APULIA (Puglia),
is the Southern Region, extended on the heel of the Italian peninsula,
in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, with hundreds kilometers
of coast immersed in the Adriatic and the Jonium Sea, with white
sandy beaches and rocks, inlets, rocky promontories in a tipical
Mediterranean landscape made of cactus and agaves, white houses
and many many colors. Centennial monumental olive trees, almond
and cherry trees, extended vine plantations, sunny fields and
pastures cover the inland.This friendly and hospitable warm land
rich of ancient culture and civilization and lived by charming
people is still off-the-beaten-track even for the Italians, being
so far from the big towns, largely undiscovered by mass tourism.
Over the centuries Greeks, Romans, Byzantine, Ostrogoths, Saracens,
Normans, Swabians, French, Spaniards came as invaders in this
friendly and hospitable land but soon integrated with the natives,
bringing and adding their customs, living and working with them.The
whole territory is very interesting and deserves to be discovered.
All the coast is perfect for a summer holiday, swimming in the
umpolluted crystal sea water in a secure sunny season, while the
inland promises a variety of short and long excursions among which
we suggest:
the beauty of the Gargano promontory,
• the sunny fields of the Tavoliere,
• the unique Trullos, peculiar houses of Apulia 's farmers,
made with stones without cement, formed by a cupola that raises,
sometimes from the ground, sometimes from a wall. In Alberobello,
Otranto and Bari .
• the Salento region.
Land of ancient history, Apulia is rich of testimonials of a great
past: the enchanting Cathedral of Trani, the splendid Apulian-Romanesque
Cathedrals of Ruvo, Bitonto, and Bari, the castle built by Frederick
II, Castel del Monte, where the “crown jewel” of Frederick II
stands, - is declared by UNESCO as one of the world's heritage
sites - and Barletta, the site of the famous “Challenge” (
Disfida
) of the 1503.A land for those who love good food, genuine
olive oil and powerful good wines.
The cuisine is totally different
from the rest of Italy , probably due to the influence of the
many people arrived there in the centuries. The richness of the
soil and the sunny summer create an ideal environment for agriculture.The
hard wheat bread ( Altamura ) is famous and carryed every day
for hundreds kms to Rome and even further. The hard wheat pastas,
the vegetables and fruit with intense flavor, the extra virgin
olive oil, the almond sweets, the parmigiana di melanzane, the
orecchiette, the fish, the lamb, the cheese of Andria such as
ricotta tosta, mozzarella, burrata, caciocavallo and, of course,
the excellent DOC Apulian wines - today Apulia boasts 25 wines
DOC between 52 reds, 28 whites, 22 rose , 17 sweet and 9 sparkling
– are a premise for a special, extraordinary holiday.
