HISTORY: The first people who settled in Apulia, around the 1st millenium BC, were the Iapygians, divided in three populations - the Daunians, Peucetians and Messapians. In the 3rd century BC, the area was annexed by the Roman Republic and, after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, around the 5th century AD, Apulia was invaded by the Herules and Ostrogoths. Later, the region became the dominion of the Byzantine Empire, where it remained until the 11th century.
In 1043, the Normans founded the Duchy of Apulia and Calabria and, starting with 1130, the region became part of the Kingdom of Sicily. Between 1282 and 1442, Apulia was under the domination of the Angevins, within the Kingdom of Naples, and later under the domination of the Aragonese. In 1734, the area, along with the rest of the Kingdom of Sicily, passed from the Habsburgs to the Bourbons. In 1861, Apulia became part of the Kingdom of Italy, with the capital city at Turin. Read More [...]
GEOGRAPHY: Apulia is bordered by Molise to the north, Campania to the west and Basilicata to the southwest. Its capital city is Bari, and other important cities are Lecce, Foggia, Taranto and Brindisi. In Apulia, we can also find the beautiful towns of Ostuni, Monopoli, Polignano a Mare, Giovinazzo and Trani.
Apulia is the mainland Italian region with the longest coastline, of about 800 kilometers. The coast is a mixture of white sandy beaches and rocky coves. The highest peak in the region is Mount Cornacchia, part of the Daunian Mountains. Apulia is also home to two national parks - the Alta Murgia National Park and Gargano National Park.
TRANSPORT: Apulia has two international airports, Karol Wojtyla Airport, near Bari, and Antonio Papola Airport, near Brindisi. Many of the coastal towns of the region are connected by train, but the railway network is less comprehensive to the south. By train, a trip from Bari to Brindisi takes about one hour and a ticket costs 8.60€. From Brindisi to Lecce, a trip takes about 30 minutes and a ticket costs 2.90€.
The region is served by two main highways - A14, connecting Bologna to Taranto, through Foggia, Trani, Molfetta and Bari, and A16, linking Naples to Canosa, where it merges with the A14. The region has a good network of roads and, if you want to explore it in detail, you can, of course, rent a car.
MORE INFO: Touristic Portal | Bari Airport | Brindisi Airport | Car Hire | Train Timetables & Fares | Hotels in Apulia | Tours & Activities in Apulia