My first stop when entering Apulia was at the Wojtyla airport in Bari Baggage claim. While waiting for the conveyor belt to start delivering my bags, I looked up and noticed the room’s only advertisement: a banner pasted across the top of the wall highlighting il Pane di Altamura DOP—Altamura’s famous semolina bread.

Was I shocked? No. I had come to Apulia with every intention of traveling to Altamura to eat this bread. Was I surprised—and delighted—to see a fresh loaf of bread advertised on the wall like a phone plan? Well, yes. October 16th was World Bread Day, but in Southern Italy, great bread is celebrated (and consumed) nearly every day.