Apulia

Distance 90 km – Just 17 kilometres from the city of Andria, Castel del Monte is Frederick II of Swabia’s 13th-century fortress, one of Puglia’s top tourist destinations. The imposing, impressive structure has an original octagonal shape that recurs throughout the structure, both in the courtyard and in various architectural elements, such as the eight towers. The shape and location correspond to the direction of the shadows during the solstice and equinox. The evocative decorative elements, such as the two crouching lions on either side of the entrance gate, are imbued with symbolism that combines elements of classical antiquity and Nordic and Islamic culture.  

Distance 50 km – The landscape of Matera embodies the contrast between the ancient and the modern, tradition and innovation. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, Matera is known worldwide as the city of the Sassi or the Underground City. Matera is not only the oldest inhabited nucleus in Basilicata and Southern Italy but is also among the world’s ten oldest inhabited cities, with settlements dating back some 10,000 years. The cave dwellings carved into the mountain were continuously inhabited from the Bronze Age until 1952, when a national law called for the forced eviction of approximately 15,000 residents. The particularity of the rocky landscape, combined with a sensibility to recover its cultural identity, gave a strong push for appreciation of the Sassi.   In addition to lodging museums, they’re the setting for several national and international cultural events today, leading to Matera’s designation as the 2019 European Capital of Culture.

Distance 100 km – Lecce lies in the heart of Salento between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. It’s known for its Baroque splendour, evident in churches, palaces, and architectural details, which earned the city its nickname: “Florence of the South”. The rich, crumbly Lecce stone gives life to fine details, such as those that adorn the Basilica of Santa Croce and the Seminary building, or the magnificent Piazza del Duomo with the Cathedral of Maria Santissima Assunta. Touched by the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, Salento is lined with a jagged, rocky coast on one side and gentle, sandy expanses on the other, which meet in Santa Maria di Leuca. Southern Puglia is characterised by the beauty of the sea and the varied coastal scenery, from the most built up to the wildest. Like few others, it’s a place that has been able to maintain and hand down its history and cultural identity. From the rural landscapes to the marinas of Melendugno, Santa Cesarea Terme, Otranto, Porto Cesareo, Porto Selvaggio, and Gallipoli, the area’s panoramas are enriched by dry stone walls, olive trees, and ancient dolmens (farmhouses-turned-accommodations). The historic centres are characterised by the magnificent Lecce Baroque, with buildings of the typical pinkish-yellow colour. Events bring the streets to life every year, such as the Notte della Taranta, which celebrates the musical tradition, blending ancient Salento Pizzica rhythms with modern influences.

Distance: 27 km – Ostuni, nicknamed the “White City”, is a splendid town presided over by the millennia-old Colonno Terminale, the column that marked the end of Via Appia. Other sites include the Aragonese and Swabian castles, the Romanesque Church of Christ, the Church of Santa Maria del Casale, the Tancredi fountain, and the circular temple of San Giovanni al Sepolcro. The Southern Murge Museum’s Pre-Classical Civilizations exhibit features the cast of Delia, a prehistoric pregnant woman from over 25,000 years ago unearthed in 1991. You can also admire the Ostuni Marina coastline with the ports of Fasano and Carovigno. Nicknamed the Riviera dei Trulli, the coastline is popular among tourists for its sandy beaches, Mediterranean scrub, inlets, and low cliffs.

The contrast between modernity and tradition, a distinct feature of southern Italy, is essential to Puglia’s charm–the new blends into settings where time seems to stand still. Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Bari province, exemplifies this. The unique jumble of 1,500 Trulli is in the Monti and Aja Piccola districts, and its historic centre consists exclusively of these conical-shaped structures made from Murge plateau limestone and assembled from dry stone. The Trulli, found mainly in the Itria Valley between the provinces of Bari and Brindisi, have prehistoric origins and are still inhabited today.

Locorotondo is a hamlet of tightly packed white houses that form a circle in the heart of the picturesque Itria Valley. The distinct layout dates back to the year 1000 and distinguishes Locorotondo’s charming historic centre. Church steeples rise over the whitewashed houses, evidence of the deep spirituality that permeates local culture and history.

Martina Franca, on the Murgia’s eastern hills in the heart of the Itria Valley, rises majestically between the Ionian and Adriatic seas. It’s surrounded by a fascinating naturalistic landscape with the Bosco delle Pianelle Oriented Regional Nature Reserve replete with biodiversity and scenic trails. Winding alleys weave through the old town and its Baroque palaces, vertical white houses, and majestic churches displaying incredible artwork.

The landscape of Valle d’Itria is dominated by vineyards and olive groves, by dry stone walls and red earth, punctuated by the white of the Trulli that occasionally rise in the countryside. Puglia offers unique scenery, with its olive-covered hills plunging into the blue Adriatic Sea, with its villages rich in history and tradition, animated by narrow alleys, charming white houses, shady little squares and where old shops and restaurants spread the flavours and aromas of the region.