PUGLIA

A photo essay, picture story, on Puglia (Apulia) through 3,000 words and some 125 photos, exploring this southernmost region of Italy occupying the heel of the boot-shaped Italian peninsula. The author/ photographer visited the regional capital Bari, its warren of streets in the atmospheric, mediaeval quarter, famed monuments, seafront promenade and street markets before moving on to the quaint seaside resort of Trani and on to Castel del Monte, the 13th century, perfectly octagonal castle enigmatically standing on a hilltop. This was followed by a visit to Alberobello, the most characteristic town in the region made up of round stone buildings known as trulli with conical rooftops. The journey continued to south calling on the picturesque, whitewashed township of Ostuni perched on a hilltop overlooking a huge expanse of olive groves extending all the way to the seaside some 6 km away. Moving further south led to the city of Lecce renowned for its Baroque architecture. Finally, a visit to Otranto, the easternmost town in Italy further south still checking out the ancient castle, Norman cathedral, the scenic port harbouring fishing and leisure boats and more. The author added more chapters to the book when he returned to Puglia in September 2019 visiting the picturesque, whitewashed townships of Polignano a Mare, Locorotondo, Cisternino, Monopoli, Ceglie Messapica and Martina Franca among others as well as the neighbouring countryside embellished with olive groves, almond orchards, fig trees, prickly pears and vineyards growing on healthy red earth.