National Geographic Traveler: Puglia

With its long, narrow shape, Puglia has always acted as a bridge in the Mediterranean. To the north, it is crowned by the wild greenery of the Gargano promontory, the Daunian Mountains, and the sweet hills that roll down to the Tavoliere delle Puglie. With its infinite seafront and old city, medieval churches and genuine cuisine, Bari is the metropolitan city of the region. The Romanesque cathedrals line the Adriatic coast. Numerous beach resorts can be found as you wind along from the Gargano coast to Salento; the water is always crystalline, perfect for swimming or a refreshing dip. Further inland, Salento offers little villages of white houses and historical, Baroque-decorated town centers with dry stone walls bordering long bike paths.