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Often resembling the more arid landscapes of Greece or Malta, Puglia’s sun-drenched countryside provides escapism in ample doses.
Situated in the heel of Italy, Puglia is one of the country’s most culturally and geographically distinct regions. First colonized by Greek settlers, this hot and arid region has become somewhat of quagmire within Southern Italy.
While not as remote as Calabria and lacking Campania’s freneticism, the region has nevertheless made its presence known among the more discerning tourist looking for an alternative to Italy’s more popular regions. With its distinct conical buildings and its fortified Masseria farmhouses, Puglia’s countryside acts as its greatest asset, convincing naysayers who often overlook the region for more established tourist outposts.
With a distinct geographical difference between the North and South of Puglia, winemaking in the region has come to reflect the environmental divide. While the more northern half, bordering Molise and Abruzzo, shares many of the same appellations and winemaking traditions as much of Italy, it’s the Southern half of Puglia that truly stands out as a unique wine producer. It’s here that the Primitivo and Negroamaro grape varieties thrive, bathed in the near constant Apulian sun.
Tourists to Puglia would be remised not to visit the Orecchiette ladies in Bari Vecchia. Situated in the old town’s narrow streets, the women handmake the ear shaped pasta on long wooden tables in front of their homes. The process passed down from generation, showcases the importance that culinary tradition plays within Italian families, much to the delight of hungry tourists.
With much of the areas agriculture composed of olive oil and grapes, it is no surprise that one of the area’s most popular breads is baked with olive oil. Frisella, a dry bread that is traditionally dipped in oil, has acted a form of sustenance for the many of the agricultural workers in the regions past and provides a great accompaniment to a bowl of Orecchiette.
Flagship Food Appellations
Puglia’s capital, Bari, acts as a hub for those looking to venture across the Adriatic. As has become tradition in Southern Italy, the city retains many of its Norman roots, with the Castello Svevo, watching over the city from its cliffside perch, acting as a reminder of the regions storied past. Bari Vecchia provides a more traditional look at the coastal city, with narrow streets and many of the city’s historic churches situated in or around the area.
The cities of Bisceglie, Molfetta and Trani are in the territory of Gal Ponte Lama and are one of the most popular places for the production of oil and wine.
The city of Lecce, often called the Florence of the South, provides an ample dose of renaissance culture for those missing the more art-centric north. The city replete with churches and 17th century Palazzi acts as an oddity, being the only city of kind within Southern Italy.
The Basilica di Santa Croce and the Chiesa di Santa Chiara both provide great examples of the Baroque architecture that have come to define the city.
The Parco Nazionale del Gargano, in the north of the region in Daunia, provides a great alternative to the more arid south. Situated near the border of Abruzzo, the national park is home to the Foresta Umbra, one of the oldest in area and a great escape during the sweltering summer heat. Visiting the park provides a great excuse to picnic or hike its many trails.
Another beautiful place to see is Alta Murgia National Park where you can find Castel del Monte, one of the symbols of this region full of history.
• The Otranto Jazz Festival in Puglia takes place in July and consists of three days of concerts with internationally renowned artists
• Crafts and flavors in the village of Poggiardo, in the province of Lecce, is held in July and is an event not to be missed in the historic center of Poggiardo in Puglia where crafts, food and wine meet, antiques and entertainment.
• The nights of Solleone, an event that takes place in August in Otranto in Puglia, one of the biggest music festivals in southern Italy with Italian excellence and emerging groups.
• Negroamaro Wine Festival takes place in June in Brindisi and is the biggest food and wine event in southern Italy in Puglia.
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When was the last time you had dinner in an Italian restaurant in Canada and you thought you were dining in Italy? That’s exactly how “Ospitalità Italiana Certified”restaurants want you to feel when you visit their fine dining establishments.
Ospitalità Italiana is an official certification from Unioncamere, Italy’s federation of local Chambers of Commerce and Industry, that tells you that the food you are enjoying is unquestionably Italian: products are authentic, ingredients genuine and recipes true to the thousand year history of Italian cuisine.
Canada is home to some leading Italian Chefs. Passionate and innovative, many have refined their skills and advanced their knowledge directly in Italy. In addition, Montréal boasts a fabulous cooking school ITHQ where young aspiring chefs learn Italian technic and Italian traditional recipes from the masters.
So the next time you make reservations for an Italian dinner in a Montreal restaurant, ask if they’ve received the Ospitalità Italiana seal of approval. You will enjoy the true Italian taste.