60-Second Geography

Apulia, Italy

Enjoy Apulia with Globus & Cosmos

• Apulia’s location along the Mediterranean, where the Adriatic and Ionio seas meet, gives it the perfect climate, with hot and dry summers and mild winters. As it is a peninsula, beaches and rivieras are plentiful. Cuisine in this region is an important part of culture, like the rest of Italy. The local ingredients include olive oil, artichokes, tomatoes, aubergine, asparagus, and mushrooms.

• Once called “the most beautiful city in Italy” by world traveler Thomas Ashe, Lecce is also known as the “Florence of the South” by some. The white-washed lecce stone stands in contrast to the nearby turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea. The traveler can find many examples of Baroque architecture for the 17th century in the historic city centre. In fact, its affinity for Greek culture has mixed with Baroque style to create a new a new classification called ‘baracco lecce’ (Lecce baroque). The city is known for its production of olive oil and, like the rest of the Apulia region, red wine. Three gates stand at different entrances to the city centre, portals to the history of the remnants of ancient civilizations: the Triumphal Arch, St. Blaise Gate, and the porta Rudiae. Of these, the Triumphal Arch is the most well-known. It was built in the 16th century, and is a grandeur portal into the history of an amazing city. Some of the main attractions in Lecce are located adjacent to the Piazza del Duomo. Directly in the center of Lecce is the Duomo di Lecce (Lecce Cathedral), the entrance an unforgettable sight and considered by many to be a masterpiece of Baroque art. The interior of the cathedral is columned with vaulted ceiling, an awe-inspiring sight. While the altar is made of marble and gold-plated bronze, an addition to the allure of this magnificent church. A tower rises out of cathedral, and into the sky for four floors. The Bell Tower can be climbed to the top for a fantastic view of the city, Adriatic Sea, and even the mountains of Albania on the horizon.

• Also, in the Apulia region of Italy is Gargano, a highland and mountainous area that terminates at the very end of the “heel”, directly into the Adriatic Sea. Here the traveler will find the Gargano National Park, which is in the Foggia province within Apulia. Cliffs drop off into the bluest of seas. The last remnants of an ancient forest of oak and beech trees, the Umbra Forest, that used to cover most of Central Europe survives to this day. The highest point in Gargano is 3,494 ft. (1,065 m). This area also has the oldest shrine in Western Europe, dedicated to the archangel Michael. If the natural settings of this exotic area were not enough, you can also find many beaches and resorts to spend your days relaxing in the calm Mediterranean climate.

• Torre dell’Orso is a seaside resort area of Salento, in the province of Lecce. The waters of Torre dell’Orso has been awarded the Blue Flag of Europe, an award given to the area for its transparency and cleanliness. The white sand beaches have nearby white cliffs as amazing scenery. An interesting stopover while on the Torre dell’Orso coast is the Grotte della Poesia (Caves of Poetry), a 100-foot-wide sinkhole at the edge of the sea. Here the traveler can take a dip in the clear water inside the sinkhole, which leads out to the sandy beach, and can also find sign and symbols dating back to second millennium B.C.

All of this is just a taste of what the Apulia region can offer the traveler. There also castles, such as Svevo Castile in the town of Bari and the Castle of Charles V in Lecce. With such a deep embracing of history and gorgeous beaches to entice every style of traveler, Globus & Cosmos wants to show the traveler how they’re missing out on a hidden gem on the tip of Italy’s unvisited end.

Perhaps your clients have already stood inside the storied walls of the Colosseum or marveled at the chiseled lines of the statue of David. Maybe they’ve cruised through the most romantic of ancient canals. Even if they’ve experienced the highlights of Rome, Florence and Venice, there’s an entire country of diverse regions, people, traditions and cuisine they haven’t seen, experienced or tasted in Italy. And there is no better way to get to these picturesque towns, with the insight and expertise of local guides and ease of transportation, than on a tour.

Bern is a lovely city. You should take some time to explore it. But once you’ve done that, do not pass up this opportunity to venture into the Alps, feel the snow crunch under your feet and breathe in the brisk Alpine air.

Rome, Florence and Venice are – and should be – on everyone’s must-see and must-experience list. But, there’s SO much more of Italy that deserves to be seen and discovered. Here are six such places that offer travelers a new view of Italy: