Beautiful Puglia

Even though this year’s vacation was different from all the previous ones, and I didn’t travel as much as I usually managed to visit two beautiful regions. The first of them – Spanish Majorca – I described in one of the previous texts. Today is the time for Italian Puglia, which captivated me with its landscapes, nature, beautiful beaches, delicious food and excellent wine.

Puglia – some info about the region

Puglia is situated in the southern part of the Apennine Peninsula. It is a region that is occupied by the entire “Italian heel”, as well as the areas directly above it, i.e. the “spur”. The landscape is hilly, with the Le Murge highlands in the central and the Tavoliere lowlands in the north.

The region is divided into six provinces: Bari (capital city), Taranto, Brindisi, Foggia, Barletta-Andria-Trani and Lecce. During Great Greece (which included Apulia), the most important city was Taranto; it was from him that the poet Horace came. It lives mainly from agriculture (olives, vines, flax) and tourism (more than 730 km of coast located on the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea). The influence of ancient Greek culture is still visible today, and in some parts of the region people speak the Griko dialect.

I will mention one more thing: it is here that the famous Primitivo di Puglia is produced.

Interesting places in Puglia

Below I made a list of places that you absolutely should visit while in Puglia. I had the opportunity to stay in each of them during this year’s visit to the region and I must say that they absolutely captivated me

Bari

The capital of the region, located on the Adriatic Sea, is by far the most beautiful city in this part of Italy. Interestingly, the Polish partner cities of Bari are Szczecin and Słupsk. Bari is not only the capital, but also a large passenger port (connections with Greece, Croatia and Montenegro) and a commercial port.

Worth seeing: Frederic Castle, San Sabino Cathedral and San Nicola Basilica.

Lecce

The baroque buildings of this city, as well as its monuments from Roman times, contributed to the fact that Lecce is considered one of the most beautiful cities in southern Italy. It is not without reason that this town is often referred to as “Florence of the South”.

Worth seeing: Santo Croce, the Roman amphitheater and the Bishop’s Palace, as well as any of the wineries here (order Primitivo di Manduria).

Nardo

A small, but charming town known primarily due to the perfectly profiled car track located here (you do not need to use the steering wheel, because the car turns itself). This is where the speed record of the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport (435 km / h) was broken.

Gallipoli

A name well known to fans of films with Mel Gibson, but that is not what Gallipoli is about (the film talks about the Turkish peninsula of the same name). Puglian Gallipoli is a small port town where you spend your time in a nice and lazy way.

Polignano a Mare

Last but not least, I would like to say a few words to the town of Polignano a Mare and its Grotta Pallazese restaurant. Set in the rocks, this place is known for its stunning views, romantic atmosphere and great food.