The influx of tourists in Puglia is linked to the numbers of beach
resorts along the Adriatic and Ionican coasts. Most of the beaches are
wide and sandy, giving way to attractive rocky coves, some with
magnificent sea caves, in a few parts of Gargano and the Salentino
peninsula.
Taking the Gargano promontory as a starting point, the most important
centres are Rodi Garganico, Peschici, Vieste, the elegant Pugnochiuso
and Baia delle Zagare, where numerous sea crags give added beauty to
the scenery.
Farther south lie Bisceglie, Polignano a Mare, Torre Canne, Marina di
Ostuni, Roca Vecchia, Castro Marina and Leuca, at the tip of Salento.
Along the Ionican coastline, Gallipoli is followed by S. Mari al Bagno,
Porto Cesareo, Marina di Pulsano, Riva dei Tessali and Marina di
Ginosa.
Unforgettable is the rocky little Tremiti archipelago, off the Gargano
coast, where the beauties of Nature still lie intact.
Many of the inland villages possess something of artistic or scenic
interest, often with important historical remains.
The visitor would do well to see the villages of Monte S. Angelo,
standing in a panoramic position on the Gargano hills, Lucera in
Capitanata, with the remains of a Roman amphitheatre, Troia, which has
a Romanesque-Pugliese cathedral (11th-13th century), with a magnificent
rose window.
In the Murges area, lie Canosa, with a 11th century cathedral and the
beautiful isolated octagonal Castel del Monte, built by Frederick II,
on a splendid panoramic site, Ruvo di Puglia, with one of the most
important Romanesque-Pugliese cathedrals (13th century); Alberobello,
with its extraordinary trulli; Gioia del Colle, which has a great
castle (11th-13th century); Altamura, with a Romanesque-Gothic
cathedral (13th-15th century), Grottaglie, a pottery craft centre;
Manduria (megalithic walls and necropolis).
Some of the coastal towns also attract large numbers of tourists.
Barletta, famous for the Disfida in 1503, with a giant bronze statue of
the Colosso (4th century); Trani, with a fine Romanesque cathedral
(12th century); Monopoli, dominated by its 16th century castle, with
nearby ruins of the pre-Roman city of Egnazia; Otranto, with its
characteristic historical centre and beautiful cathedral (11th-12th
century).
In the immediate Bari hinterland lies Bitonto, whose 13th century
cathedral is probably the finest example of Romanesque-Pugliese
architecture.
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