Continued...

Puglia's most striking attraction is the Trulli district, around Alberobello (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). A trullo is a round domed whitewashed house, and clusters of trulli create an unusual and striking landscape. Lecce is famed for its baroque beauty, all golden sandstone and elegant seventeenth-century architecture. One of the most attractive city destinations in southern Italy, Lecce also has a Serie A football team. Around Taranto there are fascinating underground sanctuaries and churches, while at Castellana Grotte, close to Bari there are impressive natural caverns offering guided tours.

Many Catholic tourists head for San Giovanni Rotondo, the site associated with Padre Pio - the bearded modern saint you'll see depicted on mountains of cheap religious kitsch all around Italy. Among other religious sites are the Church of St. Nicholas (Chiesa di San Nicola) in Bari, where the remains of 'Santa Claus' (stolen from Turkey by the enterprising Baresi) lie in state in the crypt. For a different kind of pilgrimage, film lovers may be interested in a side-trip to Castallaneta, the birthplace of Rudolph Valentino. It is recommended to hire a car for your visit to the region to prevent missing out on visiting the intriguing castles of Frederick II, including the famous masterpiece of mystical symmetry, Castel del Monte.