Molfetta, an historical Italian charm off the beaten track

There are many reasons to visit the southern-Italian region of Apulia: beautiful beaches, delicious food, great weather, and countless dreamy little villages. While Apulia is still not a major tourist destination like the Amalfi coast, Rome, or Venice, many of its towns are real visitor magnets. Many of them, like Polignano a mare, Ostuni and Alberobello are typical must-visit destinations for a holiday Apulia.  

Even though the heel of Italy’s boot has a lot to offer throughout the year, the primary tourist season is, without a doubt, from June until August. If you want to enjoy the summer heat in Apulia, but you need a break from the crowded popular towns, you should definitely visit Molfetta. 

Molfetta is a short 30-minute drive from Bari, the biggest city of Apulia. The town with 60 000 inhabitants located directly at sea, has a long promenade and beautiful old port – perfect for a long walk at sunset. Molfetta is not just worth visiting because of its spectacular sea views but also for the beautiful historical center itself. The skyline of the city center is dominated by the impressive cathedral Duomo di San Corrado. It is definitely worth having a look inside the impressive baroque cathedral from the 11th century. Duomo di San Corrado also marks one of the entrances to the historical city center. As most Apulian towns, the historical centers are just incredibly inviting to get lost in, spreading southern-European charm with narrow streets and picturesque balconies. Even though it is not as touristic as other places, Molfetta still has many cafés and restaurants in the historic center and along the promenade. 

Molfetta Outlet

The city itself often gets overlooked by visitors because of the large Outlet center it is famous for. The Puglia Outlet Village in Molfetta is with 40000 m² the biggest one in the entire region. The over 140 stores of the Outlet center are opened every day from 10 am – 9 pm.

If you want to enjoy a calm and relaxing afternoon strolling along the Adriatic sea and exploring a beautiful, typical historical center you should undoubtedly include Molfetta in your trip!