A plural region, a place that conceals different souls: this is Puglia, the “heel” of the Boot, an enchanting region that lays amid nature, history, tradition, taste and spirituality, to be visited all the year round. Sea lovers can take their pick, choosing between the cliffs of Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca, the meeting point between the Ionian and the Adriatic Sea, or between Gallipoli, the “Gem of Salento” and the Gargano, the “Spur of Italy”, jutting out to the clear waters of the sea that guards the beautiful Tremiti Islands. Nature is again the protagonist in the Murgia National Park and the Garagano National Park with its wild Umbrian forest, its salt pans and lakes, the deep ravines of Laterza and the wide dolines of Altamura, which distinguish the hinterland of the region with their charming sceneries. To those who want to plunge into history, Puglia offers a wide range of places that tell the ancient origins of this land: from prehistory to Magna Graecia, from the Imperial Age to the Renaissance and the baroque splendour of Lecce and of the Salento area. The provinces of the region are: Bari (regional capital), Brindisi, Foggia, Lecce, Taranto.
The most devout, but not only, cannot miss a trip to San Giovanni Rotondo (Foggia), to visit the places of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, the monastery of Capuchin friars of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where Padre Pio died in 1968, and the new church designed by great architect Renzo Piano, open since 2004. For a full immersion in history and tradition, Alberobello is a must. The town of the “trulli”, ancient and peculiar stone houses with a conical roof, constructed without mortar, is so unique that it was inscribed on the World Heritage list by Unesco. Besides the trulli, Puglia boasts another Unesco site in the town of Andria, Castel del Monte, an unrivalled masterpiece of medieval architecture commissioned by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen in the eighteenth century. It is interesting to know that number 8 is the motif of the castle: the sides of the castle plan are 8, the rooms of the ground floor and the first floor are 8 are they form an octagon, and the grand octagonal-planned towers are 8, too. San Domino, San Nicola, Capraia, Cretaccio and Pianosa are the five islands of the Tremiti Archipelago, a tiny paradise where history and nature merge perfectly and offer a wonderful landscape to explore.
The two seas of Puglia offer incredible opportunities to those who prefer a sports holiday amid nature. There are plenty of opportunities for those who love the excitement of exploring the charming and mysterious environment of the sea. The crystal-clear waters of the Tremiti Islands create a wonderful view, animated by coves, caves and deep seabeds, coloured by a lush vegetation and populated by many species of fish. Santa Maria di Leuca, between the Ionian and the Adriatic Sea, is another unmissable destination. In some tracts, the seabeds are up to 90 meters deep and the life forms that colonize this part of the sea create a fascinating interplay of colors. Those who choose to have fun staying over the water, can windsurf or kitesurf in many places, not only during the summer. Still, Puglia does not only have the sea. If you want to discover the wonders of nature in this territory, or get to know its history and traditions choosing a different means of transport, a bike tour is just perfect. You don’t need to be a skilled cyclist to set out on a journey on two wheels; it only takes the wish to enjoy a different experience. There are many different itineraries to choose from: amid nature, pedaling along the paths of the Gargano or the Murgia National Parks, in history, discovering the vestiges that witness the past of this land, or entering the hinterland to find out a life-style that is far from the frenzy of big cities. Then many patronal festivals, fairs and historical celebrations are held all year round in every part of Puglia: the Carnival of Pitigliano, San Nicola Festival in Bari and the Disfida di Barletta (Challenge of Barletta) are the most famous.
Pugliese food has always been defined as “poor” for its simple ingredients; yet, it satisfies all types of palates. It has three strengths: durum wheat, vegetables and olive oil, which are combined with meat and fish to make up original dishes with genuine and unmistakable flavors. The hallmark of regional cooking is home-made pasta made with durum wheat or a mix of durum and soft wheat: from recchietelle (also called orecchiette) and their various versions that became a symbol of the region, to famous li strascinati, that once were the main course for the poorest families and now are demanded and served in the best restaurants. Then mignuicchie, fenescecchie, troccoli, sagne ‘ncannuate, cicatadde and other original types of pasta that are still made according to old traditions. Particularly, the combination between pasta and vegetables is unexpectedly surprising, like strascinati with cabbage and fried bacon or spaghetti with string beans, tomatoes and cacioricotta cheese. In fact, Puglia is a big scented vegetable garden, where vegetables have unparalleled colors and flavors. When combined with home-made pasta, the fresh fish of the sea or good meat, they give the palate unforgettable sensations. This region, with its 800 km of coast and two seas, offers a great variety of fish specialties for those who like it: raw, marinated, poached in delicious fish soups and even with cheese. Those who have a sweet tooth will find lots of temptations with dried fruit, honey, mulled wine, candied fruit and chocolate. Among the quality products that deserved the protection of quality marks PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) or RGI (Regional Geographical Indication), are Altamura bread, famous for its crispness, sweet and juicy Clementine Tangerines from the Gulf of Taranto, the Bella della Daunia, a type of olive cultivated in the area of Foggia since 1400, and the famous wines and extra-virgin olive oils, with different features according to their production area.
