Apulia region

Apulia, located in the Southern Italy, in the centre of Mediterranean Sea, has always been an ideal zone of commercial and cultural exchange because of its geographic position, its gently sloping landscape and its pleasant climate.

Inhabited from populations which reached high levels of civilization since earliest times, its prehistory is a cornerstone for studies on the more recent palaeolithic Mediterranean and European civilization.

The history and culture of Apulia show deep marks of the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Spanish and other populations which left indelible traces of their presence.

The Apulian territory is rich in archaeological finds, castles, towers, cathedrals, urban and rural buildings and other monuments built in a variety of styles. What the culture and the hand of man have built across the times, blends with the pleasant climate always sunny, the limpid sea, sandy and rocky coastlines, and other beauties generously profused by nature on this land.

Crafts

One distinctive element of the Apulian craft industries is their use of humble materials such as iron, clay, shrubs, wood, to which they add value by applying their consummate expertise. The most widespread craft industry in Apulia is ceramics and terracotta. The most important centre of production is at Grottaglie, where everyday objects such as dishes, containers for wine and water, and building components are produced.

Together with these classic products, in Apulia you can find the manufacture of artistic cribs, holy water stoups, dolls and original whistles made in Rutigliano and Ostuni.

Bari and surroundings

Trulli, caves, cathedrals, castles, museums, archaeological areas, megalithic monuments and beaches are the most interesting touristic and cultural attractions in the province of Bari, which is also the region's capital.

The Land of Bari is characterized from gentle sloping hills called Murge: they are composed of rectangular-shaped calcareous tableland. In the protected area, the National Park of "Alta Murgia", you can find an astonishing variety of landscapes: caves, defensive strongholds, sanctuaries, churches and rock settlements, small towns and big cities.
Coastal cities such as Bari, Mola, Polignano offer tourists a right mix of limpid waters, beautiful beaches and an extremely wide historic as well as artistic panorama. While, in the northern part of the region, Andria and Altamura attract tourists with their history and rich food heritage.
Bari and its province developed thanks to the resources coming from the Adriatic sea, through trade and the relations to the Eastern Mediterranean.
The territory still maintains the signs of the activities of human beings and time: in the whole plateau, kilometres of dry walls mark the boundaries of private estates interspersed with trulli, wonderful Romanesque cathedrals which have reached their highest development here, and the beautiful castles, in particular those of the time of Frederick II.