Puglia Travel Guide
Provinces: Bari, Brindisi, Foggia, Lecce, Taranto
Puglia, or Apulia, is the heel of the famous Italian shoe. Puglia forms this heel of Italy, facing the Ionian and Adriatic seas. This area has been the traditional bridge to other neighboring countries, such as Greece and the Middle East.
Puglia has a rich history and with its wonderful hexagonal Castel del Monte, it is best known for the truth which is centered around the town of Alberobello. It also recently became a UNESCO world heritage site.
As truly is a whitewashed cone made of stones that do not have mortar holding them together. This region extends the most eastern part of the Italian peninsula and has a lengthy coastline that faces the Ionian and the Adriatic Seas. The landscape is mostly flatland with the coasts being high and, in the Gargano district, drop steeply into the sea. Other areas of the region will be rocky, sandy but usually very flat in nature.
Bari, Italy – Travel, and Tourism
Bari has a long and rich history and is separated into the old medieval section and a new modern section. The old city center contains classic thin winding streets with the newer part growing up around them. Some of the better-known sights to see will include the 12th-century cathedral of S. Sabino with a beautiful Odigitria icon; the impressive Castello Svevo; and the 11th-century Basilica of San Nicola which is said to be the final resting place of Saint Nicholas.
The town began around 1087 and was concluded in 1187. Fine thought was given to the furnishings of the presbytery, an XII-Century floor mosaic and to an elaborate ciborium, the oldest of its kind in Apulia.
Lecce, Italy – Travel and Tourism
This will be worth the trip if you can visit Lecce during your vacation. It is one of the prettier baroque towns in Italy. The architectural style used here is called barocco leccese. Begin your exploration of the area from Piazza S.Oronzo, on the south side you will see the remains of the Anfiteatro Romano, that could date back from the time of Hadrian.
The most elaborate Baroque church is the Basilica di Santa Croce whose facade, the work of the local architect Antonio Zimbalo, took about 150 years to finish. It is worth a visit and discovery.
Church of Santa Chiara will be in the opposite direction on Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, designed with many ornaments, it provides an interior full of little chapels laboring with garlands and gilt.
Brindisi, Italy – Travel and Tourism
When taking a stroll around this pretty port town, try and visit the Cathedral, the Provincial Archaeological Museum, S.Giovanni del Sepolcro, the Chiesa del Cristo, the Swabian Castle. Make sure you find time to explore the area around S. Maria del Casale.
Ostuni, Italy – Travel and Tourism
A splendid and stunning small town located in the southern part of Italy. Located on 3 hills at the southern most edge of Le Murge, it was an important Greco-Roman city in the first century AD. The old city center or old quarter spans across the highest of the hills. The Chiesa delle Monacelle, on the main street going from the upper town to the main piazza, contains displays on pre-history, the highlight of which is “Delia”, the skeleton of a pregnant young lady found in a crouched position, her bones decorated before burial.
Gargano Promontory, Italy – Travel and Tourism
A pretty area worth a visit. This area contains the famous Foresta Umbra, a heavily wooded area with a very thick and vibrant flora and fauna. Don’t forget to visit and stop at the towns of Rodi Garganico and Peschici.
All through the Middle Ages, the splendid Basilica of San Michele in Monte Sant’Angelo, was the destination for most of the pilgrims. You will find that many Popes and Saints visited this site, including Saint Francis, Santa Caterina of Siena, and San Tommaso D’Aquino.
Alberobello, Italy – Travel and Tourism
This little town offers the famous Trulli; these lustrous habitations are curious, curved structures with cone-shaped, grey stone roofs. They were built during a time when people had to put up and take down their shelter quickly. During that period, it was forbidden to build without the permission and consent of the king. The trullo church is something of interest as well as the Trullo Sovrano, a big, two-story structure.
Castel del Monte, Italy – Travel and Tourism
This area is the Symbol of Frederick II. Capital of Swabian architecture, the two-story Castle is Gothic in structure, related to the insightful Apulian Romanesque tradition. It even offers an octagonal design with eight big towers, also octagonal. The Castle, considered by the majority of the historians to be a hunting residence, is still the object of studies trying to resolve the use and reason for its construction and use.
Tremiti Islands, Italy – Travel and Tourism
Tremiti Islands lie approximately 22 miles from the Gargano promontory and are known as the pearls of the Apulian Adriatic Sea. The other 3 isles located further out from San Domino are the best organized from the tourist point of view. It is the only island where there is a wide variety and selection of accommodation. San Domino has several grottos and is covered by vegetation releasing a scent of pines and orange blossom. Worth the visit.
The area today is a tourist delight. With two coasts and long shorelines, great weather and beautiful towns and countryside and great beaches make this area and Puglia holidays a growing segment of the Italian vacation packages offered today.