Puglia, the “heel” of the boot, was once one of the poorest regions in Italy. Now it’s become a luxury destination, as evidenced by the four superb hotels I discovered on a recent trip.

This video will take you on a tour of notable properties spread throughout the region, including the countryside near Monopoli, the white town of Ostuni and the baroque city of Lecce. We paid incognito visits to sprawling luxury resorts, stylish palazzos and a dreamy property built in a former masseria, or fortified farmhouse. Along the way, we toured ancient villages and beautiful cities, driving through vast olive plantations and the somewhat gritty industrial towns along the coast.