The region of Apulia (Puglia) forms the high heel of Italy's boot. Although besieged by usurpers for generations, earthquakes have acted as its greatest adversary. The 12th century Basilicata di San Nicola in Bari, Apulia's capital, survived the deadly tremors, however, and is where the supposedly magical bones of its namesake are entombed. San Nicola's reputation as a kind and generous man prompted his modern reincarnation of Santa Claus, known the world-over as the Father of Christmas.

The Santuario di San Michele in Monte Sant'Angelo, built in 600 AD, was the last refuge for crusaders before setting sail for strange and distant lands. Cone-shaped huts called trulli make up the peculiar city of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Made without mortar, these homes could be quickly toppled to avoid exorbitant land taxes. Lecce's version of baroque has earned its own space in architectural annals, and the archaeological museum in Taranto is among Italy's finest. Brindisi's Vieux Port marks the end of one of the oldest roads in Italy, the Via Appia, which commences in Rome.