The view of Taranto as you approach the Puglian Ionic coast is spectacular. The capital of the region, this historic city is the third largest in Italy. Much of Taranto's history, economy and way of life are linked to the sea, and have been ever since the city was colonized by the Ancient Greeks. Traces of this period are still visible both in the old town and on the immediate periphery, as a trip around the MarTa, Taranto's recently renovated National Archaeological Museum, swiftly...

If the history of Italian cities tends to be linked with that of their principal houses of worship, this certainly applies to Foggia and its Cathedral Santa Maria de Fovea. Foggia, capital of the Tavoliere, a large expanse of flat land in northern Puglia, developed around the Romanesque Cathedral, built in the late 11th century. The cathedral was seriously damaged by the 1731 earthquake and was subsequently rebuilt in Baroque style. The bell tower, with pillars supporting ornate Corinthian...

The Salento, in the past known as the Land of Otranto, is a large expanse of predominantly hill-less terrain, home to a string of typically Mediterranean towns, the narrow lanes, shady porticoes, and little white houses of which, all built so as to resist the high summer temperatures and scorching southern Italian sun.

Lecce is the capital of Puglian Baroque. The main piazza, dedicated to the city's patron Saint, Oronzo, contains a magnificent copperplate statue of the saint perched on the...

The coasts along the region fondly known as "the heel of Italy's boot", offer stunning views and enchanting, ever changing landscapes, from the Gargano promontory in the North, home to many of the region's most celebrated holiday destinations, to the Salento in the South, recently rediscovered by both Italian and international tourists in search of an authentic slice of Southern Italy. Margherita di Savoia deserves a special mention; the renowned spa town located 56 kilometers from...

For lovers of art and culture, Puglia is a dream destination. Of all the great works of art to have survived until the present day, those of the Romanesque period, which flourished from the early 10th century until the mid 12th century, are the most dominant; visible from North to South of the region, from Capitanata to the Terra di Bari and the Salento.

Traces of this particular historical period can be seen throughout the region, in the form of superb architectural works; result of Norman,...