Travel GuidePuglia, Basilicata & Calabria

Puglia, Basilicata & Calabria

Puglia, Basilicata and Calabria encompass the area we could call the heel, instep and toe of the “boot”. The region covers all the southern part of Italy and borders Campania and Molise. Puglia is renowned for its long, attractive coastline and for its ancient cities with a vivid past; Basilicata touches two seas and includes forests and mountains; and Calabria, which almost kisses its neighbouring Sicily, is a series of Greek, Latin, African and Norman influences. It is well-known for being a poorer region but in truth there is a lot of wealth to explore and landscapes to admire. The trulli from the Valle d’Itria, the sea caves in Polignano a Mare, the lovely beaches and isolated coves of the Gargano promontory, the sassi in Matera and the Baroque churches in Lecce are just a few examples. The white-washed buildings and weatherworn balconies, spread through the ancient cities and coasts that provide shelter to the fishermen are a sign you have reached the Italian South. The picturesque villages and vibrant cultures take you back in time to relive the traditions of ancient times. And if there is still a part of Italy where the scooters ride up and down the mediaeval streets and lethargy leads to a siesta in the middle of the afternoon, then you will find it in Calabria. It is a less touristy and less globalised region than the others in this part of Italy, but it has a strong cultural background – a long history of poverty, mafia activity and emigration. Inland, there are more mountainous areas and three national parks, whose museums have stories to relate. The region’s gastronomy is called “cucina povera”, which translates as “cooking of the poor”. But don’t be fooled by the name: this is a ‘field to fork’ approach to cooking and uses simple but extremely tasty recipes.