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Take a map of Europe and look at it. A big mass of water on the south will strike your attention: it’s the Mediterranean Sea. In the middle of it you’ll see the unmistakable boot-shaped Peninsula called Italy. Find the heel of the boot. Done? Good, you have made the first step to get to know the wonderful region of Apulia.
Apulia, or Puglia in Italian, is the perfect destination for those who love a good climate, warm people, good food, stunning beaches and a millenary history. Would you like to spend some time in Apulia? Here are 5 steps to find yourself ready to embrace the culture and taste of the heel of Italy.
Something to eat
Pugliese traditional food is rich in different vegetables and seafood. Some products are so typical that are difficult to find even in other Italian regions. Maybe the dish that better represents Apulian tradition (at the eyes of other Italians) is Orecchiette, a fresh pasta shaped like a small ear (well, with a bit of imagination you can see an ear), hence the name: orecchiette = small ears. They are eaten with vegetables typically cime di rapa, a kind of broccoli.
Where you will be there, don’t forget to try:
Taralli (do you know breadstick? Taralli are basically breadstick rings, but they taste much, much better)
Burrata (a big mozzarella cheese that hides a creamy heart)
Pasticciotto (a sweet pastry filled with thick custard).
Watch a film
Mine Vaganti (Loose Cannons) is the film you need to see, for a quick preview of Apulia. It tells the story of Tommaso, who after a long time in Rome goes back to Lecce and his conservative family. Would Tommaso be able to tell his family that he’s gay or would he fight with his overprotective mother and his father – who wants his son to take over the management of the family pastificio (a pasta factory)?
The film is not only a window of some quintessential relations in a typical conservative Italian family, but also shows the beauties of the city of Lecce and Salento (the southern part of Apulia).
The film won the special prize of the jury at the Tribeca Film Festival 2010.
Some music
Puglia gave birth to some well-known Italian singers: from the rapper Caparezza, to the group Negramaro, and one of the most (nationally) famous singers, Al Bano. If you are not really into Italian contemporary music, remember that Apulia is also one of the Italian regions where traditional music is still alive and heart-felted.
The Pizzica and Tarantella are folk dances, executed on a fast rhythm made by tambourines. The legend says that the bite of the local tarantula makes you move uncontrollably and frantically. The remedy for the tarantula bite is to start dancing the Tarantella.
If you are in Apulia in August, you cannot miss the Notte della Taranta (the night of the tarantula) the popular festival completely dedicated to this music genre.
Prepare your eyes for Art
Thanks to its prominent position in the Mediterranean Sea, Apulia has been colonised by
numerous populations: Grecians, Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Swabians, Spanish…
The art and architecture of the territory reflects the long history of Apulia, with some highlight in the baroque Cathedral of Lecce and the castle of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, Castel del Monte in Andria. Frederick II and his castle are so important for Italian history, that are also represented on the 1 eurocent coin.
Get ready to go there
The climate in Apulia is mild during the winters and hot in summer; So don’t forget to take with you your sunglasses a good sun screen (and a bath suit: you can swim in the sea from mid-spring to mid-autumn, with a bit of luck). Remember that in summer the temperature can become really hot! Luckily enough, Apulia is often relieved by the wind!
In Apulia you can find breathtaking sceneries everywhere. Prepare a list of thing you want to visit and do once there.
And get ready to eat a lot of high quality food and wine. And don’t get surprised if the landscape is dominates by olive trees: olive oil is one of the pride of Apulia.
Want to visit Apulia during Summer? Why don’t you optimise your time by doing an internship there? Book our Summer Paid Internship in Salento, the perfect way to enrich your CV with an experience abroad, while spending time in a spectacular Mediterranean destination.
