UNESCO sites in Puglia, Italy

The region of Puglia is located in the south-easternmost part of Italy. With a coastline on both the Adriatic and the Ionian Seas which extends for over 800 kilometres, it forms what is known as the “heel of Italy’s boot” and is home to three Cultural World Heritage sites.

This mesmerizing construction stands on a rocky hill which rises above vineyards, olive groves, forests and fields of orchids. It is a renowned masterpiece of medieval architecture, erected in 1240 by Emperor Frederick II Hohenstaufen, who was known for his eclectic personality.

The small Puglian town of Alberobello is famous for its distinctive cone-roofed stone buildings, known as trulli. These limestone dwellings are remarkable examples of drywall (mortarless) construction, a prehistoric building technique which is still in use in this region.

While the town is home to only 10,000 inhabitants, more than 1,600 of these structures can be found here. They date back as far as the 14^th century, although it is likely that the construction of the trulli began around a thousand years ago, when the area was first settled.

Of all the sanctuaries dedicated to the Archangel Michael, the Sanctuary of St Michael in Monte Sant’Angelo is one of the world’s oldest. The saint is said to have appeared here three times, converting the site into a destination for pilgrims, kings, popes and historians.