Puglia, from "Apulia" and "Japigia", would literally indicate the people of the Apuli (gr. Japigi), but emotionally it can mean many things. The New York Times mentions the Puglia region at 18th place in its ranking "52 Places to Go in 2019". In highlight the Baroque architecture, the beaches of the Adriatic but also the Masseria Torre Maizza and the Castle of Ugento. We will try to tell you in this article a pinch of the beauty of Puglia.
The Puglia region, the calcined cities and the expanses of olive trees
Cesare Brandi in his presentation to the book Puglia of Editalia - Edizioni d'Italia, writes: “I had been many times in Puglia, since I went there for the first time in '35 or in '36 [...]. I had made the return by plane and then I was struck by the appearance of Puglia seeing it from above […]. I had an impression of it as of an abstract painting, so flat and bordered by the sea it didn't look like any part of Italy […]. Spring is a season of light […] and the light comes from the sea rather than the sun. Rosy and transparent envelops things […].
Spring, in Puglia, is an endless dawn. In the countryside the almond trees are dressed as brides and are intimidated among the olive trees, so dark and almost raven. Neither almond nor olive trees cast a shadow, the rays pass through them and the shadow unravels like sugar in water […]. Then, in the summer, the light is like that of rockets, the night: it is a celestial explosion and it roasts alive. And the starry nights heal the light ".
The Puglia region: Castel del Monte and King Federico II
When we talk about Puglia we cannot fail to mention the king of kings Frederick II. He was born on December 26th 1194 in Jesi. Son of Henry VI and Constance of Altavilla, undisputed character with an intriguing personality. Elected king for the third time by the German princes in 1212 in Frankfurt, he was also crowned in that year in the cathedral of Mainz. A passionate hunter and a man of strong intellectual curiosity, respectful of religious minorities, the king was rich in many faces. The enigmatic work of Frederick II is Castel del Monte, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Puglia region. But what is the peculiarity that fascinates tourists the most?
«It is Castel del Monte itself and the esoteric stories that have found so much luck on it» he says Angelo Minenna - president of the Agap Apulia Tourist Guides and Companions Association - "A more educated public, on the other hand, in my opinion is fascinated by other things, such as Fibonacci sequence in its architecture. The most representative king of the region was certainly Frederick II of Swabia. Although - according to recent historical publications - he spent little time in Puglia and more in Sicily and Germany ».
Ostuni: the white magic of Puglia
We arrive in a tangle of alleys from white houses: the sun is shining, so hot and the lime reflects the light of day. They look like they are made of cream. The light of the Puglia region, which then becomes the glow of the immense and caramelized night of stars. We look around: there is silence, an eternal pact between stillness and wonder. It is Ostuni, the white city, a sugared almond set on the hills and wrapped by the blue sea and climbing flowers that sweet unwind down from the balconies.
It is as ethereal as it is made of earth: the expanses of olive trees that can be admired looking from above recall the hands of farmers and the smell of olive oil spread on slices of Puglia bread. In Ostuni there is the Museum of pre-classical civilizations of the Southern Murgia. Inside, skilled guides like Giusy Errico, accompany the discovery of "Mother of Ostuni", the oldest woman in the world who lived about 28.000 years ago.
Ugento, its beaches and its mysteries
Ugento in Salento is among the favorite destinations of Italians on the move, according to the estimates of recent polls. City since enigmatic charm, Ugento reveals its essence in mystery of Terenzano, of which he speaks to us Angel Minenna: "It is a megalithic monument that is excavated inside and under the rocky ground of the homonymous Masseria, which is located close to San Giovanni Tower. It is a truncated cone construction, perhaps with a religious function, perhaps a trap for wolves. I like to think it's a token of love from one Ausonic princess towards Telemachus, son of Ulysses ».
«A French abbot of the 600th century, Fenelòn, tells that Telemachus, in one of his trips in search of his father, found hospitality in Ugento, at the time inhabited by the Ausoni. Here he loves a girl, daughter of the local king, but he has to get back on his journey. The two promise to marry and do so in a place where the Ausonic princess had chosen to erect a monument to their eternal love. Telemachus does not return to Ugento. The princess awaits him until his death. And the mystery is still there, telling us this sad story ».
Thanks to Pino Marchisella photographer for the photos.
