Sea places

Coasts and beaches, seaside destinations in Apulia

Ancient villages

From Gargano to Salento: suggestive villages to be discovered

Valle D'Itria

Trulli and dry walls among vineyards, olive trees and groves

The karstic Valle d’Itria expands between the provinces of Bari, Taranto and Brindisi: it is a sweet countryside characterized by dry walls, where olive trees and vineyards alternate with oak tree groves, and by the typical trulli, scattered here and there. This natural masterpiece includes some of the most beautiful and characteristic towns of Apulia, such as Martina Franca, Alberobello, Locorotondo and Cisternino, very interesting destinations.

Neighbouring towns

Valle D'Itria, great artistic and naturalistic treasure of the territory

Some scholars think that the name Itria comes from the Byzantine East, reminding of the icons representing the Madonna Odegitria, who indicates the way and is worshipped in our churches. Some others, on the contrary, associate the name with an ancient vase, called idria, once used to gather abundant waters.

Thanks to its artistic and naturalistic treasures, it is become one of the most popular tourist destinations. It is characterized by the presence of the Trullo: it is a typical rural house with an unusual thòlos roof which made the city of Alberobello famous all over the world as UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is divided into two quarters, Aia Piccola and Monti, where it is possible to admire these typical buildings.

In the Valle we find also Cisternino and Locorotondo, very interesting cities, which are included in the list of the most beautiful places in Italy. It is worth visiting also the elegant Martina Franca characterized by a beautiful Baroque.

Meteo Puglia

The Baroque in Lecce

The Baroque in Lecce, architectonic expression of the 16th century

In 1539 emperor Carlo V chooses the city of Lecce as the chief town of Apulia making it a real building yard. This prosperous period is deeply linked with the famous architectural phenomenon called the Baroque of Lecce.

Secular olive-groves

Secular olive-groves with crooked trunks appearing as real natural sculptures.

Symbol of the flora of the whole region is the olive tree, which characterizes the territory from the Tavoliere to the end of the Salento with immense fields.

The olive trees with their beauty and charm, given by their secular crooked trunks, embody the history of Apulia thanks to their millenarian presence on the territory. They are the oldest and largest group of millenarian vegetal specimens in the world.

Flora and Fauna

Self- vegetation and animal species in Apulia.

A huge number of biotopes of vegetable and animal species characterizes the region, even if only the 7% of the territory has been declared protected area. The Apulian self-vegetation is marked by woods, the Mediterranean maquis and the so-called ganga (rocky pasture).

Pink flamingos in the salt marshes of Margherita di Savoia

The region shows two national parks: the Gargano National Park with many areas and reserves and the lakes of Lesina and Varano, and the Alta Murgia National Park.