Puglia's tiny villages spotlight residents and Airbnb tourism

In the town of Celle di San Vito in Puglia, a video project funded by the national recovery plan (PNRR) has filmed each of the 144 inhabitants describing their lives, work and attachment to the community. The series, produced by videomaker Niki Dell’Anno with local journalists, aims to present the village as a living community rather than a statistical footnote, according to Mayor Maria Palma Giannini.

At the same time, a tourism study shows that Airbnb listings are the primary accommodation option in many of Puglia’s small municipalities with fewer than 30,000 residents. In 2025 Airbnb guests generated €23 million in total spending across these areas. The top‑spending communes include Tiggiano, Giuggianello and Cursi, where hosts such as Maria Assunta have turned historic buildings into guest homes, linking visitors to local crafts like the stone‑carving tradition of Cursi.

Both initiatives highlight how cultural regeneration and digital hospitality platforms are reshaping the economic and social fabric of Puglia’s lesser‑known villages.