Santa Maria al Bagno beach, Nardò, Lecce, Puglia, Italy - Luigi Spano photografer
Puglia contains the provinces of Bari (also the name of the regional capital city and now a chic resort), Brindisi, Foggia, Lecce and Taranto. It covers an area of 19,356 sq km (7,474 sq mi) with a population of some 4 million. Puglia forms the heel of the Italian boot, jutting into the Ionian and Adriatic Seas towards Albania and forming the Gulf of Taranto to the west. The original inhabitants were probably from Illyria and Greece, and Hannibal and Frederick II were just two of the many invaders who passed through and left their mark (Puglia’s ports were also stopping points for the Crusaders in the Middle Ages). More recent ‘invaders’, who are claimed to have caused an increase in crime in the region, include Albanian and Kurdistan refugees, who frequently wash up on the shores of Puglia.The region has low rainfall and chronic water shortages and therefore only crops resistant to drought are successful. An adequate water supply is essential in this region. The huge Tavoliere plateau near Foggia is a rich grain-growing plain producing around half of Italy’s durum wheat (for pasta); other important crops include olives, of which Puglia supplies around half the country’s needs, almonds and grapes (for wine). There’s some heavy industry at Bari, Barletta, Brindisi and Taranto, but the region has a high unemployment rate. The Gargano peninsula in the north-east has a steep, rocky coastline and peaks rising to around 1,000m (over 3,000ft); it encompasses a national park, where wooded crags thrust into the sea towards the tiny Tremiti Islands. Here lie the historic sanctuary of Monte San Angelo, attractive towns such as Peschici and Vieste, and tourist amenities such as the holiday villages at Pugnochiuso. The impressive grottos or Caves at Castellana are a major tourist attraction, as are the 13th century fortress of Castel del Monte in Andria and the marine grotto of Polignano.Property: The cities of Bari, Brindisi, Foggia, Lecce and Taranto contain superb examples of Baroque and Romanesque architecture. Unique local forms of architecture include white-washed houses with dark conical roofs known as trulli, which are found only in Alberobello, and isolated, walled country farmsteads (masserie). Traditional country and coastal properties include attractive, whitewashed cube-shaped houses. In general, property is reasonably priced except in the centre of cities; centrally-located property in Ostuni or Vieste costs from €1,000 to €1,800 per sq m, although prices in Barletta rise to €2,100 per m2. The property market is currently buoyant, although Italian buyers far outnumber foreigners; the few foreign buyers favour Brindisi, Gargano and Lecce area. Communications: A motorway and railway line run along the Adriatic coast, but connections to the west are difficult due to the Apennine mountains. The region’s main domestic airports are Bari and Brindisi. Regular ferries to Greece and the former Yugoslavia operate from Brindisi and Otranto.
from: http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/
http://www.sispropertyandtourism.co.uk/
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Italy: Puglia (Apulia or Le Puglie) - Overview
The last patch of land of Puglia, Salento
Route The confluence with the immense sea in Salento 
Wet from two seas, Jonio and Adriatic, suspended between West and East, Salento, in Puglia, contrasting land with exquisite tastes, not only in gastronomy. The town is a magnificent collage of Baroque and Morocco styles; with high and steep side coasts and large and sandy extension. This geographic area thanks its glamour to sea mixing its vitality with the end of Italian boot, where resides actual in this double soul, unpredictable and charming. A vacation in Salento, will be an important change, it is as the sign of the simplicity: you should look over it without hustle, reaching the extreme boundary of Italy, to Santa Maria di Leuca and return, to enjoy the beauty of its places and immersing in the much cultures that here marked the history.
itinery from: www.discoveritalia.com
ad from: http://www.sispropertyandtourism.co.uk
Why Italy?
It would be easy to write a list of the wonderful properties that are available in Italy, but the reality is that without the Italian people, the country would be empty. The reason for looking for property in Italy is the combination of the houses and apartments that are on sale and the chance to live among such a vibrant,
enthusiastic and energetic people. Some 25 or 30 years ago, there was just a trickle of Britons looking for properties in Italy. Today, that trickle has turned into a torrent. Ask any of those people why they moved to Italy and they’ll all tell you the same thing – the Italian lifestyle. Maybe Italy comes down to just one word – choice. It’s a ‘live as you want’ society, with tolerance being an important word to describe how people live. But there’s no way of knowing without giving it a try.
Popular locations – an overview
Italian property prices have risen in recent years – it’s no use denying an obvious
fact – but, in comparison to other countries, Italy remains pretty good value,
especially in rural areas. Of course, anyone looking for a property overlooking the
Piazza San Marco in the heart of Venice had better have a pretty deep purse. But for those prepared to look a bit further afield, to areas that don’t have the estate agent’s fivestar rating, it’s still possible to find a lovely home surrounded by towns redolent of history and romance. There’s a lot of Italy to explore, and it’s well worth taking some time over it. The trick is to be sure of three things:
1) What sort of area should the property be located in? (Mountains, sea, country, in a town, in a village)
2) What is the property for? (Holidays, letting, retirement, skiing)
3) Does the available budget cover all the costs? (Remember all the hidden extras)
from: http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/
click here to read the complete buying property guide
http://www.sispropertyandtourism.co.uk/ http://www.italyflavours.it
