On this full day of touring you will be able to check off the highlights of Apulia. Each nook and cranny build to form the history of the area which goes way back well into the 12th century. Often called 'The heel of Italy's boot', "Le Puglie" in the plural form, this region contains, in fact, many souls. It is a charming region that can be visited all year round and is suspended among nature, history, tradition, tastes and spirituality.

As the capital of Apulia and an important touristic destination and commercial harbor, Bari lies on a fertile coastal plain facing the Adriatic Sea. Begin with a tour of Bari Vecchia, the historic heart of Bari. You will see a spiderweb of narrow lanes and note the blue Adriatic that peeks at you between the fading buildings. This is the part of Europe that most love, something we do not have in North America - those old streets that were built long before cars became the mode of transportation, necessitating the widening of roads. Much of this part of your tour is done on foot, which is the best and often the only way to discover the old city.

Now time to take a ride, board your vehicle for a ride that will take you to the town of Ostuni. Before you arrive, you will pass the Norman Castle as well as its 12th-century cathedral, setting the tone of the area. Ostuni is striking as it is known as a white city, and that is what you see first. The downtown district is whitewashed, with flat-roofed houses. They are built on a hillside and linked together by tiny roads and often narrow staircases. It is easy to envision what life was like, and often remains, in these small clusters of homes where everyone knew each other.

The history of the town goes back to the palaeolithic period (50.000-40.000 years ago) by Neanderthal hunters who found shelter in numerous grottoes in the area. Traces of their history have been found here. As you learn about the history, it will not surprise you to hear that Ostuni was ruled by one powerful group after another as the location was considered important.

Today Ostuni has a very international population as it is appealing to British and German travelers in particular who come for long stays during the summer months. Again remember that these towns are best seen on foot, which you will do on this excursion.