Apulian cultural heritage is widespread throughout the region and this means that it should be exploited as a "territorial museum". This would undoubtedly make the region attractive and contribute to determining its tourist potential.

        In the last few years the Superintendency for Historical, Environmental, Artistic and Architectural Heritage of Apulia has concentrated its efforts on setting up a cultural network to improve the exploitation of the historical-artistic heritage of the Region.

        The first steps could only begin with the State Property Office heritage, under the auspices of the Superintendency: the castles of Bari, Trani, Castel del Monte, Otranto and Copertino.

        The Castles circuit project, made possible thanks to co-financing from the European Community within the Multiregional Operative Programme Tourism, aims at exploiting the museums located in the state owned castles run by the Superintendency. This project will also bring Apulia in line with the European standards for exploitation of museums.

        The castles of Bari, Trani, Castel del Monte, Otranto and Copertino, considered the nerve centres of tourist and cultural development within the Region and the South of Italy and engines of economic, tourist and employment growth, are at the centre of itineraries defined as follows: