There are multiple reasons to explore the ancient Puglia region on the heel of Italy’s boot from Renaissance palaces, extraordinary seafood, mystery churches to a dictator’s folly. This is the first of a two part series on the Puglia region – or Apulia as it was known in past days. Classic archaeological ruins, villages of feudal-era architecture, centuries old pilgrimage paths and intensely blue water show you why the Puglia region has been desired by Phoenicians to Mussolini.

As the eastern most section of the Italian peninsula Puglia is on busy trade routes across the Adriatic, Ionian and seas beyond. The mercantile empire of Phoenicia established colonies followed by the Greek city-states as their influence rose in dominance. The Romans dubbed the coastal areas of Puglia “Magna Graecia” (Greater Greece) and Hellenic culture greatly influenced Roman Italy.