June is the ideal time to take in Puglia’s white-washed hilltop towns and ancient olive groves before the Italians flock there for their holidays in July and August. Indulge in Italian cuisine, watching nonnas knead orecchiette in the streets of Bari, learning about traditional olive oil production at a rural masseria, or dining on no-frills, freshly-caught seafood atop a trabucchi. Lecce, known as the ‘Florence of the South’ is a hive of culture, boasting Baroque architecture, basilicas and bountiful galleries. Alternatively, seek out the nearest lido; the Italians are famous for claiming every inch of their coastline as beaches, especially so in Puglia, where you’ll find sun-worshippers perched on rocks above impossibly turquoise waters.
Where to stay: For the most picturesque coves and quieter, charming towns, base yourself in Salento, the ‘heel’ of Italy’s ‘boot’. We love the mosaic-floored Palazzo Daniele, where an all-female team of chefs serve traditional local dishes and teach cookery classes, or seriously stylish Palazzo San Vito, conveniently located just outside Lecce. Further north, you can’t get more quintessentially Puglian than the 16th-century Masseria Torre Maizza, surrounded by olive groves.
Waterfront scenic view at old fisherman place Komiza on Island Vis, Croatia.Getty Images
Vis, Croatia
Average June high: 26°C
Croatia is always a good idea if you’re looking to chase the sun with lower prices and fewer crowds than the Mediterranean. With recent rumours of Mamma Mia 3 being in early production, what better excuse to return to the Dalmatian island home of the second film? If you avoid the notorious tourist trap of the Blue Cave of Biševo, there are plenty of quiet corners to discover on this remote island, which was off limits to tourists until the Yugoslav army base closed in 1989. Komiža, one of the main Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again filming locations is perhaps the prettiest village on the island, with its aquamarine waters and small fishing boats replenishing the restaurants scattered along the shore. To discover Vis’s most secluded beaches, join a sea kayaking tour – dolphin sightings are common in late spring.
