Circuito Puglia: Bari, Porto Cesareo e Polignano a mare

About the destination: Despite the fact Bari is quite a large modern city it has managed to keep the unique atmosphere of small towns. In this city ancient buildings and strict gothic castles border with new trading centres and restaurants, making Bari even more attractive and elegant. Walk along the narrow streets of the city centre to reach the Cathedral of Bari. Built in the 12th century, its crypt is a triumph of Baroque art. In this labyrinthine streets, another fine example of Baroque architecture stands, the beautiful church San Nicola, built a thousand years ago. Castello Normanno Svevo, which was built in 1132, is one of the most notable sights of the city. The Museum of Archaeology is another place of interest in Bari as excavations in the old part of the city haven’t stopped even now, so the museum constantly gets new exhibits. If daytime is traditionally used for unhurried walks on shady valleys, night turns Bari into one noisy discotheque. Trendy bars, pubs, and clubs are ready to entertain their visitors till dawn.

About the destination: Porto Cesareo, 28 km away from Lecce, is located by the Ionian Sea and it is an important tourist location, in the heart of the Terra d’Arneo (Arneo Land), well-known for its golden beaches and the wonderful sea and also easy to reach. The small village lives according to the rhythm of the sea and is surrounded by the beautiful small port, with the fish market and the characteristic coloured boats. Porto Cesareo belongs to the Protected Marine Area and to the Regional Nature Reserve “Palude del Conte e Duna Costiera”, among the largest in Italy. It is worth to take a stroll along the trails which go through the park, to immerse in the unspoiled nature and visit the Research Station of Marine Biology and the Oceanography Museum. Fascinating watchtowers, in good condition, dotted the landscape; among these, Torre Cesarea, Torre Chianca and Torre Lapillo. They are old stone watchers built to protect the coast from Saracen attacks and nowadays they watch the coast. Fortified masseria (farmsteads) and prehistoric dry-stone architectures dot the countryside, with important archeological evidence, such as the village Scalo di Furno, dating back to the Bronze Age.

About the destination: Polignano a Mare is a town and comune in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Apulia, southern Italy, located on the Adriatic Sea. The local economy mostly depends on tourism, agriculture and fishing.