Puglia Apulia safety and cleanliness

We were there about three years ago. Safety was not an issue. As to litter, there was likely some, but nothing worse than you may see in parts of North America. So go if you wish, and do not worry excessively about safety or litter.

I really have difficulties in answering such questions, but if I had to reply using the same broad-brush I'd say Puglia is safe as long as you never leave anything in the car.

Just like anywhere else, but in Puglia car thefts and break-inns are more common according to the Web.

We spent 6 weeks in Puglia with a rental car in 2019, thoughts of safety never even crossed my mind.

I don’t remember either problem in Puglia. If there was litter I do not remember it, not like when you drive across the border into Mexico and it is blowing around..

The Free beaches are often dirty in Puglia between the end of the winter storms and the beginning of the season at Easter.

We have driven 4 out of the 7 times we have been to Italy and never had a problem, last was 2018 in the Puglia region, Lecce, Matera. around the heel, Alberobello, and more. We also never leave anything in the car. I remember reading in RS Italy book back in 2006 that it is wise to leave an Italian newspaper in the back seat .as a deterrent to any would be thief.
Don't forget to get your International drivers license. Safe travels

We did a driving trip throughout a couple of years ago. Never felt unsafe or uncomfortable. True , we never left anything visible in the car and we did see some litter. Loved it all. People are friendly and great food. Enjoy !

that it is wise to leave an Italian newspaper in the back seat .as a deterrent to any would be thief.

I don't get it. Why should a thief not break into a car with an Italian Newspaper in the back seat?

As a former Italian car burglar, I can assure you that there is a good chance that there’s an unsolved Sodoku in that newspaper and that once the owner realizes he left it behind, he will be returning shortly. Not worth the risk.

Not a consideration--you should not leave anything in a car (even in the trunk) anywhere, but I have done so even in Puglia and lucked out, not that I can recommend doing that.
Some of the outskirts of the towns are not as pretty as you might expect, but there is plenty of beauty.

Dario, thats one of those old theft deterrent tactics people used to spread for no reason. If you have an Italian newspaper, its supposed to signify you're a local, not a tourist, therefore not foolish enough to have anything of value in the car, like a tourist would.

The idea behind leaving a local newspaper visible in the car is to indicate it's not a tourist's car with a trunk full of valuables.

Now I know who is the mysterious ghost advisor who told mr. Trump how to face the Covid problem! If you leave a national newspaper while driving around Puglia, many local thieves would break into your car out of pique.

A thief has a few seconds to check out the year of registration on the license plate, look around and decide what to do. I guess a newspaper would make thieves think: "They must be rich, they waste money for the same news the TV broadcasts any day for free".

Love the responses from Dario and RickRack. Hee hee

The newspaper advice predates the Internet by decades. It has been floating around since at least the 1960s.