Apulia

Overview

The region of Apulia, also known as Puglia (its official Italian name), is another traditional and classical region in Italy that has equally (if not more) enticing sights as anywhere in the country. Its topography, in fact, is already an interesting sight. Apulia is shaped like a heel that is perfect for the country's boot-shaped peninsula, thus earning the title of being "Italy's boot heel".

Also one of the lesser crowded vicinities in Italy, Apulia houses a population of around 4 million residents in its surface area of 7,469 square miles. If you are looking to enjoy a wide range of different sights in a less congested and peaceful slice of Italy, the city of Apulia is definitely one of the places worth a visit. With majority of Apulian land being on a plain with a flat surface, the city has become a haven for cyclists and other outdoor sports of similar requirements.

The many cathedrals and sanctuaries around the region exist because during the earlier centuries, Apulia was the last bit of European soil seen by crusaders before embarking on dangerous exploits to unknown lands. The city's fame is also rooted on the abundance of vineyards and olive groves, which consequently produces two renowned Italian staples, wine and olive oil.

The region is composed of five provinces (Bari, Brindisi, Foggia, Lecce, and Taranto), where a good number of interesting landmarks are readily available such as cathedrals, archeological museums, historic ruins of the Greek and Roman eras, fishing villages, medieval towns, Europe's largest forests, and fresh beaches along the Mediterranean coast. Also, the Barocco Leccese architecture boasted by Apulia can be fully appreciated after seeing churches and palazzi in the city of Lecce.

And don't forget to include Alberobello in your list of places to visit. You will be mesmerized with the picturesque view of a town formed by clusters of trulli, or whitewashed cones made of stone.