the dish on their menu so you can have it just about anywhere.
Come 3 pm, the Old Town has virtually emptied – vacationers are sunbathing at the beach, while locals have headed home in order to beat the scorching summer heat. It’s the perfect time to uncover the many corners and narrow streets while taking photos.
After a few hours of exploring, it’s time for an aperitivo, naturally! We take a seat on an inviting terrace overlooking the ocean and promptly order a Spritz.
Then, it’s off to dinner at Osteria Al Duomo, one of the old town’s top restaurants. Nestled in a narrow alley, choose between their coveted outdoor patio or their gorgeous canteen-like interior.
We begin our meal with a grilled octopus antipasto served on top of a potato purée, followed by seafood ravioli. Our mains steal the show: vegetable-stuffed calamari on a bed of creamy lentils, and pork medallions with crispy pancetta and a raspberry vinaigrette. We wash our meal down with a typical red from the region.
Unbeknownst to us, Vieste comes alive in the evening. Locals and families alike embark on their nightly passeggiata (evening stroll), which left me nostalgic for my childhood summers spent with my Italian grandparents doing the same thing. As we drive out, an unexpected wrong turn leads us into another lively town: Peschini. Although we simply drove through, we agree that we definitely need to visit the next time!
Have you heard of – or visited – Vieste before? Let me know in the comments below!
I haven’t! Vieste looks really charming. I’m sure the nightly passeggiata is an awesome thing to experience too with the locals!
It was! Especially in the middle of August when everyone was on holiday!
Oh my gosh, now I’m craving Italian food ! And I love a good Aperol spritz. Looks so beautiful and peaceful, great post!
Same!! Thanks, Dana 🙂
Wow, Vieste looks stunning. I always find Italian food delicious, its one of my favourite cuisines. I love these white washed buildings and the green blue of the sea. Picture perfect! I need to make a trip
Thank you, Kate! Agreed 🙂
Vieste seems very beautiful. It seems to be a very peaceful and serene place with the white-washed town. How are the locals with the tourists?
It really is! Quite welcoming as it isn’t very touristy – it also helps that I speak Italian though!
I’ve only been to the touristy places in Italy (that’s what happens when you have a very limited time in the EU) and so I missed the coastal cities. Love the whitewashed Old Town! Reminds me of Santorini. Someday I’ll be back there.
Yes, I know what you mean! I only started uncovering these gems a few years ago and the vibe is so different from typical touristy areas.
I never heard anything about this place. But it looks like a charming place. I would love to look for a nice spot to have the view of the place and the ocean. I would love to walk on every alleys too. Very instagramable, and oh yes! The octopus, looks so yummy!
Very Instagramable, indeed! Thanks for reading, Cai!
This looks absolutely amazing! Italy is just such a photogenic country and Vieste is no exception. That Spritz looks incredible! Truly a gorgeous day in Vieste,
Yes, Italy is so photogenic – including their Spritz cocktails 😛
Never heard of Vieste before, although I can definitely see it’s an Adriatic coast town from your photos. How far south of Venice is it? Osteria Al Duomo’s vegetable stuffed calamari looks delicious.
I hadn’t either – there are so many nooks like this in Italy! Vieste is in Puglia (the “heel” of Italy) so way south of Venice.
Oh Vieste is incredibly charming! I would be the one strolling the streets with a camera while everyone else is enjoying a siesta! I love the blues and whites, the distressed buildings, and the feeling that everything is very old and has a story to tell!
Ah, your comment just brought me back 🙂 It was charming, indeed!
I don’t know what’s more beautiful – the views or the food! What a wonderful place to visit!
Same! It was more than wonderful 🙂