Apulia offers the opportunity to experience a time travel from prehistory to history even more than other Italian regions. Here curious tourists and art lovers can make fascinating journeys across the ages up to the present day. Thanks to its geographical position, Apulia has always been a crossroads of different populations, cultures, customs and languages that make it unique.
Bari, Apulia regional capital, concentrates its treasures in its medieval historic centre: the Basilica of Saint Nicholas which enshrines the Patron Saint’s relics beneath the alter in the crypt; the Norman-Swabian Castle whose towers and bastions protect the entrance to the city and dominate the sea today as a thousand year ago; the Cathedral of San Sabino, splendid example of Apulian Romanesque architecture. A walk along Bari historic centre is a unique experience. It seems as time has stood still: sitting outside their doorways local women prepare hand-made orecchiette (ear-shaped pasta) or popizze (small fried dough balls) and sgagliozze (slices of fried polenta) with amazing speed especially on holidays; the scent of focaccia and panzerotti comes out from wood-burning ovens where you can stop and taste these local specialties accompanied by a glass of full-bodied genuine wine. A triumph of flavours and aromas enhanced by friendly locals who serve these delicacies in the same medieval setting of narrow streets and courtyards as in the times of Frederick II.
The modern part of Bari has its own charm, too. It takes the name of Murat quarter from its French founder Joachim Murat and is laid out on a rectangular grid-plan. It boasts many notable monuments, including three prestigious theatres, namely the Teatro Piccinni, the Teatro Petruzzelli and the Liberty-style Teatro Margherita which has a unique peculiarity: its pillars are based in the sea. A walk along the promenade should not be missed: elegant buildings overlook the sea, such as Kursaal Santa Lucia theatre, Albergo delle Nazioni and Palazzo della Provincia with the most important art gallery in Apulia.   
The north coast was inhabited by the Daunians, the Peucetians and the Iapygians (Dauni, Peuceti and Japigi) who built real underground cities, necropolis and hypogea dating back to the Bronze Age, megalithic funeral monuments, such as dolmens and menhirs in Bisceglie and Corato, artifacts and jewellery from the Neolithic to the Roman era now preserved in small but amazing archaeological museums. A journey through history on battlefields where armies and heroes marched, such as Parco archeologico di Canne (near Barletta) where Hannibal defeated the Romans in 216 BC and where a picturesque and charming old train will take you right in the old town: a real railway station in the past.
On the north coast, Barletta is a must-see destination for lovers of art, history and architecture. At its entrance the imposing Cathedral dedicated to Santa Maria Maggiore dominates the surrounding buildings. It is composed of two different churches (respectively in Romanesque and Gothic stile) which merge in a single harmonious whole. In the crypt the remains of a third Paleo-Christian church can be visited.
The Norman Swabian castle deserves a visit. This defensive fortress dating back to the Norman period was reinforced with the addition of a moat and a basement by Charles V. Over the years it gave shelter to knights and soldiers on their way to the Holy Land. A tour of the ramparts offers the opportunity to enjoy a panoramic view of the town. Tourist attractions in the historic centre are the bronze statue called the Colossus of Heraclius of unknown origin, more than 5 meters tall, and the Cantina della Disfida, where in 1503 13 knights led by Ettore Fieramosca challenged and defeated French knights who had accused them of treason and cowardice. Palazzo della Marra, built in 16th century, hosts the Pinacoteca Giuseppe De Nittis established thanks to the donation of paintings and engravings made by Léontine Gruvelle, the widow of De Nittis.   
We want to offer unique experiences, also with tailor-made solutions, to all curious tourists who wish to discover a different Apulia.