Apulia

Apulia, known in Italian as Puglia, is a region of southern Italy that forms the eastern portion of the Italian boot. It is bordered by Molise and Campania to the north, Basilicata to the west, the Adriatic Sea to the east, and the Ionian Sea to the southeast. The region encompasses the Tavoliere delle Puglie plain, the Gargano Promontory in the northeast, and the Salento peninsula in the south, which gives the country its characteristic heel. The capital is Bari; other major cities include Foggia, Taranto, Brindisi, and Lecce. The population is about four million.

Historically, Apulia was settled by Iapygian tribes such as the Messapi and later experienced Greek colonization along the Adriatic coast. It became part of the Roman Empire and later passed through Byzantine, Norman, Hohenstaufen, Angevin, and Aragonese rule before joining the unified Kingdom of Italy in the 19th century. The region contains a rich landscape of coastal towns, ancient ruins, and architectural styles ranging from Romanesque to Baroque.

Economic activity combines agriculture, industry, and tourism. The Tavoliere plain supports cereals, olive groves, and vineyards; the region is known for olive oil and wines such as Primitivo di Manduria and Salice Salentino. Traditional foods include orecchiette with broccoli rabe, burrata, pane di Altamura, and seafood dishes. Tourist attractions include the seaside towns of Polignano a Mare and Vieste, the whitewashed towns of the Valle d'Itria with Alberobello's trulli (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996), the Baroque city of Lecce, and the Gargano National Park.