“There is no way to talk about this land without being aware one is in a legendary place.”
– Roberto Cotraneo
Despite her rich centuries old history and diverse cultural heritage (including being conquered and occupied or settled by Saracens, Byzantines, Normans, the Kingdom of Sicily, the Kingdom of Naples, the Hohenstaufens, the Spanish and the French and let’s not forget the coastal occupations by the Turks and the Venetians), Puglia has remained relatively unknown and undiscovered by the travel community at large…until now…
Pronounced “pool-yah” (in English, Apulia), Puglia, along with her southern neighbors of the Mezzogiorno, is taking her rightful place among the ranks of “in” Italian regions to visit.
Contributing to Puglia’s unique characteristics is her geography. Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot, is a peninsula and the Adriatic and Ionian Seas have given Puglia her nickname; “terra tra due mari”, the land between two seas.
Click on any photo for a virtual tour!
This ideal location and temperate climate have blessed her with many appealing and noteworthy characteristics and attractions.
♥ “Only in Puglia” will you find:
◊ 500 of miles of beach and a temperate climate making it a favorite destination for sun and nature lovers.
◊ Salento, the southernmost sub-region whose namesake,“sal-en-tu”, aptly translates as kissed by “sun, sea, and wind” – the elements that influence every aspect of life here.
◊ Olive trees, 60 million of them, and many over 1,000 years old! They define the landscape of Puglia and provide one of its national treasures, its sublime olive oil.
◊ Stunning Lecce, “Florence of the South” , with its lavish and magnificent Baroque architecture.
◊ The Tree of Life Mosaic – the 700 square foot masterwork in Otranto Cathedral and the moving story of Otranto’s local martyrs.
◊ Delicious Pugliese cuisine with its regional specialties in the cucina povera tradition. Favorites include: taralli, pasticciotto and orecchiette.
◊ Exceptional wines gaining respect and praise among oenophiles including: Negroamaro, Primitivo, Salice Salentino, Verdeca, and their signature Rosato. With its four (4) DOCGs and 29 DOCs, Puglia can boast that it has more than any other region in the south.
◊ Stunning white washed seaside towns reminiscent of Greek villages such as Ostuni, Cisternino, and Locorotondo.
◊ Basilica di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria, Galatina’s stunning jewel box cathedral with its breathtaking frescoes, nicknamed the Sistine Chapel of the south.
◊ Two important UNESCO locations: Alberobello with its unique trulli and the impressive Castel del Monte constructed by Emperor Frederick near Trani in the 13th century.
◊ This is the home of the pizzica, the legendary and lively folk dance (Puglia’s tarantella).
◊ Cartapesta or papier-mâché, one of the crafts taken to high art, can even be found in cathedral ceilings and religious statues.
◊ Among luminaries born in Puglia are: Rudolph Valentino, silent film star; Domenico Modugno, song writer and singer famous for writing “Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu” (popularized as “Volare”); mid-189th century Pope Benedict XIII; and Aldo Moro, Prime Minister of Italy in 1960’s (famously kidnapped by the Red Brigade).
◊ This is where the Appian Way ended; originating in Rome, it ended here in Brindisi.
◊ Dramatic grottoes and sea caves carved by Mother Nature are found along Puglia’s coastline (e.g., Polignano a Mare) and in famous grottoes: Grotte di Castellana and Grotta Zinzulusa.
◊Masserie (fortified farmhouses, think agriturismo) that dot the countryside are not unique here but are mainly found in Puglia and Sicily.
◊ Also not unique in Italy but certainly of note are the warm and generous people of Puglia.
Click on any photo for a virtual tour!
♥ These are just a few of the appealing reasons you should add Puglia to your list of places to experience. After many visits, I know that it’s a land of many gifts and a place that I find simply irresistible. ♥
♥ You’re Invited! ♥
My expert Puglia partners, Ylenia & Michele of YLTOUR DMC, and I would love to share this marvelous place with you – we have collaborated for almost 5 years and will create a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience for YOU!
3 thoughts on “♦ Only in Puglia… ♦”
How charming! Your photos make this region so inviting! It is more of a secret to Americans. I think Italians have discovered its wonderful beaches and many vacation there regularly. But still it looks almost untouched by tourism. Wish I were there already!
Thank you Kathryn. Puglia IS inviting indeed! Yes, it’s definitely no secret to Italians and now, at least, more people in the States have at least heard of Puglia and I predict it will continue to rise on the “must see” regions of Italy.
I wish you were coming with me? Maybe 2018?
V.
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