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Apulia

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Apulia is a major region located in southern Italy.

Map of region of Apulia, Italy, with provinces-it
Map of region of Apulia, Italy, with provinces-it

It sits on the peninsular part of the country. The region borders the Adriatic Sea to the east. To the southeast, it meets the Ionian Sea and the Strait of Otranto. The Gulf of Taranto lies to the south. Apulia is surrounded by other Italian regions. Molise is to the north. Campania is to the west. Basilicata sits to the southwest. The regional capital is the city of Bari.

The geography of Apulia is quite varied. The coastline is longer than any other mainland region in Italy. In the north, the Gargano promontory extends into the Adriatic Sea. This landform is often called a "sperone," or spur. In the south, the Salento peninsula forms the "tacco," or heel, of Italy. Most of the region is flat or has moderate hills. This is especially true in the Salento peninsula. The highest point is Monte Cornacchia. It is located in the Daunian Mountains. The region also contains two national parks. These are the Alta Murgia and Gargano National Parks.

The climate in Apulia is typically Mediterranean. Summers are usually hot, dry, and sunny. Winters are often mild and rainy. In places like Lecce and Foggia, temperatures can exceed 40 degrees Celsius. Snowfall is rare on the coast. However, it has happened in recent years like 2017, 2018, and 2019. Winds play a huge role in the local weather. The Bora is a northerly wind from the Adriatic Sea. It can lower temperatures and humidity. The Sirocco is a southerly wind from North Africa. It can raise temperatures and humidity. The Sirocco can even drop red dust from the Sahara Desert.

Human history in Apulia goes back very far. Fossil remains of the Altamura Man suggest settlement 250,000 years ago. This was an archaic form of Neanderthal. Later, the Iapygians lived there in the first millennium BC. Ancient Greeks also settled in the coastal areas during the 8th century BC. The Romans eventually conquered the region. They built important roads like the Appian Way. This helped cities like Canosa and Bitonto prosper. Apulia became a major exporter of olive oil and grain.

Terre Tarentine
Terre Tarentine

Many different groups ruled Apulia through the Middle Ages. After the fall of Rome, the Byzantines held much of the land. Later, the Normans and the Aragonese arrived. In the 13th century, Apulia was under the rule of the Kingdom of Sicily. King Frederick II was a very important leader during this time. He built Castel del Monte between 1240 and 1250.

Castel del Monte - Andria
Castel del Monte - Andria

This building is a famous example of high artistic value.

Castel del Monte - Andria
Castel del Monte - Andria

Later, the region became part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Finally, it joined the unified Kingdom of Italy after the Expedition of the Thousand.

Today, Apulia has a large and diverse economy. As of 2025, it has 3,874,166 inhabitants. The region contributes about 4.6% to Italy's gross value added. Many industries specialize in specific products. Foggia focuses on food processing and vehicles. The Barletta province is known for footwear and textiles.

Vigneto a tendone in agro di Barletta
Vigneto a tendone in agro di Barletta

The Murge area produces wood and furniture. There are also large companies in aerospace and automotive sectors. In Taranto, there is a massive metallurgical plant. It is the largest of its kind in Europe.

Ostuni col drone
Ostuni col drone

Tourism is also a vital part of the modern economy. People visit to see historic towns like Ostuni.

Ostuni col drone
Ostuni col drone

They also enjoy the beautiful coastline. In 2010, the Ministry of Health found that 98.6% of the coasts were suitable for bathing. The natural landscape remains a major attraction. You can find rocky coves like Ciolo in the coastal parks.

Lecce Santa Croce
Lecce Santa Croce

The combination of ancient history and Mediterranean nature makes Apulia a unique part of Italy.

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🖼️ Images & Media (9)
File:Lecce Santa Croce.jpg
Lecce Santa Croce.jpg
File:Murge Castel del Monte.jpg
Murge Castel del Monte.jpg
File:Castel del Monte - Andria.jpg
Castel del Monte - Andria.jpg
File:Ostuni col drone.jpg
Ostuni col drone.jpg
File:Southern Italy, ca. 1000 AD.svg
Southern Italy, ca. 1000 AD.svg
File:Vigneto_a_tendone_in_agro_di_Barletta.JPG
Vigneto_a_tendone_in_agro_di_Barletta.JPG
File:Terre_Tarentine.jpg
Terre_Tarentine.jpg
File:Ulivi_modugno2.jpg
Ulivi_modugno2.jpg
File:Map of region of Apulia, Italy, with provinces-it.svg
Map of region of Apulia, Italy, with...
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