Archive for 'Apulia'

The coastal city of Bari in the region of Apulia, is a lively and beautiful city in southern Italy. Divided into two main quarters, the old town and the modern part of the city, it is a pretty and cultured city with lots to see and do. If you have found a luxury villa in Apulia and are planning a trip to the city, make sure to check out the Palazzo Fizzarotti, which is a stunning architectural gem in this cultural hotspot of a destination.

Palazzo Fizzarotti is, surprisingly, a Venetian Gothic style building but it is located on the opposite side of the country on the Corso Vittorio Emanuele, in the historic center of Bari. It was built in the late 1800s and early 1900s and was designed by architects Bernich and Corradini.

Lecce, often known as the “Florence of the South”, is a stunning Baroque city with an incredibly preserved and lovely historic centre that is located in Apulia, in the south of Italy. It is a cultural and artistic gem that has to be seen to be believed. Just find a luxury villa in Apulia and visit it for yourself.

In the previous article, we noted some of the wonderful religious Baroque buildings that can be admired in the city and while there are dozens more that one could mention, there are also many other types of structures and works to be seen, beyond those used for worship.

However, in saying that, it would be remiss of us not to, at least, mention the church of Santa Croce Church; one of the most famous and extraordinary buildings in the entire city, with its iconic Hellenistic façade and rose window.

Lecce is a beautiful and historic city in Apulia, in the south of Italy. While it is over 2,000 years old, with origins dating to before the Trojan War, it is mainly known as a Baroque city,. Defined by the many Baroque architectural monuments that dot the city, it has been lent the nickname, "The Florence of the South". Home to a malleable, golden type of limestone that is perfect for carving and sculpture, the Baroque of Lecce is florid and exuberant and incredibly stunning. One of the loveliest cities in Italy, it is a must-see for architecture enthusiasts. Just find a luxury villa in Apulia and come explore this magical city for yourself.

While tracing the exact origins of any stylistic movement is practically impossible, Bishop Luigi Pappacoda's arrival to the city in 1639 can be considered a key moment in the establishment of Lecce's flourishing Baroque period.

In the last post of this series, we really have saved the best for last. Italy is a beautiful holiday destination and is a country rich in art and culture and fine cuisine but it also has a stunning landscape that perfectly facilitates adventure. If you are a fan of extreme sports, in particular, it is an ideal destination and these are some more of the places you need to check out.

5. Polignano a Mare

Polignano a Mare is a town and comune on the coast of the Valle d’Itria, Apulia that is perched atop a 20m limestone cliff, overlooking the Adriatic. It is also often home to one of the legs of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series and was again this year on the 23rd of July. The cliffs are a huge part of the identity of the town and make the perfect place for the competition. Athletes dive directly from a private roof-top terrace and must proceed through a private living room in order to reach the platform, set 27m above the Adriatic Sea.

Bari is a big port city on the Adriatic coast and the capital of Puglia. It is a little off the beaten track and has a slightly dubious reputation within Italy that means you'll be warned to hold onto your valuables tightly.

However, it is a lovely place to spend a few days and shouldn't hastily be skipped over in favour of the rest of the region. The charming Old Town based on a headland that reaches into the Adriatic and is easily explored on foot. It is quite easy to get lost but, so long as you are careful, there is a pleasure in this.

Some of the most important attractions in the city at large are the Pinacoteca Provinciale 'Corrado Giaquinto,' art gallery, the Archaeological Museum, the eleventh-century Romanesque Basilica di San Nicola (dedicated to Santa Claus), the Castello Svevo, the Colonna della Giustizia (where debtors were once reputedly tied and flogged) and Bari's futuristic stadium designed by Renzo Piano.