ITALIA: La Puglia al volante SELECT

About the city:Despite the fact Bari is quite a large modern city it has managed to keep the unique atmosphere of small towns. In this city ancient buildings and strict gothic castles border with new trading centres and restaurants, making Bari even more attractive and elegant. Walk along the narrow streets of the city centre to reach the Cathedral of Bari. Built in the 12th century, its crypt is a triumph of Baroque art. In this labyrinthine streets, another fine example of Baroque architecture stands, the beautiful church San Nicola, built a thousand years ago. Castello Normanno Svevo, which was built in 1132, is one of the most notable sights of the city. The Museum of Archaeology is another place of interest in Bari as excavations in the old part of the city haven’t stopped even now, so the museum constantly gets new exhibits. If daytime is traditionally used for unhurried walks on shady valleys, night turns Bari into one noisy discotheque. Trendy bars, pubs, and clubs are ready to entertain their visitors till dawn.

About the city:Andria is a city and comune in Apulia (southern Italy). It is an agricultural and service center, producing wine, olives and almonds. It is known for the 13th-century Castel del Monte.

About the city:Known as the 'Pearl of Puglia', beautiful Trani has a sophisticated feel, particularly in summer when well-heeled visitors pack the array of marina-side bars. The marina is the place to promenade and watch the white yachts and fishing boats in the harbour, while the historic centre, with its medieval churches, glossy limestone streets, historic Jewish quarter and faded yet charming palazzi is an enchanting area to explore. But it's the cathedral, pale against the deep-blue sea, that is the town's most arresting sight.

About the city:Giovinazzo (Barese: Scevenàzze) is a town, comune (municipality) and former bishopric within the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia region, southeastern Italy. It was a small fortified centre of the Romans, who called it Natolium, maybe built on the ruins of the Peucete Netium which was destroyed during the Punic Wars. After the Byzantine period, it became a countship (later a duchy). It became later a flourishing commercial centre, that had trading connections with Venice.

About the city:Polignano a Mare is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy, located on the Adriatic Sea. The local economy mostly depends on tourism, agriculture and fishing.

About the city:Monopoli is a town and municipality in Italy, in the province of Bari and region of Apulia. The town is roughly 156 square kilometres (60 sq mi) in area and lies on the Adriatic Sea about 40 kilometres (25 miles) southeast of Bari.

About the city:Alberobello is a small town and comune of the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy. It has 10,735 inhabitants and is famous for its unique trullo buildings. The trulli of Alberobello have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996.

About the city:Locorotondo is a town and comune of the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy, with a population of about 14,000. The city is known for its wines and for its circular structure which is now a historical center, from which derives its name, which means "Round place". It is located in south-east Murgia, deep in the Itria Valley, dotted with white prehistoric roundhouses called trulli. Locorotondo is listed as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. The site has been settled since ancient times, as testified by archaeological finds dating between the 3rd and the 7th century BC. The foundation of the town dates back to around 1000 AD as an unfortified hamlet under the jurisdiction of the Benedictine monastery of St. Stephen in Monopoli. The estate of various feudal lords for 500 years, it saw an increase in population, housing development, and the construction of the walls and castle. The Caracciolo family, Dukes of Martina Franca and the last feudal lords, remained in Locorotondo until the beginning of the 19th century.

About the city:Cozy with the fields of olive trees, beautiful like no other part in the world, born of this red earth that perfumes and transforms the surrounding landscape in a succession of wonderful chromatic effects. It is the Valle d'Itria, known as Valle del Trulli, which extends through the provinces of Bari, Brindisi and Taranto and includes the municipalities of Alberobello, Carovigno, Castellana Grotte, Ceglie Messapica, Cisternino, Fasano, Locorotondo, Martina Franca, Noci, Ostuni, Putignano, San Michele Salentino, San Vito dei Normanni and Villa Castelli. It will be the white color of their houses or the vegetation that surrounds them, the fact is that each town, each village of the valley is impregnated with a magical atmosphere, almost fable. In the heart of the Itria Valley, a must-see is Alberobello, included in Unesco's World Heritage List as a World Heritage Site in 1996. It is impossible not to be fascinated by the alleys of the neighborhoods of Monti and Aja Piccola. But it is not just about Alberobello. The landscape of the whole area is planted with these typical constructions: just think of Cisternino that emerges in the so-called Murgia dei Trulli, included along with Locorotondo among the most beautiful villages in Italy. This last one, called until the end of the 19th century "Luogorotondo" for its characteristic round shape of the inhabited center, forms part of the Terra dei Trulli. Not to be missed in any way a "Journey to the center of the earth", to the caves of Castellana (in the municipality of Castellna Grutte): the Grave, the first and largest cavern and the only connected with the outside; And the White Grotto, which will leave your visitors speechless.

About the city:Brindisi is a city in the South of Italy, right down in the "heel of the boot" in the region of Apulia, in the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Historically, the city has played an important role in trade and culture, due to its strategic position on the Italian Peninsula and its natural port on the Adriatic Sea. The city remains a major port for trade with Greece and the Middle East. The city of Brindisi lies between two deep bays linked to the open sea by a narrow and deep channel, overlooked by the Castello Rosso (Red Castle), named for the particular color of the stone used to build it. The Swabian Castle, rather, overlooks the western channel of the port and today is a venue for major cultural events. Among the sights not to be missed, the Church of San Giovanni al Sepolcro, with a beautiful and finely-decorated marble portal, and the Colonna Romana (Roman Column), once flanked by a "twin" that today is part of the structure of the famous Colonna di Sant’Oronzo in Lecce. Beautiful sandy beaches are scattered along the coast, lapped by the clear water of the Adriatic Sea.

About the city:Watch the fishermen arrive with the catch of the day, try the delicious fish and seafood and visit the main places of interest in this lively port. Spend a morning or an afternoon enjoying the activities of the port of Gallipoli. The port is conveniently located at the point where the old quarter of Gallipoli meets the modern center. It is a place to watch fishermen while they work and try delicious fish and seafood. In the port of Gallipoli, you can also contemplate the work of some of the monuments of several centuries of antiquity in the city. The harbor has several docks, where a colorful mix of fishing boats, cargo ships and yachts float in the water. Stroll through the eastern banks of the port to see the fishermen checking the fruit of their work and repairing their nets. A great part of the fishing is sold to the cafes and restaurants of the city. Try the typical dishes, such as the sea urchin, in the informal restaurants that frame this area of ​​the port. There is also a collection of interesting buildings on the east side of the harbor. Contemplate the twin facades of the Greek fountain, which has carved bas-reliefs and caryatids. See the baroque façade with arches of the sanctuary of Santa Maria del Canneto and the humble church of Santa Cristina. Look west to find the imposing Gallipoli castle, built by the Byzantines in the 13th century. It observes its quadrangular form with three towers and an independent polygonal tower. The castle wall offers panoramic views and opportunities to take fantastic pictures of the harbor and the landscape of the city. On the south bank of the port, the docks lead to the water and are an ideal place to sit and watch the Ionian Sea. See in the distance the island of San Andrés and the beach of the green bay. Arrive in the early hours of the afternoon to enjoy the whole process of the beautiful sunsets. You can walk comfortably from the port of Gallipoli to most of the main attractions of the city. Follow the streets that wind through the old quarter to see important works of architecture, such as the Cathedral of Saint Agatha and the church of St. Francis of Assisi. You can park in the mercantile port, which is bigger and has more shops.

About the city:In spite of the great development of buildings, Otranto preserves an almost intact historical center, which shines in all its splendor protected by the fortifications overlooking the south shore of the natural harbor. The natural entrance to the historical center is the Porta Alfonsina, in memory of Alfonso, Duke of Calabria, who liberated the city from Turkish domination. A series of alleys lead us to the Otranto Cathedral, a jewel of Romanesque-pugliese architecture, built in 1080-88 and also known as Catedrale dell'Annunziata. The gabled façade is dominated by a Gothic-Arab style rosette from the 15th century and a Baroque portal from 1764. Its austere interior, with three naves, is decorated with a 17th-century ceilings in gilded wood and by 14 Granite columns. In the Chapel of the Martyrs, to the right of the main altar, the bones of the victims of the Turkish massacre are preserved. The masterpiece, however, is depicted on the ground in a beautiful mosaic in bright colors by the priest Pantaleone (1163-1166), depicting scenes from the Bible and medieval epic cycles. Beneath the apse is the wide crypt, supported by a jungle of columns with capitals of different periods and Byzantine frescoes. Near the cathedral, we find the Diocesan Museum, which displays a collection of fabrics and liturgical objects, statues and paintings belonging to the church, as the fifteenth century baptismal font. We can also observe interesting fragments of a late-Roman mosaic found under the muscled pavement. The main street of the village is Corso Garibaldi, vibrant and crowded, which rises in the direction of the town square, or Piazza del Popolo, with the Torre dell'Orologio (Clock Tower) dating from 1779. From here you reach San Pietro , A Byzantine church that dates back to the X-XI century, and was for many years the seat of Greek worship. The exterior looks austere; In contrast, the interior is a plant in Greek cross, inserted inside a square, and very decorated. Marked by three small ships supported by eight columns, the church has its walls and vaults covered with frescoes depicting biblical scenes. The cannon vault of the ship to the northwest is adorned by the "Last Supper" and the "Lavatory of the feet".

About the city:Lecce is a historic city in Apulia region of Italy, and the capital of the province of Lecce. Because of the rich Baroque architectural monuments found in the city, Lecce is commonly nicknamed "The Florence of the South". Lecce has a lovely historic center (centro storico), and travellers can easily spend many hours exploring picturesque little lanes and finding the more far-flung Baroque churches. The town's great artistic treasure is its architecture; in terms of other arts, such as painting, Lecce cannot really compare with northerly towns like Florence and Rome. The town has two main focal points: Piazza Sant'Oronzo and Piazza del Duomo. Piazza Sant'Oronzo is the big civic heart of the town, a large square with a slightly different atmosphere, the ancient and the modern sitting uncomfortably together. Piazza del Duomo is an unusual interpretation of a familiar Italian cathedral square. In Lecce the cathedral sits in one corner of a theatrical enclosed square; a still space in the heart of town.

About the city:The province of Taranto, previously known as the province of the Ionian, is a province in the Apulia region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Taranto. It has an area of 2,437 square kilometres (941 sq mi), and a total population of 581,092 (2017). There are 29 comuni (singular: comune) in the province, all of which are listed at comunes of the Province of Taranto. The coat of arms of the province contains a scorpion, which Pyrrhus is thought to have seen when looking down at Taranto.

About the city:Altamura is a municipality located in the province of Bari, Italy. Here you can find the Cathedral of Santa Maria dell'Assunta, considered one of the most beautiful in Puglia. Another museum not to be missed is the Museum of Man of Altamura, located in the Baldassarre Palace, where you can take a journey through history. Along with the Museum of Man of Altamura, the National Archaeological Museum of Altamura presents extensive collections of treasured archaeological remains for visitors to learn about history in a different way.

About the city:Matera is the capital of the Matera province in the Basilicata region of Italy. It boasts the sassi, well-preserved rock-cut settlements that are a World Heritage site and one of Southern Italy's many important attractions. The town center, the oldest part of town, was built on the edge of a bare plateau where a high rocky mount looms over the spot where a valley descends to the long deep river-ravine. This is where you'll now find the town cathedral and the fairly typical Italian town center. The town's main historical museum, the Museo Nazionale Ridola, contains exhibits from distant eras of Basilicata's past, from prehistory to the Roman age (closed Monday mornings; a small entrance charge). Nearby, Palazzo Lanfranchi houses the Museo Nazionale d'Arte Medievale e Moderna della Regione Basilicata - an art museum incorporating the Pinacoteca D'Errico, which has lots of religious paintings by southern painters and, more interestingly, the Centro Carlo Levi, which contains a range of paintings by the twentieth-century artist and writer who is a part of this region's modern history.

About the city:Despite the fact Bari is quite a large modern city it has managed to keep the unique atmosphere of small towns. In this city ancient buildings and strict gothic castles border with new trading centres and restaurants, making Bari even more attractive and elegant. Walk along the narrow streets of the city centre to reach the Cathedral of Bari. Built in the 12th century, its crypt is a triumph of Baroque art. In this labyrinthine streets, another fine example of Baroque architecture stands, the beautiful church San Nicola, built a thousand years ago. Castello Normanno Svevo, which was built in 1132, is one of the most notable sights of the city. The Museum of Archaeology is another place of interest in Bari as excavations in the old part of the city haven’t stopped even now, so the museum constantly gets new exhibits. If daytime is traditionally used for unhurried walks on shady valleys, night turns Bari into one noisy discotheque. Trendy bars, pubs, and clubs are ready to entertain their visitors till dawn.