Adriatic coast of Italy - resorts. Apulia: rest, beaches, attractions, shopping

Apulia, known in Italy as Puglia, is a region in the south of Italy. If you look at the map, then Apulia will be the heel of the "Italian boot".

Contents

What is interesting about Apulia?
How to get to Puglia?
Climate Puglia
Transport Apulia
Features holiday in Puglia
main resorts of Puglia
- Marina di Andrano
- Gallipoli
- Gagliano del Capo
- Margherita di Savoia
- Santa Cesarea Terme
- Alberobello
- Matera
- Lecce
- Brindisi
Bari and its attractions
- Basilica of St. Nicholas
- Castle Bari
- Old Town
- Pinakothek Bari
- Theater Petrutzelli
- Via Venice
- Corso Vittorio Emanuele
- Theater Margarita
- Plazzi Fitstsarotti
- Castel del Monte in Puglia
Shopping
Kitchen Puglia
Video. Holiday in Puglia
Video."Choose Apulia!", Pinot Campana
Video. Apulian tarantella

Just recently Apulia( Puglia - ital.) Was absolutely not a tourist place in Italy, the more beautiful the rest in this region: the local flavor and identity here are manifested much brighter than in the same Rome or Milan.

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What is interesting about Apulia?

What is Apulia famous for in the first place? Lovely small towns in the baroque style, traditional local houses( the local inhabitants call them trulli), which seem to resemble something in between the hobbit's hut and the house of the inhabitants of Oz. There are a lot of sun, magnificent olive groves and fruit gardens, many kilometers of sandy beaches and delicious cuisine.

And by the way, the sea here is not one. On the left, Puglia is washed by the Ionian Sea, and to the right by the Adriatic Sea. They, although they are part of the Mediterranean, but the rest here is somewhat different. In the hottest months, when in the Mediterranean resorts there is a ringing heat, in Puglia there is always a light breeze.

Apulia is predominantly a rural area, whose inhabitants have earned their living from agriculture since the days of the ancient Greek colonies. The scale of the fruit and olive plantations amaze the imagination today: these are not just gardens and groves, they are many kilometers long, which fill the air with an absolutely unique thick aroma.

There are several ancient Greek cities, Roman settlements, medieval church architecture and several majestic castles.

Despite the relatively recent tourist boom, Apulia can offer a lot of options for comfortable rest - from modern hotels and apartments to the so-called "masseries" - large landlord houses in the center of rural estates.

Often when residing in the masseria, the owners offer additional services, such as spa treatments at local thermal springs, which are not considered there, or culinary courses.

How to get to Apulia?

The main airport of Puglia is located in Bari, the capital of the region. Officially the airport name is Karol Wojtyla. There are regular flights from many European countries. Often in the summer there are charter programs with direct flights from Russian tour operators and carriers( although, in general, such programs are offered from Moscow).

Bari Airport is quite large and convenient, there is a tax-free point, VIP lounge, free Wi-Fi, currency exchange, car rental and other modern services. With the city the airport connects several bus routes - to the center and to the main railway station, routes and schedule see here. You can also get to the city by metro, the timetable can be viewed here.

Another way to get to Bari - high-speed trains from Rome, Milan and other major cities that have regular flights with Russia. For example, a trip from Rome will take about 2 hours, from Milan - 8 hours. Transportation is carried out by the national carrier of Italy Trenitalia, for more details about the routes of the railway communication with Apulia, please click here.

There is also a ferry service between Bari and other ports of the Adriatic Sea in Croatia, Montenegro, and Greece( Corfu Island).Before you go to Apulia from Montenegro, make sure that you have a valid Schengen visa, since Montenegro, unlike Greece and Croatia, is not included in the Schengen countries.

For the sake of fairness, it must be said that Apulia and other regions of Italy are also linked by intercity bus routes, but it is almost impossible to understand the alien in the intricacies of this type of transport. Travel is organized by small local carriers, often without even a distinct site.

Drivers and cashiers do not speak English, sites are also available only in Italian. Variants of routes are great, often you need to make a transfer. The schedule is observed very conditionally, the names of stops may not be announced. So traveling by bus is a guaranteed risk of getting lost if you do not speak Italian.

Climate of Apulia

Apulia has a typical Mediterranean climate. The winters here are pretty cool and windy. From December to February, storms and hurricane winds are not uncommon. The best time to visit Apulia is from May to October. And, for a beach holiday the period from the middle of June to the middle of September will approach - at this time the water temperature keeps on comfortable 23-25 degrees.

But May and October are more suitable for those who like hiking and sightseeing: in these months there is no exhausting summer heat, the air temperature does not exceed 22-24 degrees in the daytime, and usually does not drop below 18-20 at night.

Unlike in other regions of the Mediterranean, Puglia has a drier climate, so the heat and cold are transported more easily than in the more humid areas. Another difference between Apulia and most of the Italian provinces is the flat terrain. In Puglia there are no mountains, so even in the hottest months a light breeze blows here.

Transport Apulia

Most of the tourists who come to Apulia prefer to rent a car. At the airport and at the railway station of Bari, you can find at least a dozen different rental offices, where you will certainly pick the right vehicle for you.

Requirements are standard: you must be more than 21 years old, you must have an international driving license and a plastic card of any bank for collateral registration. A list of rental offices with offices in Bari airport can be viewed here.

When renting it is recommended to learn in detail about the contents of insurance, sometimes it includes a minimum set, and for a small difference you can increase the insurance cover and provide for additional risks.

Also many rental offices offer additional services like free road guides, navigators, children's chairs and similar services.

If you have booked a holiday in a small remote city or countryside, you need a car, as the transport in Apulia, like in other provincial regions of Italy, is not well developed.

In addition, the presence of the car will give you some freedom in traveling through the region, as the landscapes of Apulia deserve a small voyage along the coast and into the interior of the continent.

If, for some reason, you can not rent a car for some reason, you can use local railway lines. This will be a separate adventure, filled with local flavor and a certain charm. Tiny trains connect the small cities of Apulia with each other and with neighboring regions.

The timetable of such trains is a little "lame", but the pleasure of the trip compensates you for these inconveniences. The site, where you can see the routes and timetables, can be found here, although all information is presented only in Italian.
In the relatively large city of Puglia there is a city transport, mostly buses. Tickets are sold in tobacco kiosks( shops with a Tabacchi sign or simply the letter "T").Sometimes the ticket can be purchased directly from the
driver. Many residents and visitors of the region prefer to travel around the city on bicycles. Large and small rental offices can be found in any city, the price in comparison with car rental is quite acceptable, and the distances are quite small

Features of recreation in Puglia

As Puglia as a tourist region began to develop more recently, there are several moments, which should be taken into account when organizing a trip.

Here, of course, there are no Russian-speaking employees in hotels, restaurants and museums. Moreover, English is also owned by few. You should definitely take an Italian phrasebook with you if you are not sure that you will be able to express yourself "on your fingers"

Shops, banks, tourist offices, rental offices and other institutions here work according to your schedule, whichnot too focused on tourists. Here you are unlikely to find night buses or 24-hour supermarkets and exchangers
In small villages and towns such infrastructure may be partially absent. Therefore, check the area in advance for the most important establishments for you and study their schedule, so as not to get into a mess

Absolutely all institutions here are closed for siesta - a midday rest that can last several hours. As such, there is no siesta common to all the timetables, each establishment sets its boundaries at its discretion, but on average it lasts from 12: 00-13: 00 to 15: 00-16: 00

Italiansnot too punctual and compulsory. Here it is perceived as a delay of 30-40 minutes, 5-10 minutes and is not considered for being late. Shops and banks can open and close not at the specified time, buses and trains slightly lag behind the schedule of
. In small towns, the bus driver can change at its own discretion, or even cancel the route if it seems that not enough passengers and a tripdisadvantageous

Unlike the traditionally popular tourist places( Rome, Milan, Venice), the inhabitants of Apulia are rather conservative, patriarchal and pious. They are simple and friendly in communication exactly as long as you observe decency( in their understanding)
If you have shown some disrespect, you can be emotionally enough esteemed or publicly discussed your "improper" act

Italians - especially southerners - do not have a special courtesy. It is considered the norm to show your emotions as they are. Unlike northern Europe, here you will not be smiling out of politeness, may not answer questions like "how to get to the library," or be rude if you did something wrong. Do not take such moments to heart - it's just a manifestation of the local mentality. Each nation has its own "cockroaches".

The main resorts of Puglia

Marina di Andrano

Marina di Andrano is perhaps the most popular resort for beach holidays. The coast line here is cut by small coves, grottoes and rocky headlands, which makes the sea calm and sheltered from the wind in all weathers. The entrance to the sea in the bays is quite gentle, the bottom is clean sand, and the water is very transparent.

In general, the main attraction of this resort is the nature, beauty of sea sunsets and snow-white sand in combination with pure turquoise water. The most picturesque grottoes are located in the area of the beaches of Zona Botte and Zona Grotta Verde.

The resort center is Andrano, a large by local standards city. The main architectural masterpieces of the city are numerous churches built during the Middle Ages.

Gallipoli

Gallipoli in Greek means "beautiful city".It is one of the oldest and most beautiful towns of Southern Italy, founded by the ancient Greeks.

Despite its small size, there are a lot of sights of different epochs, especially in the Old Town, which is located on the island apart from the modern part of Gallipoli and is connected to it by a bridge.

The city is suitable for a quiet leisurely rest. Here is the residence of the Duke of Anjou - one of the rulers of this area in the Middle Ages. Here you will find many amazingly beautiful places and landscapes.

Gallipoli is also famous for its unique culinary traditions, especially for seafood. For the evening pastime here you can find a lot of cafes and souvenir shops, several attractions for children. The beaches in the Gallipoli area are ideal for families with children.

Galliano del Capo

Holiday in Galliano del Capo is suitable primarily for lovers of long walks and beautiful landscapes. The main attractions here are the rocky coast, enchanting with its views, olive groves descending to the sea, stony paths along the coast and a lot of historical monuments scattered around the neighborhood.

The regional government recently adopted a program to restore historically significant sites. Therefore, in the vicinity of Galliano del Capo you can feel the real course of history - from ancient times to our days.

Margherita di Savoia

Margherita di Savoia is primarily thermal springs and everything related to them. Bathing Marguerite di Savoy is considered the best in all of Southern Italy, so the city is very popular with holidaymakers, and the rest here is considered prestigious and very healing.

Local thermal baths can offer a wellness course for all kinds of diseases from ENT to gynecology and disorders of the musculoskeletal system, as local salts and mud have a very wide spectrum of action.

As a thermal resort, Margherita di Savoia has been known since the time of the ancient Romans, when only very wealthy and titled persons could afford treatment here.

In addition to the Margherita di Savoia thermal baths, it boasts unique architectural structures( mostly churches) and the world's only salt museum, which collects the entire history of mining, processing and industrial use of solonchak deposits.

Santa Cesarea Terme

Santa Cesarea Terme is another thermal resort in Apulia. Unlike Marguerite de Savoy, it is relatively young, and the treatment centers here offer therapy sessions directly in the karst caves with a unique healing microclimate, which are in huge numbers located in the vicinity of the city. Santa Cesaria Terme is located on a rocky shore, and its numerous streets with terraces descend to the sea, which gives special beauty to the local landscapes.

As the thermal resort of Santa Cesarea Terme began to develop only in the 18th century. The main customers of the local therma at that time were numerous aristocrats from the surrounding areas, who built luxurious residences and palazzi here. As a result of this popularity, today the city is a pearl of architectural styles, popular in the 18-19 centuries.

Alberobello

Alberobello is one of the most amazing places in Puglia. This city resembles a fairy-tale village of gnomes, because most of the buildings here are traditional trulli houses for this area - snow-white round houses with an unusual cone-shaped roof. For completeness of sensations, you can even stop for a couple of nights in one of the houses.

These houses are unique and do not meet anywhere else in the world. In 1996 they were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The houses are unique not only in appearance, but also in the construction feature: they are all built without the use of cement or other fastening mortar. When erecting trulli stones are stacked so that when you remove one stone in the base the entire house instantly collapses.

This feature is historically due to the fact that local peasants did not pay housing taxes. With the approach of the tax collectors, the whole village in an instant turned into a pile of bricks, and the collectors did not leave the salting room. All ended with the fact that the local rulers issued a decree prohibiting the construction of similar houses. The ban continues to this day.

Matera

Matera is another city of Apulia, included in the Unesco World Heritage List. Matera is famous for its houses built right in the rocks. Moreover, the first such settlements here date back to the Neolithic. During the early Middle Ages Matera was chosen by the runaway Byzantine monks, who along with the dwellings erected churches and monastic cells in the caves.

Most of the houses in the caves were built by the poor for reasons of economy and construction material: in fact, they are peculiar slums that existed in Matera for many centuries.

In the middle of the last century in the 1950s, authorities began to forcibly evict Matera residents from caves into modern neighborhoods, as the sanitary conditions of these dwellings had long since ceased to meet modern standards.

Currently, surviving cave houses are often used by cinematographers of different countries for filming of historical nature( for example, here Mel Gibson filmed his "Passion of Christ"), some of them have museums, fashionable restaurants and apartments.

Lecce

Lecce is the capital of the eponymous district of Apulia, a unique city in its beauty. Most of the houses here are built from local limestone "lechsizu", the natural structure of which allows you to give the buildings the most bizarre shapes and exquisite decorations.

Thanks to such properties of the material, the architecture of Lecce stands out against the background of other cities with its unique beauty and grandeur of buildings.

In addition, the "Lecce" is characterized by a unique golden hue, which is especially noticeable in sunny weather. Thanks to this, on a clear day in the historic neighborhoods of Lecce, tourists are not left with the illusion that all houses are built of pure gold.

Most buildings belong to the Baroque era. Also in lecho you can find numerous buildings of earlier times, beginning with the antique.

Brindisi

Brindisi since the time of ancient Rome is considered the Gateway of Italy to the East. Due to its favorable position, since its foundation Brindisi has been an important fort and trade center. During his long history Brindisi survived many rulers, each of which tried to leave its mark on the architectural appearance of the city.

Among the numerous historical buildings you can trace the history of the city from antiquity to our times. Here you can find unique medieval churches and ancient buildings, brutal defenses and air palazzi.

Of the modern buildings can be noted the Monument to the Italian sailor - the construction is very controversial, but clearly remembered to all visitors.

Bari and its attractions

Bari is the second most important city in the south of Italy after Naples. Historically, its significance is due to the fact that it was an important strategic point of Via Trajan - the Roman imperial road to the Middle East.

After the fall of Rome, Bari continued to be a tasty morsel for many empires and conquerors due to their favorable location.

For the right to own it fought Saracens and Byzantines, Normans and Venetians, Bourbons and Kings of Aragon. During his long history, Bari was repeatedly destroyed and reborn again.

The greatest flourishing of the city was during the reign of Napoleon. Its strategic importance Bari retains to this day. Bari is the capital of the Apulia region.

Here are all the administrative centers of the province, the main universities and government offices, the largest trading and passenger terminals( both sea and rail).

From the religious point of view, Brays also plays an important role - it is here that the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Santa Claus, the patron saint of all children and travelers are stored.

St. Nicholas Basilica

The Basilica of St. Nicholas is an important religious center not only of Puglia, but of all Italy. It has been operating since the 9th century. Here the relics of St. Nicholas are preserved, so the basilica is one of the main pilgrimage sites of the entire Christian world.

Bari Castle

Bari Castle is a fortress built during the Normans. For its long history, it was repeatedly rebuilt by different rulers. The main features of the castle acquired during the reign of Aragon.

At various times the castle served as a fortification, a prison for prisoners, a residence of local rulers. Currently, the castle is a historical museum.

Old Town

The Old Town is an area surrounded by fortified walls of the Middle Ages. This part of Bari received its name in the century before last, when the city buildings went beyond the old fortress walls. New quarters in contrast to the medieval began to be called the New City.

In the Old Town you can find a lot of old buildings - from churches to residences of noble townspeople. Here there is a typical atmosphere of the European Middle Ages with characteristic narrow streets, bridge and architectural masterpieces of different epochs.

Pinacoteca Bari

Pinacoteca is the largest museum of fine art in Southern Italy. The museum exposition includes a wide variety of canvases, from the ancient period to the painting of the XIX century. Mostly works of local artists are presented here, as well as samples found during excavations in the region of Apulia.

Petruzzelli Theater

The Petruzzelli Theater is one of the largest theaters in Italy. It was built at the end of the XIX century by local patrons and has since served as the main cultural site of the Bari region and the whole of Puglia.

In addition to local celebrities, concerts of a world-size star are often held here. At different times, Rey Charles, Frank Sinatra, Luciano Pavarotti and others performed here.

Via Venezia

Via Venice is a pedestrian street that is laid over the walls of the Old City, demolished by the decree of Napoleon's deputy, Bari Gioacchino Murat. The street is laid on some voyage compared to the rest of the buildings, so it offers magnificent views of the Old Town and the port.

Corso Vittorio Emmanuele

Corso Prospect Vittorio Emmanuele is a prospect in the New City, along which the main administrative and financial institutions of the city are located, as well as numerous buildings of the local aristocracy, dating from the time of Napoleon to our days. There are many restaurants and street cafes.

Margarita Theater

The Margarita Theater is located in the New City and is best known for being built directly on the water on special stilts. At various times, various performances were held here - from musical shows to classical theater productions. At present, the theater premises are used for an exhibition of contemporary art.

Palazzo Fizzarotti

Palazzo Fizzarotti is one of the most significant and impressive structures of the New Town. Originally it was built as an apartment house for the Fizzarotti family. Currently, the interior of the palace is available for inspection, often the palace is used as a platform for various cultural events.

Castle of Castel del Monte

The most popular tourist attraction in the vicinity of Bari is Castel del Monte, built in the 13th century by Frederick the Great.

In addition to the listed attractions in Bari, you can find many churches of various epochs, parks and gardens, numerous villas and palazzo of the Apulian aristocracy, many historical exhibitions, theaters and exhibitions. Those who want to get the most complete information about the city and its attractions will find a full list of objects here. Here you can find city guides and interactive maps.

Shopping in Puglia

If we talk about shopping, then the main shopping centers and malls are located, of course, in the capital of the province of Bari. The main shopping street here is called Sparano di Bari, and it is a real paradise for shopaholics of all stripes, as it is here that all the main boutiques and brand shops of the most famous Italian and European brands are concentrated from luxury to "economy" class.

The second street worthy of attention of shoppers is called Corso Camillo Benso Cavour. Both streets are located in the New Town of Bari.

Outlets and large shopping centers can be identified BariMax Shopping Village( official site here), a trading network Mongolfiera, shops which can be found in many cities of Puglia( for more details about the location of shops of this network you can find here) and outlet Puglia Outlet Village( how to get there,see here).

The lovers of the local flavor will be interested in the Lecce flea market, the Gallipoli antique market, Alberobello's handicraft market. Typically, such markets operate on the main square of the city on Sundays( exact schedule can be clarified with local residents, as the markets do not have an official timetable).

Kitchen of Apulia

As Apulia is a typical agricultural and fishing region, local cuisine is full of recipes with an abundance of vegetables, cereals and seafood. Whichever dish you are offered here, there will be a paste( that is, products from durum wheat), vegetables, sea bast and olive oil.

Pasta Orekiette - typical Russian homemade ravioli, but without a filling. Instead of the filling, the pasta is abundantly savored with a herb sauce and olive oil.

Pasta Cavatelli is also a type of pasta that looks like flattened shells. Served with stewed vegetables and seafood in a variety of combinations.

Panzeroti in different variations - it's pies. The filling can be different, so the second word in the name of the dish will mean exactly the filling: panceroletti la proscuito - pies with ham, pancerozti alcaccia - pies with anchovies, and so on. Such pies are fried in vegetable oil and resemble in appearance something in between the juveniles and chebureks.

Octopus is the most common ingredient in seafood. Dishes from the octopus here are huge. The simplest is an octopus baked with potatoes in a pot( according to the recipe and the kind the same as a Russian dish made from rabbit with potatoes).

Pasticiotti is one of the most popular kinds of sweets in Puglia. As a matter of fact it is a sandwich bun with a lemon jam inside. Also from sweets are very popular different types of ice cream , the most exotic of which is prepared from the pulp of a sweet Mexican cactus, growing here everywhere.

The primitive, ( young red tart wine) and aleatico ( sweet dessert wine) are the most popular of wines.

The best gastronomic establishments in terms of local color and recipe compliance are considered masseria - rural hotels and restaurants, something like local estates.

As a rule, there is a store for masseria where you can buy products grown in this farm, and try real Apulian dishes prepared according to local village recipes.