Set in the Taranto province of Puglia, Martina Franca boasts the most incredible palazzos, piazzas, and historic sights in the region. Martina Franca was hands down our favorite town visited during our stint in Puglia, this is everything you need to know to visit.
Martina Franca takes you back in time. An era of Baroque Architecture dating back to the 10th century, where grand piazzas and palaces were created, Martina Franca is no exception with its affluent history. Amidst the Valle d’Itria (Itria Valley), it was initially founded by the Romans, but it flourished in the Norman period and later during the rule of the Kingdom of Naples.
Today, it’s a bustling town, one of the larger towns in contrast to, say, Locorotondo or Alberobello. But for some reason, many people recommended Locorotondo to visit instead of Martina Franca — and I couldn’t disagree more. Martina Franca was by far our favorite of the jewel box towns in the region.
There was something extra special about this Apulian town. Perhaps it was the grandeur found in its ornate facades and piazza or the whitewashed back alleys that led to countryside views. But one thing for sure was, this town knows how to eat. We had some of our best meals in Martina Franca.
So if you’re visiting, this is everything you need to know about Martina Franca. Where to base yourself in Puglia to visit, the best things to do, and where to eat in Martina Franca.
Short on Time? Here Are My Top Picks for the Best Hotels Near Martina Franca:
I don’t recommend staying in the town itself (unless you don’t have a car). I would recommend staying somewhere between Martina Franca and Locorotondo so you can have easy access.
- Trullo Fumarola, for the best country trulli home stay
- Relais Villa San Martino, for the best luxury hotel
- Masseria San Michele, for the best traditional, budget-friendly hotel
- Masseria Trulli e Vigne, for the best trulli hotel
- Ottolire Resort, for the best luxury resort
If you’re planning a trip to Puglia, don’t miss my 7 to 10 day Puglia itinerary, guide to the best towns to base yourself, and detailed travel guides to Monopoli, Ostuni, Alberobello, Locorotondo, Matera, and Polignano a Mare!
Travel Tip: The best way to explore Puglia is by driving yourself. We use Discover Cars for our rental cars in Europe, choose full coverage insurance, and opt for trusted companies like Alamo, Hertz, or Sixt. Renting a car in Italy is quite easy, and while driving in Puglia can feel hectic, road-tripping there still felt manageable with a little extra caution (For more, read my guide to renting a car in Puglia). Book your car with Discover Cars here.
The Martina Franca, Italy Travel Guide
What to Know Before You Visit Martina Franca
Is Martina Franca Worth Visiting?
If you were to ask me, I would say Martina Franca is absolutely worth the visit. It often gets overlooked for Locorotondo but I think it is much prettier and not as touristy. It has some of the best Baroque architecture in Puglia dating back many centuries.
How Much Time to Visit Martina Franca?
You can see Martina Franca in half-day easily, I would combine it with lunch or dinner in town. We stayed just outside of the town and ended up coming back a handful of times to eat a few meals.
Getting Around Martina Franca (Rental Car Insight)
To get to Martina Franca, I would recommend having a rental car as part of your trip to Puglia. You can drive there for ease and find street parking. Just remember not to enter the “ZTL” in Martina Franca, otherwise expect some fines. I have a full guide on renting a car in Puglia and what to know. For parking, I recommend the lot Parcheggio Orti del Duca – ingresso pedonale. Once you’re in Martina Franca, you can explore the entire town on foot.
Rental Car Tip: We use Discover Cars for our rental cars in Europe, choose full coverage insurance, and opt for trusted companies like Alamo, Hertz, or Sixt.
Getting to Martina Franca from Bari
To get to Martina Franca from Bari, the journey is relatively simple and takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. You can take a direct train from Bari Centrale to Martina Franca, with the journey typically lasting around 1 hour and 30 minutes. Trenitalia operates regional trains on this route, and while there are options with changes, direct trains are the most convenient. Alternatively, if you’re driving, the quickest route is via the A14 highway or the SS172 road, covering a distance of approximately 80 km, which takes around 1 hour depending on traffic.
Does Martina Franca Make a Good Base for Exploring?
Located in the Valle d’Itria, the Martina Franca area is a good option for visiting the region. I don’t recommend staying in the town itself (unless you don’t have a car). I would recommend staying somewhere between Martina Franca and Locorotondo so you can have easy access.
Timing and Weather in Martina Franca
As always, summer is hot and busy in Italy. I highly recommend a late spring or early fall to get the most of out your trip. If you do visit in the summer, plan to arrive early for cooler temps and fewer people.
Travel Tip: Like most of Italy, siesta is taken quite seriously. Don’t expect things to be open in the mid-afternoon where everything shuts down for a few hours.
Where to Stay in Martina Franca, Italy
You could opt to stay in a vacation rental/hotel in Centro Storico like Relais Santa Maria, La Pietra del duca, or this suite. I feel that staying out in the countryside home in a traditional trulli or Masseria may bring much more pleasure. This is exactly what we did, basing ourselves for nearly a week between the towns of Martina Franca and Locorotondo at Trullo Fumarola.
I’ve gathered some rather special hotels and accommodations that are situated between the two towns, all worth considering for your stay.
My Top Picks for Where to Stay Near Martina Franca
- Trullo Fumarola — This is the magical home in a small country home we stayed at for a week. It was a beautiful renovated trulli home overlooking gardens and a shared pool. It was well-equipped, spacious, and had everything we needed — we even booked a local chef to come cook for us one night.
- Relais Villa San Martino — Just outside of town, this Relais property is all things grand and villa-like. A destination hotel, this is the spot to book for utter elegance and luxury.
- Masseria San Michele — For a traditional hotel with whitewashed walls and flowing linens, book this budget-friendly stay between Locorotondo and Martina Franca.
- Masseria Trulli e Vigne — One of the few “trulli” hotels, you can book a trullo room here. The property is gorgeous and well-located just south of Martina Franca.
- Ottolire Resort — Set closer to Locorotondo but close enough to visit, this luxury resort is a design dream. It has stunning grounds with a pool, and beautiful suites well outfitted.
My Favorite Trulli Rentals Near Martina Franca
Things to Do in Martina Franca, Italy
Explore Martina Franca’s Historic Center
Like many Southern Italy towns, the best thing to do is simply walk your way through. Narrow streets lead to dozens of baroque churches, 18th century sights, and much more. Block in a few hours just to do that, simply walk with a camera in hand and stumble upon some of these places listed below.
Basilica di San Martino
In the main center of Martina Franca, you can’t miss a visit to Basilica di San Martino. One of the most beautiful sights I have seen was when sunset light hit the outer facade, illuminating the basilica.
Piazza Roma
As one of the town’s main social squares, Piazza Roma is a must-see or walk-by in town. Piazza Roma is also a key entry point into the historic center of Martina Franca. Located on the edge of the square is the Church of San Domenico, which you can easily see when here. One other idea is to post up at one of the many restaurants and soak in daily life here.
Palazzo Ducale
As you come into Martin Franca’s old town, one of the first buildings you’ll see is the stunning Palazzo Ducale adjacent to Piazza Roma. Well known for its Baroque style, the building was initially designed by the architect Francesco d’Arena in a late-Renaissance style, but the later Baroque modifications were overseen by other architects, most notably Giuseppe Cino and Francesco Santoro. It served as the residence of the noble families of Martina Franca, including the Caracciolo family. Today you can visit it and even enjoy annual opera shows from the famous opera festival.
Piazza Maria Immacolata and Piazza Plebiscito
While there are many piazzas to visit, there is none more beautiful in my opinion than the Piazza Maria Immacolata. It’s a semi-circular piazza lined with restaurants and bars, looking into the historic center. It’s so stunning, and adjacent you can also find Piazza Plebiscito.
See the Gates of Martina Franca
Located atop a hill for strategic defense, Martina Franca was originally encircled by protective city walls, featuring 24 watchtowers that overlooked the surrounding landscape and 4 main gates. The town’s gates are named after the patron saints: Porta di Santo Stefano, Porta San Nicola, Porta San Pietro, and Porta Santa Maria. You can’t miss them as you walk into town, well worth keeping an eye out for their design.
Stroll the “La Lama“
If you’re seeking out the whitewashed walls that give this town a lot of notoriety, head to the area called the La Lama. Located just south of the main squares, it’s a district well known for winding alleys and narrow streets that are just perfect for exploring. You won’t find any one particular sight, but rather a taste of what local life with lots of charm is like.
Catch a Music Festival
Home to many seasonal music events, Martina Franca is a wonderful place to catch one. One well-known one is the Festival della Valle d’Itria in July and August, and many shows take place in town. While we were visiting, we had the chance to listen to a live performance of classical music, and I’ll never forget the sound of that music playing in the piazza.
Visit a Nearby Town
While you’re here in the area there are many day trips to be taken. Some of my favorites were:
- Locorotondo (15 minutes away)
- Alberobello (30 minutes away)
- Monopoli (35 minutes away)
- Ostuni (30 minutes away)
Pick Fruit at an Ancient Agriturismo Farm
Set in the countryside, I stumbled upon Conservatorio botanico “I giardini di Pomona” — a unique garden dedicated to preserving rare and ancient fruit tree varieties, especially those native to the region. You can visit today without reservation, pay a small fee, and walk the gardens to pick and eat fruit right on the spot. It was hands down one of the best things we did in Puglia. You can book their apartment and stay overnight!
Try Natural Wine at Loco – vini artigianali
If you’re looking for incredible award-winning natural wine from the region, I came across Loco while at a wine bar in Monopoli. I ended up meeting the owner and founder and spent time with him at his small wine facility just out of town. You can message him, or make an appointment to come by the facility to try his incredible wines — you’ll find his wines around the world at Michelin restaurants and purveyors in big cities. It’s such a treat to try this there. Note: keep in mind this is not wine tasting like you think in Napa Valley, it’s very laidback, personal, and set in the factory itself.
Martina Franca Restaurants: Where to Eat
NAUSIKAA
Hands down one of the best meals of our entire trip was NAUSIKAA. Small dishes and local specialties were the name of the game here. Incredible seafood pasta with fresh olive oil gave a beautiful taste of Puglia’s specialties with a bit of Japanese influence. I cannot recommend this spot enough.
Ristorante Garibaldi
We had dinner at Ristorante Garibaldi one night; the setting is absolutely perfection. The food was good, we were able to try several regional dishes, and it was quite family-friendly.
La Tavernetta
Total hole-in-the-wall spot with indoor dining, this was packed to the brim with locals.
Braceria Granaldi
Braceria means grill house in Italian, so prepare for all things meat. It’s a specialty house, known for its grilled meats and local ingredients.
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1. Book Your Accommodations
I use Booking.com for hotels and Airbnb for vacation rentals. They have the biggest inventory and consistently offer the best rates.
2. Book Your Rental Car
Self-driving is the best way to explore most destinations. I use Discover Cars for our rental cars, select full coverage insurance, and opt for a reputable company like Alamo, Hertz, or Sixt.
3. Book Your Tours & Experiences
I use Viator, Airbnb, and Get Your Guide to find the best tours and experiences. They are my favorite tour search engines. I always check all three as their inventory varies depending on the destination.
4. Book Your Private Transfers
For easy, reliable private transfers, I use Welcome Pickups. It’s my go-to for arranging a driver in advance — whether it’s an airport pickup, a hotel-to-hotel transfer, or a day trip. The experience is seamless, with English-speaking drivers and upfront pricing, so you can travel stress-free at every stage of your trip.
5. Get Cell Data for Your Trip
I use Holafly for international cell data. Their unlimited data eSIMs are easy to install, activate instantly on arrival, and let you skip local SIM cards and expensive roaming fees.
6. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
I never leave the country without travel insurance. It provides comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong (ie. illness, injury, theft, or cancellations).
My favorite companies that offer the best coverage and rates are:
- World Nomads (best for all-around)
- Safety Wing (best for frequent travelers)
Xx,
Jessica
