southern italy & puglia

blackbat wrote:
> Apologies for reposting this but I someone must be able to offer
> something.
>
> I'm off to Puglia for 2 weeks soon with my wife and 3 young(ish)
> daughters. Staying between Ostuni and Brindisi. Would appreciate any
> advice on places to visit, recommended beaches, restaurants,
> nice towns etc.
> Also - any shopping malls or good markets for a bit of retail therapy?
> Obviously heard about the forest fires and drought - anyone got any
> first-hand experience?
> --

Forest fires were in Gargano.. Vieste and Peschici

you are far from those places

the nicest places to visit are

Trani
Barletta
Alberobello
Grotte di castellana ( the biggest caves in Italy )

castel del monte

then if you want to go down south.. Lecce is the capital town of Baroque in
Puglia.

Do not worry about food.. it is good and genuine everywhere at prices that
are very reasonable compared to other parts of Italy

Have a nice stay in Puglia

blackbat wrote:
> On Wed, 01 Aug 2007 22:39:00 +0200, B Vaughan<me@> wrote:
>
>> This is really one of the most beautiful medieval constructions I've
>> ever seen. Very simple and stark white.
>
>
> Sounds great. I believe Ostuni is supposed to be beautiful too if you
> want white and stark.

I am sorry I cannot recommend beaches.. as I am mostly interested in
monuments and architecture

But for sure in Puglia there will be lots of them.

As to grotte di catsellana, I was very lucky when I was a school boy to have
Prof. Anelli as a guide.
Prof. Anelli was the person that discovered them..
and entered them for the first time. In fact the main vault of Grotte di
castellana had collapsed. and they were used as a garbage damp.
He was telling us school boys how he went down with a rope.. and found out
what he had discovered.

It must have been in 1930.
Prof. Anelli eventually was Director fo Postumia Caves.. now in Slovenia..
then still Italy

Again.. I recommend a visit to Alberobello.. it is a plce that is unique in
Italy in its gender.. while Trani boasts one of the nicest cathedrals in
Italy.

if you are good in Roman History.. you can visit Canne della Battaglia..
where the main battle between Hannibal and the Romans took place.

It is not much.. actually.. but still something to visit as a curiosity