| An
introduction to Puglia Puglia
- the Apulia of ancient times – is
the jewel of the Mezzogiorno, the Italian
south. Fought over and colonised by the
Messapians, the Greeks, Romans, Normans
and Spanish, it has passed through many
hands in its turbulent history. Its
culture and architecture demonstrate its
importance as a crossroads of
Mediterranean civilisations, Greek and
Roman, East and West, Europe and Africa.
But
until recently the “heel” of
Italy has been off the beaten track for
most British tourists. All this changed
in 2004 with the introduction of Ryanair
and British Airways flights to Bari and
Brindisi. Now the choicest areas of the
region are within easy reach of both
international airports, and there will
not be a better time to sample
Puglia’s delights, or to find a home
here.
Why
come to Puglia? Well don’t come here
if you just expect a warmer version of
northern Italy. The landscape and culture
is definitely Mediterranean, and this is
reflected in the relaxed lifestyle, the
agriculture and the architecture.What you
will find is a wealth of small towns to
explore, each with their individual
character and history. Here you will find
Conversano, a town built around a Norman
cathedral, towns like Cisternino and
Ostuni with a maze of whitewashed
alleyways reminiscent of a Moorish kasbah
or a Greek town. Martina Franca has an
eighteenth century elegance, and
Alberobello boasts World Heritage status
as the capital of the trulli.
For
cities Lecce is hard to beat. Dubbed the
“Florence of the Baroque” this
cultured city has a wealth of
architecture on show, from a Roman
theatre and amphitheatre to extravagantly
decorated churches. The region’s
capital, Bari, is also fascinating with a
historical centre dominated by its
evocative basilica devoted to the
city’s patron saint St Nicholas
(Santa Claus). The southern port of
Taranto is full of south-Italian
character.
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