What to see in Puglia

Divided into the provinces of Bari, Toast, Foggia,Lecce, Taranto e Barletta-Andria-Trani, the Puglia presents numerous possibilities for holidays and discovery given the vastness of landscapes offered by the conformation of the land.
In fact, different areas are distinguished: the Gargano, Murgia, the Captained, Boards and theSalento. Offshore, then, the Tremiti Islands, a destination for constant summer tourism, thanks to the award-winning quality of its waters and beaches. Nature in Puglia is generous, just think of the luxuriant beauty of Gargano National Park and the views of the coast, a Vieste, Peschici and Morning. And, speaking of beaches, Salento is no different with its cliffs overlooking the sea (a Port Badisco, Castro and Santa Cesarea Terme) but also with the golden stretches of sand of Ugento, of Gallipoli, Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca.

For lovers of potholing, the underground world of the Castellana Grotte, one of the largest karst complexes explored by man. Alongside these monuments of nature, there are those of human origin, over the centuries: in Puglia there are many archaeological sites, starting from dolmen, up to Necropolis of Manduria and to the temples of Canosa di Puglia.

Probably, however, the ancient testimony of the past that characterizes the Apulian landscape, even in the collective imagination, is the trulli of Alberobello, typical conical shape construction. The churches and churches are majestic and elegant cathedrals in Puglia, mostly in Romanesque style; However, there is no shortage of buildings of Gothic architecture but above all Baroque ones, admirably built inLecce. Puglia is also a destination for religious tourism: a San Giovanni Rotondo It rises Padre Pio church, the much visited sanctuary born out of devotion to San Pio da Pietrelcina and designed by the architect Renzo Piano.
Puglia is also a region of festive occasions, demonstrations and events throughout the year: first of all the renowned fair of the Levant in Bari, known worldwide; there Taranta nightin the towns of Grecìa Salentina with the finale in Melpignano; The Baroque Award in Lecce; there Passio Christiin Ginosa; The Putignano Carnival; the Salento Rally and more.
La Puglia offers many experiences of holiday: whether you want to stop in a farmhouse, on a beach, in the historic center of a town or on archaeological sites, the discovery is continuous.

Putignano Carnival

Its origins date back to 1394, when, for security reasons, it was decided to transfer the relics of Saint Stephen Martyr by Monopol castleia Putignano, a town located in the hinterland, thus guaranteeing the sacred remains greater protection from Saracen attacks.
At that moment the farmers of the village were busy grafting vines, still today one of the predominant agricultural activities in the town. They therefore left the fields to welcome the relics of the saint, with their faces all smeared with flour and with work tools in their hands.

They began to recite verses, jokes and satires in the vernacular. It is precisely from this event that the now typical moves began Offshoots, still the fulcrum of the Putignano carnival tradition. They are held on the evening of December 26th, the start date of the carnival, following the candle exchange ceremony: the faithful donate a candle to the church of Putignano to ask for forgiveness in advance for the sins they will commit during the carnival.
Le Offshoots they consist of the recitation, in Putignano dialect, of rhyming verses that ridicule the town's leading figures. They deal with the most salient and heartfelt topics of the past year. The verses are sung by groups of people dressed as farmers and carrying agricultural tools in their hands.

Every Thursday starting from January 17th, the day on which we celebrate S' Antonio Abate, an ever-changing category of people is ridiculed: in succession there is the Thursday of monsignors, that of priests, that of nuns, that of widowers, that of bachelors, that of married women and that of cuckolds.

The celebrations end on Shrove Tuesday, having a evening parade of allegorical floats, built by the town's craftsmen and with the carnival funeral himself, who takes on the appearance of a pig.

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Puglia most important cities and towns

• Alberobello
• Altamura
• Bari
• Barletta
• Bisceglie
• bitonto
• Toast
• Salento fields
• Canosa di Puglia
• Castellana Grotte
• Conversano
• Foggia
• Gravina in Puglia
• Latimer
• Lecce
• Manfredonia
• Margherita di Savoia
• Molfetta
• Monopoli
• Oria
• Ostuni
• Otranto
• Rutigliano
• Ruvo di Puglia
• Salento
• San Michele Salentino
• San Severo
• Terlizzi
• Trani
• Troy
• Ugento

Map of Puglia

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