Exploring the tavoliere delle Puglie: a journey into the soul of Apulia

Sant'Agata di PugliaPerched in the Dauni Mountains, Sant' Agata di Puglia is a vantage point over the Tavoliere delle Puglie. The Swabian Castle dominates not only the town, but also the surrounding area. In the past, in fact, its strategic location allowed the control of trade routes between the Parthenopean area and coastal centers of the Adriatic.The structure of Sant'Agata is typically medieval. Among the many beauties is the Church of St. Nicholas, the town's mother church, dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra. Walking further through the village, one cannot help but notice the various noble residences: Palazzo de Marinis, dating from the late 1500s, with its beautiful entrance portal. Palazzo Vinciguerra, from the 1700s, built on old dwellings carved out of the rock. And again, Palazzo Barbato also built on caves characteristic of the mountain on which the village stands.The historic center of BovinoStill in the Dauni Mountains, it is possible to reach the village of Bovino. A place where time seems to stand still.The most emblematic witness of the village's ancient history is the cathedral, which preserves mysterious symbols and narratives. The exterior facades, in fact, seem austere and chaste, but once inside, the wooden choir immediately captures the visitor's attention.Among its decorations one glimpses anthropomorphic fairies and cups hiding snakes and a multitude of symbols of paganism coexisting with religious ones.Also within the historic center of Bovino is the Civic Museum. Among its exhibits are some anthropomorphic stelae from the 5th century B.C. that can be admired along with vases, capitals, statues and various furnishings.Also in Bovino, the highest part is dominated by the castle. Commissioned by the Norman Count Drogone, the manor was enlarged by Frederick II of Swabia and in the 17th century was transformed into a noble palace by the Dukes of Guevara.Alemanna TowerTorre Alemanna is a fortified complex near Cerignola. The focal point of this small town is the ancient fortification commissioned by the Teutonic Knights.For a long time, in fact, Torre Alemanna was an important center characterized by particularly flourishing agricultural production and animal husbandry. Today the village, which is open and can be visited, houses an interesting Museum of Ceramics.Vieste, pearl of the GarganoReaching the sea and the Gargano peninsula must stop in the beautiful and renowned Vieste. Its historic center is perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the sea. Strolling through the narrow streets of Old Vieste is a real balm for the eyes.The Swabian Castle, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and Piazzetta Petrone , from which there is a wonderful view of the sea, are worth a look.Finally, Vieste is famous for its dream beaches. Among those closest to the town, the most famous is Pizzomunno.Peschici and the trabucchiAlso on the coast, within the Gargano National Park, is the beautiful Peschici, which boasts one of Puglia's most charming historic centers.Standing out among its beauties is the Norman Castle, built between the 10th and 11th centuries, erected to cope with Saracen and pirate raids.Also not to be missed is the thrill of watching the sunset from a trabucco, ancient maritime constructions. One of the most famous is Trabucco da Mimì: the historic trabuccolante, Mimì in fact, was the first to introduce tourists to the art of local fishing. Here you can enjoy a cuisine made up of simple dishes, sometimes revisited with a contemporary twist.Monte Sant'Angelo UNESCO World Heritage Site.Monte Sant'Angelo is the highest town on the Gargano and since 2011 has been recognized as a UNESCO heritage site for the Basilica of San Michele. The church was built on the spot where the Archangel Michael first appeared, in a cave. Signs in the runic language, dating back more than 1,500 years, have been found in the oldest part of the antrum. The beauty of Monte Sant'Angelo can be breathed especially when walking through Rione Junno, the oldest neighborhood, characterized by small, white houses. Along the way are several workshops where limestone, an archaic local art, is still worked.Lucera, ancient powerHeading back inland, nestled in an area dotted with vineyards and fields, stands Lucera. The city was one of the most powerful Apulian centers of antiquity, thanks to its strategic and panoramic location. Above the three hills of Monte Albano, Monte Belvedere and Monte Sacro, in fact, the town dominates the Tavoliere delle Puglie.The old town is traversed by Corso Garibaldi, one of the town's largest and oldest streets along which majestic stately residences can be admired: Palazzo Lombardo, Palazzo Gifuni and the seat of the town hall, Palazzo Mozzagrugno, a neoclassical jewel inside which are the library and the Garibaldi Theater.The heart of the entire city of Lucera, however, is Piazza del Duomo. Finally, it's worth visiting the Albano Hill, on top of which is one of the most famous Swabian castles in Italy. ApricenaThe last village on our tour is Apricena, world-famous for its marble quarries and the artisans who work the stone. The town's origins can be traced back to the 8th century AD. The name Apricena probably comes from the dialect term given to wild boars, which are present in large numbers in the area.Worth visiting in the small village is the castle, built in 1658 by Marquis Scipione Brancia, and the clock tower, probably what remains of a church bell tower. The civic clock tower was later added in the early 1900s.All the beauty of Foggia and its surroundings at your fingertipsExploring the province of Foggia, moving from the coast to the hinterland and crossing endless countryside and nature, is a strong and intoxicating travel experience. You'll get a taste of sea life and touch the beauty of the mountains.Be enchanted by the unseen glimpses of the medieval villages of the province of Foggia and their authentic atmosphere, devoid of frills but never lacking in beauty.To make the most of your tour, it will be useful to take advantage of the convenience of a strategically located vacation villa that allows you to easily reach both the most touristy beaches and resorts and the most remote places and territories. Examples are Casa Bianca, a 7-bed villa on the Trani coast equipped with all comforts, or A Casa di Anna, a 4-bed apartment in Vieste that will allow you to experience the seaside village directly from the inside.Finally, if you love the sea, head to Villa D'Aria a two-story villa that sleeps 8 just 50 meters from the Gargano sea in Peschici.With BarbarHouse you have the best vacation accommodations in Puglia with which to indulge in relaxation and rest, without giving up the desire to discover and learn.Discover our villas in the Gargano!