Puglia is a unique, largly unspoilt region of Italy which until recent years has been overlooked by tourists. Forming the distinctive heel of Italy’s boot, Puglia’s coastline has a lively history, having seen countless invaders and immigrants arriving on its shores from the Adriatic Sea to the east and the Ionian Sea to the west. Furthermore, the famed Via Appia – the Roman road built in 190 BC – terminates at Brindisi, which remains the principal ferry port for Greece, a country thatholds strong links with Puglia and as such has helped influence both its past and present culture and identity.

The region’s land itself is rich and fertile, making it agriculturally important for the entire country. Its abundance of vineyards has led Puglia to be dubbed “the wine cellar of Europe”; the wheat grown here is used to make p 80 per cent of Italy’s pasta; and the region’s olive groves produce more than 50 per cent of the country’s olive oil. Combine all this with the coastline’s plentiful fish stocks and the land’s ideal conditions for growing vegetables and it is easy to see why Puglia is such as important area to the Italians.

Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II recognised the significance of the region, and evidence of his architectural impact can be seen even today. Perhaps the most impressive monument to his reign is the Castel del Monte, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its eight octagonal towers form one of the finest castles in Europe. The architecture across the entire region is notable for its thrilling diversity. Lecce is a riot of baroque elegance; Taranto boass fascinating underground churches and sanctuaries; Ostuni is known as the “white city” for its dazzling whitewashed houses. A real gem in the Puglin landscape is found in the picturesque trulli of Alberobello. These fascinating little houses with their conical roofs go back a long way, though the exact story behind their existence and distinctive look remains unclear.