Puglia

The suffocating heat of summer is now behind us, but there is still plenty of sunshine and pleasant warmth to enjoy by the sea. Autumn is the perfect season for discovering the most authentic soul of Lecce, an astounding city in which you can indulge in a variety of activities including cooking classes, succulent home-cooked lunches and bike tours. Here's what to do in Lecce in the autumn

There is more to Puglia than the classic tourist destinations, especially for those who love to explore and are looking for unusual itineraries. A trip "off the beaten track" is what is needed to say goodbye to monotony, get out of the routine and venture into the hidden heart of the Bel Paese. This is how photojournalist Lorenzo Scaraggi discovered an undiscovered Puglia on board a camper van from the 1990s. Thus was born Puglia Fuori Rotta, a documentary centred on a 30-day journey that, thanks to little-trodden paths, reveals a region with a mysterious and surprising side. Here are the five stages of Puglia Fuori Rotta, each to be experienced with all the senses.

Through videos, stories and 3D technology, you can study its history, appreciate its art, admire its wonders and experience countless adventures. It’s so realistic, you can almost smell, taste and touch everything this region has to offer. And you don’t even have to buy a ticket!

The city of Gallipoli in the Salento district in the southern area of the Apulia region is quite a unique location. This elegant urban resort offers a vast range of facilities and services for short or long holidays, with or without children, and sources of entertainment for teenagers who want a lot of fun.

Olive oil is considered being Apulia's region's gold (Puglia). Apulia produced almost 150000 tons of oil annually. Vast expanses of olive groves are the backdrop of this land exposed to the sun, and bordered by the sea. The millstones and old mills, represent the ancestral respect and devotion of this people for this special tradition of flavor. In some villages of Salento, placed along the coast or in the inland, the cultivation and care of olive trees, authentic monuments of nature, is a costum, a fine art with a long story: from pruning to harvesting, from grinding to consumption.

With its still expanses of olive trees as far as the eye can see, the Itria Valley is red soil, green groves and vineyards, and white trullo houses under a serene blue sky – essentially, a marvelous chromatic effect that repeats itself several times over. Also known as the Valley of the Trulli, it makes up part of the Provinces of Bari, Brindisi and Taranto, and comprises the Comuni of Alberobello, Carovigno, Castellana Grotte, Ceglie Messapica, Cisternino, Fasano, Locorotondo, Martina Franca, Noci, Ostuni, Putignano, San Michele Salentino, San Vito dei Normanni and Villa Castelli.

Distinguished by its columns, arches and numerous rose windows, as well as its typical small squares and unexpected alleyways, it is dotted with marvellous aristocratic palaces and stands out among the most beautiful cities of art in our peninsula. Known as the "Florence of the South", Lecce amazes, fascinates and conquers with the archaeological remains of Roman rule and the exuberance of 17th-century baroque, known here as "Lecce Baroque", a unique expression of a popular language with Mediterranean roots. Tourists from all over the world are also won over by the well-known Apulian warmth and superb food and wine tradition. Lecce is a lively city that offers numerous occasions to enjoy creative events and yearly dates with tradition.

Bari is highly multifaceted city, and you really need to discover every single aspect to understand its true core. Known as the “Gateway to the East” due to its long tradition of trade, this capital of Apulia is rich in history: see with your own eyes in the town of Bari Vecchia and surrounding area. Exploring the historic centre allows us to discover its most authentic character, with signs of its past scattered through the local alleyways and endless examples of age-old traditions passed from generation to generation. Then there is the famous Bari promenade, one of the most beautiful in Italy, overlooking the clear sea and the unique charm of Bari. Today, this dynamic city, nestled in the heart of the countryside punctuated by white dry-stone walls, is an important university hub. But it still holds dear the memory of its seafaring exploits of the Middle Ages, as well as its precious monuments and striking churches.

Also known as the Florence of the South, Lecce is among the not-to-be-missed destinations when visiting Apulia. The white stones of Lecce, the historical wonders, the elegance of its Baroque architecture will make your next 48 hours unforgettable.

Shortly before the Itria Valley and Salento is where the territories of the 'heel' of Italy begin, Monopolibeing one. Stretching over the plain known as the 'marina', it owes the historical succession of cultures and peoples to its strategic position on the Adriatic. A trading hub, a bridge between West and East, over the centuries it has seen the passage of Cretans, Byzantines, Normans, Spaniards, Venetians and managed to compete with the maritime republics. The harbour, which penetrates into the historic centre and on whose quays buildings have been standing since the Middle Ages, is quite astonishing. The opening to the sea, however, subjected Monopoli to incursions for which defensive works were needed: the most obvious being the massive castle on the Punta Penna headland. In the 18th century, the wealth gained from trade allowed for the rebuilding of many pre-existing churches, as was also the case for the Cathedral, of mediaeval origin but transformed into one of the best examples of Baroque in the Land of Bari. The low, rugged coastline is dotted with hidden coves and wide stretches of sand. In the surrounding area, an agricultural landscape dotted with ancient masserie and the cultivation of olive, almond, fruit and vegetable trees.

The wonders of the Gateway to the East Brindisi is the perfect combination of remnants of Ancient Rome, evidence of later dominations, and modern spaces with clubs and restaurants offering the best Apulian specialities. As you admire views of the sea and the magnificent city harbour, you can walk around the historic centre to enjoy the city’s most striking features. Crossing Piazza Duomo, the city’s oldest square, don’t miss the Cathedral and the Archaeological Museum. Nearby, in the former Scuole Pie complex, is the Pinacoteca Comunale museum, home to the Nuovo Teatro Verdi theatre foundation and the Brindisi Tourism Department. Be sure to enjoy exploring the maze of narrow streets and alleyways, such as those in the San Pietro degli Schiavoni district. The three most popular shopping streets start from Piazza della Vittoria. Near the harbour, surmounted by the Roman Columns, you will find the famous, monumental Virgil’s Staircase, where up to 900 people flock to sit during events and celebrations: you can climb it while counting the steps one by one, as long as you are not in a hurry. By taking a motorboat, you can reach Casale, the residential district of the city, on the opposite bank, with views of the Monumento al Marinaio memorial. On the terrace – accessible via a lift, followed by a stretch of about ten steps – you can admire the enchanting panorama that embraces the harbour and the whole of Brindisi. For children, there is a historic playground near the memorial.

Although little is known about the origins of this busy coastal town, it may have arisen from an aggregation of farm estates following the Saracen incursions. The early Norman structures were modified by the Aragonese, who in the late 15th century built fortifications which are still visible, flanked by religious buildings and other structures erected over the centuries. The walk through the historic centre reveals interesting buildings, such as the 12th-century Church of St Margaret, with its unusual cross-shaped floor plan surmounted by a pyramidal dome. An impressive sight is the Swabian castle, whose main tower is home to an exhibition of folk art and culture. Behind it is the 11th-century Church of St Audoin. The main church is the Cathedral, built in the Romanesque style of the 11th and 12th centuries, with the adjacent bishop's palace. As you leave the town centre, you come to the large harbour, in the centre of which are the isolated remains of the 18th-century mooring bollards In the countryside around Bisceglie, the fields of crops are dotted with farmhouses (tradition has it that there have been nine here, since the Middle Ages), watchtowers, a few "trulli" built to store tools, and four megalithic monuments dating from the Bronze Age (16th and 14th centuries BC), although originally there must have been more. The most important is the Chianca dolmen, consisting of an external corridor and a sepulchre consisting of four slabs, three wedged into the ground and one placed horizontally.

Celle di San Vito is the smallest town in Puglia in terms of number of inhabitants. It is a village immersed in nature, surrounded by large expanses of green: beech, oak, ash, pine, poplar and willow forests are the area's natural treasure, a treasure chest where you can encounter splendid animals such as foxes and squirrels. But what most distinguishes Celle from the surrounding area is the presence of an ancient language, the result of the stay of the French soldiers of Charles of Anjou near the village in the 13th century. This encounter has meant that the beautiful sounds of Franco-Provençal speech can still be heard in the village today: together with Faeto, in fact, Celle San Vito is the only Franco-Provençal minority in Apulia. A language that becomes wealth, a legacy of sounds and cadences that enchant like an ancient melody.

From Gargano to Salento to Val d'Itria and cities of art. Apulia by bike: nature, delightful villages, typical flavours and historic sites. Passing by trulli, dry stone walls and thousand-year-old olive trees: five cycling itineraries of different levels of difficulty for in-depth exploration. A generous land which will also welcome stages of the Giro d'Italia.

Apulia has long been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for its natural and geographic attributes a bridge between East and West, it is a promontory that separates the Adriatic from the Ionian Sea. A hamlet of Castrignano del Capo, in the Province of Lecce, Santa Maria di Leuca is the southernmost point in Salento, striking the visitor’s eye for its colors and unreal silence. At the center of it all is the Church, the original Santa Maria: first a sanctuary, today it is the Basilica of Santa Maria De finibus terrae (at the ends of the earth).

Faeto is the highest village in the Daunia hills, is located on the border between Puglia and Campania, on the slopes of Mount Chilone, surrounded by beech forests. Together with Celle di San Vito, it represents the only Franco-Provençal island in the region and the origins of its particular linguistic identity can be traced back to the 13th century, the era of Saracens and paladins, when a garrison of Provençal soldiers stopped in nearby Lucera, leaving a deep imprint on the local language as the legacy of this interweaving. The peculiarity of the local language is contrasted by the silence of the nature that guards the village: Faeto offers a 150-hectare forest of beeches, oaks, turkey oaks and broad-leaved trees, where, while strolling, one can come across splendid windmills.

A pretty little town overlooking the Adriatic Sea, Diso tells of its beauty in its very name: it seems, in fact, that the place name derives from 'desìo', that is, the desire to live there. And visiting the village, one cannot help but think that this interpretation is correct. A place of wild and fascinating nature, Diso has a heart linked to the sea that is told especially in its hamlet Marina di Marittima, where the architecture and atmosphere are permeated by the influence of this element. An emblem of the power of the sea and how much its presence has influenced the life of the area is the Capo Lupo Tower, a lookout tower, one of the oldest in the Salento, built as a defence against sea raids by enemies.

Polignano a Mare, white cliffs of Puglia Perched on the edge of a high cliff rising from the Adriatic Sea, Polignano a Mare is one of the most spectacular and popular locations on the Apulian coast. The historic centre of this seaside village is a maze of narrow streets that slope down towards a tiny beach, the Lama Monachile, which cuts the cliff in two. Underneath the town, a tangle of caves invites you to discover a crystal-clear sea. Polignano is also the birthplace of Domenico Modugno, the singer-songwriter of “Volare”, the most famous Italian song in the world. All lanes lead to the sea The historic core of Polignano a Mare, an inhabited centre since Neolithic times, is an expanse of white houses of medieval origin clustered on the cliffs. The village is entered by passing under the 16th-century Arco Marchesale, also known as Porta Grande, which until 1780 was the only point of access to the village that was surrounded by a moat, now hidden by Piazza Garibaldi, with its drawbridge. You can get lost in the narrow streets of Polignano, sooner or later you will land at an overlook to the sea and the surprise effect will be even greater. A selfie at Lama Monachile, a small beach with turquoise water You will undoubtedly find the 13th century Chiesa Matrice, the Marchesale palace, home of the feudal lords and the Orologio palace . The most photographed place in Polignano a Mare is its turquoise-water beach, Lama Monachile, always very crowded in the summer months: the bridge behind it is built over a Roman bridge of the Via Traiana, the Rome-Brindisi road of antiquity, which passed right through here. Next door, on the promenade, you will see the statue dedicated to the world's most famous Polignanese, singer Domenico Modugno. On the opposite side of town, again with a spectacular sea view, is the beautiful museum of the Pino Pascali Foundation an artist from Polignano who died in the 1960s, which displays contemporary art exhibitions. What to see around Polignano a Mare The ambience of Polignano a Mare can be relished as you stroll along the cliffs and down to the shoreline from which the view of the white city is spectacular. A forty-minute walk in the direction of Mola, between the delightful bays of Ponte dei Lapilli and Porto Cavallo, both ideal for bathing, will take you to the village of San Vito, unmistakable because of the remains of the abbey of the same name dating back to the 10th century, to the time of the Basilian monks who took refuge in these lands to escape the iconoclastic struggles of the Byzantine Empire. A little further on is the quadrangular tower of San Vito in front of a stretch of sea that looks like a natural swimming pool. During the day as well as in the evening, in this idyllic place, which is also full of clubs and restaurants, you will never be alone: Polignano's nightlife reaches here. Caves and cliff diving There are about twenty caves that the sea has created with the force of its waves on the cliff on which Polignano stands: the largest is the Palazzese cave, so called because it is located under a noble palace from which it could be accessed. Today, the palace has been transformed into a five-star hotel that has created restaurant rooms in the natural recesses of the cliff and the cave remains accessible by sea. Some other caves have the most unthinkable names, mostly related to their use over time: that of the Archbishop's Palace is said to have been connected through tunnels to the bishop's palace, that of the Nuns was used by the religious sisters of the hospital. The most striking one is the Ardito, named after its owners, which has a natural column inside that fishermen used to climb up to the village. What to eat in Polignano a Mare On one of the many terraces overlooking the reef, in Polignano's many restaurants, you can enjoy year-round dishes of seafood crudités, a mixture of cuttlefish, prawns, scampi and many other fish depending on the season and the catch. For those who prefer their fish well cooked, then the dish to try is rice, potatoes and mussels. Another local speciality is the sweet Polignano carrot, grown right in the area of San Vito Abbey, recognised as a Slow Food presidium. One coffee, but special: with lemon peel and cream If you prefer street food, so you don't miss a minute of the beach, then try the fish sandwich, with tuna tartare, burrata and tomatoes, or the fried octopus and turnip tops, a real treat. At the end of a meal, treat yourself to Caffè Speciale, according to a recipe developed right here in Polignano: it is a sweetened coffee with added lemon peel, cream and amaretto, always served in a small glass.

The Gargano Promontory in Apulia, due to its shape, is considered to be “Italy’s spur.” This promontory, projecting itself out into the Adriatic Sea, is almost entirely covered by a massive and mountainous carsic rock. Leafy vegetation, a crystalline sea, evocative places, a faithful people and the genuine tastes of this zone are its fundamental characteristics. One of nature’s jewels, it rests under the tutelage of the National Park, which also covers the Umbra Forest, the marine reserve of the Tremiti Islands and the coastal lakes of Lesina and Varano.

It is dominated by a picturesque limestone massif, at the top of which is situated the historic centre of Vieste. Covered in fine white sand, the beach is bathed by shallow, crystalline waters, offering a glimpse of the magnificent natural world of the Adriatic coastline.

White sand, crystal-clear water, the colours of the sky blending into the sea: they look like the Caribbean and yet these are the white beaches of Italy. Especially in the South, the Bel Paese is full of shores with an exotic atmosphere bathed by an iridescent sea that are no less impressive than the Caribbean islands. So, here's where to find the Caribbean in Italy and stretch out on fine white sand.

Exploring Salento is all about getting lost in its villages, diving into the blue of its waters, reliving a thousand-year history, and enjoying a cuisine with authentic and exquisite flavours. Whether it be Lecce or Otranto, cities of a thousand faces and lights, the Caribbean waters of Porto Cesareo or the picturesque glimpses of the coastline between Gallipoli and Santa Maria di Leuca, this stretch of Apulia is the perfect destination if you are looking for a sense of pure wonder.

This location, in the northern part of the Apulia region, is situated on the Gargano promontory (the “spur” of the Italic pensinsula) extending out into the Adriatic Sea. The bay is characterised by crystal clear waters , the purity of which has been recognised by the Italian Legambiente environmentalist association, which awarded it a “3-sail” rating.

Whether it's a day trip, a mini cruise or a full-scale sailing holiday makes little difference: you will discover the most beautiful seas, sleep at anchor and watch the sun set over the sea. Sardinia and islands such as the Aeolian Islands or the Tremiti are popular destinations for those who love holidays at sea in Italy, but the Mediterranean Sea is also well worth exploring by boat far and wide. The good thing is that you don't have to be a sea dog to fully enjoy its wonders: sailing tours in Italy can offer unique experiences for young and old, and an unusual perspective of a country that when viewed from the sea is even more beautiful.

Nestled in the Alta Murgia National Park, it is a masterpiece of medieval architecture declared UNESCO World Heritage, full of symbols and mysteries. Ready to discover them all?

The capital of the trulli, extraordinary testimonies of dry-stone construction with conical or pyramid-shaped roofs, will enchant you with an expanse of more than 1,500 trulli that have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1996. The entire Itria Valley is characterised by the presence of these picturesque constructions finding their roots in the prehistoric era, but it is in Alberobello that the highest concentration of the best-preserved examples can be found. The Mediterranean climate, excellent accommodation and unparalleled architectural harmony make this town the ideal destination for visitors in search of an atmosphere that has not been affected by the passage of time. Do you feel like setting out to discover these wonders?

From Rome, pilgrims continued their journey to the Holy Land along the Via Francigena in Puglia, passing by castles and basilicas, pure white villages and historical monuments - all immersed in an exceptional marine landscape: here are 5 not to be missed places.

Retracing the footsteps of a barbarian people who greatly influenced the Italian Middle Ages is a very interesting exercise. Ready? Let’s go.

The Swabian castle of Bari, the court of two enlightened sovereigns You can't say you know Bari if you don't visit its castle, the city's landmark building, close to the old town, between the old dockyard and the cathedral. Commissioned by Emperor Frederick II in the 13th century on what remained of a Norman fortification, it was transformed several times, until in its golden age it became the seat of a refined Renaissance court ruled by two women. Today it is home to a museum and the city's cultural centre. A millennium-long walk A visit to the impressive fortress surrounded by the moat that dominates the historic centre of Bari is a millennium-long walk in the company of great emperors and queens. The central part is of Byzantine-Norman origin, but was completely transformed by Frederick II between 1233 and 1240, then restored by Charles of Anjou in the following century, while the sloping balustrades with corner towers were added in the Aragonese period during the 16th century. When the Aragonese donated it to the Sforza ducal family, the fortress was enlarged and embellished by the intervention of two women, mother and daughter: Isabella of Aragon, widow of Gian Galeazzo Sforza, Duchess of Bari and Bona Sforza. The castle became the seat of a court that had nothing to envy from the Lords of the North. We owe them the scenic double flight of stairs connecting the ground floor to the halls of the piano nobile. During Bourbon rule, the castle began a long period of decay and abandonment, during which it was used as a prison and barracks. Only recently, in 2017, after extensive restoration and enhancement work, was the castle opened to the public as a museum. On the main floor, exhibitions and permanent displays The main floor of the castle is divided into various halls that are used for temporary exhibitions, cultural events and for permanent displays: the Aragonese Hall houses a photographic exhibition on the history of the restoration of the castle; the Angevin wing houses the archaeological collection of tableware ceramics (15th-18th century) from the excavations of the "butto" (today we would call it a rubbish tip) that testify to an area of court life, while the so-called Torre dei Minorenni displays a collection of precious materials and jewellery from various places in Apulia. The Gipsoteca of the Castle of Bari The ground floor of the Castle, in the beautiful rooms with ogival arches, houses the Gipsoteca, an interesting collection of plaster reproductions of sculptures of some Apulian monuments made in 1911 by artists Pasquale Duretti and Mario Sabatelli for the Apulian pavilion at the Ethnographic Exhibition organised in Rome on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Unification of Italy.

A small Baroque jewel in the heart of Lecce Teatro Politeama Greco in Lecce is adjacent to the Carlo V Castle. Built in 1737, it is southern Italy’s second most important theater, after the well-known San Carlo Theater in Naples. Home to opera and symphony seasons and known as a traditional theater, it later became a national monument in 1979. Famous names from the world of opera and classical music who have appeared at Politeama Greco include Tito Schipa, Ennio Morricone and Katia Ricciarelli appointed as artistic director. With a seating capacity of 998 people,including 693 in the stalls, 2 tiers of boxes with 130 and 105 seats respectively and a gallery of 60 seats, in addition to the opera and symphony season, the theater offers ​​plays, musicals, cabaret shows, ballet performances, concerts and organizes parallel activities that include events, exhibitions, workshops and theater tours.