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The influx of tourists in
Puglia is linked to the numbers of beach resorts along the Adriatic and
Ionican coasts. Most of the beaches are wide and sandy, giving way to
attractive rocky coves, some with magnificent sea caves, in a few parts of
Gargano and the Salentino peninsula. Taking the Gargano promontory as a
starting point, the most important centres are Rodi Garganico, Peschici,
Vieste, the elegant Pugnochiuso and Baia delle Zagare, where numerous sea
crags give added beauty to the scenery.
Farther
south lie Bisceglie, Polignano a Mare, Torre Canne, Marina di Ostuni, Roca
Vecchia, Castro Marina and Leuca, at the tip of Salento. Along the Ionican
coastline, Gallipoli is followed by S. Mari al Bagno, Porto Cesareo,
Marina di Pulsano, Riva dei Tessali and Marina di Ginosa.
Unforgettable
is the rocky little Tremiti archipelago, off the Gargano coast, where the
beauties of Nature still lie intact.
Many
of the inland villages possess something of artistic or scenic interest,
often with important historical remains. The visitor would do well to see
the villages of Monte S. Angelo, standing in a panoramic position on the
Gargano hills, Lucera in Capitanata, with the remains of a Roman
amphitheatre, Troia, which has a Romanesque-Pugliese cathedral (11th-13th
century), with a magnificent rose window.
In
the Murges area, lie Canosa, with a 11th century cathedral and the
beautiful isolated octagonal Castel del Monte, built by Frederick II, on a
splendid panoramic site, Ruvo di Puglia, with one of the most important
Romanesque-Pugliese cathedrals (13th century); Alberobello, with its
extraordinary trulli; Gioia del Colle, which has a great castle (11th-13th
century); Altamura, with a Romanesque-Gothic cathedral (13th-15th century),
Grottaglie, a pottery craft centre; Manduria (megalithic walls and
necropolis).
Some
of the coastal towns also attract large numbers of tourists. Barletta,
famous for the Disfida in 1503, with a giant bronze statue of the Colosso
(4th century); Trani, with a fine Romanesque cathedral (12th century);
Monopoli, dominated by its 16th century castle, with nearby ruins of the
pre-Roman city of Egnazia; Otranto, with its characteristic historical
centre and beautiful cathedral (11th-12th century). In the immediate Bari
hinterland lies Bitonto, whose 13th century cathedral is probably the
finest example of Romanesque-Pugliese architecture.
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