The region of Apulia extends between the Adriatic and the Ionic Sea, and it has always been a meeting point between Italy and eastern world. In the north is the Tavoliere, one of the main natural resources of Apulia, because of the growing of agricultural products. Along the whole coast, among wide beaches and cliffs, there are swimming areas and wonderful touristic centres. The wonderful natural park of Riviera del Gargano in the province of Foggia is constituted by a mountainous headland covered with elms and beech trees, and extends up to the suggestive cliffs of the Tremiti islands, with their uncontaminated nature and deep blue sea. Worth a visit are the lake of Varano, Monte Sant’Angelo, Rodi Garganico, Vieste and Peschici. Travelling downwards towards the south we come to Bari, whose golden age dates back to the 13th century, under the dominion of the Swabian kingdom in southern Italy. Most of the credit for the wonders of this area go to Frederick the Second, who caused the area to prosper, building some wonderful castles, among which Castel del Monte is the most fascinating and representative one, on account of its octagonal shape, devoid of walls and defensive structures, it emanates all the esoteric appealfound in the repeatition of the number 8 in its architectural elements. The province of Bari boasts centres of artistic and cultural interest such as Barletta or Trani, Bitonto and Ruvo di Puglia with their magnificent Romanic-style cathedrals. Unique in their kind are the Trulli of Alberobello cone-shaped dwellings in stone and calcareous rock. Brindisi, the most eastern port of the region, marks the end of the Via Appia: today it is a vibrant city and a tourist passageway to Greece; very beautiful is the Romanic church of San Giovanni al Sepolcro erected by the Templars on their return from the Crusades. Apulia culminates in the Salentina Peninsula in Lecce: in addition to the large Roman Amphitheatre, the highest level of Baroque expression is found in the old town of the city and in the Basilica di Santa Croce. Other beautiful places worth a visit are Manfredonia, the wonderful Otranto and Gallipoli, with the characteristic little island housing the old town. On the Ionic Sea is Taranto, important port and early colony of the Magna Grecia.