Living the GOOD LIFE for the REST OF YOUR LIFE!
YOUR MOVE TO PULIA, AND THE
ADRIATIC COAST OF ITALY!
When thinking about traveling to Italy, most people wax poetically over the most commonly known cities – Rome, Florence, and Venice. When they think about moving to Italy, Tuscany is high on the list, followed by Umbria. But there is another side to the country that is still undiscovered, for the moment, and that is the Pulia region, including the port cities of Brindisi and Bari.
Puglia, in the southern part of Italy and located on the Adriatic Sea, is second only to Naples in its commerce. Bari, a port and university town, is spreading its wings and inviting foreigners to sample its wares. Many British, American and Canadian citizens are doing just that and have settled throughout the region!
Bari sports an Old Town, situated on a peninsula that straddles two harbors. The historic Basilica of Saint Nicholas is only one of the three most noted structures in the area. A thriving nightlife is found in the Murattiano section, also the heart of the city, while the other spokes of the city stretch out into the countryside.
With a history linking it to Ancient Greece and a language that is a cross between Italian and Greek, Pugllia is a melting pot of cultures, languages, food, and history. Sacked, bombed, ruined and risen again, the region has been a home to pilgrims for centuries, including those discovering it in the twenty-first century.
As with most areas of Southern Europe, Puglia enjoys a climate akin to that of the desert. Winters are mild and summers are hot and dry. It has been known to snow in the area, however!
A most enjoyable reason to consider Puglia for A Change of Lifestyle is its cuisine. Melding the best of the Mediterranean treasures of the sea, with the fertile countryside that produces luscious fruits and vegetables, the local cuisine is unforgettable. With an aqueduct now flowing through the interior of the Pulia region, it has become one of the largest producers of tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, olives, eggplant, artichokes, almonds, cherries and citrus.
The Pulia region also produces one-tenth of the European wine output and its olive oil is renowned!
Based on the wheat, olive oil and wine that the region produces, tables are accustomed to displaying a variety of pasta, calzone, cheeses and polenta. Seafood is also a stand-out, and fresh fish, mussels, sea urchins and octopus dominate many dishes. All meals are offered with a selection of locally produced wine!
An enchanting feature of the Pulia Region is its Trullis, stone dwellings that were constructed without cement or mortar (to avoid taxes) and are capped with a conical roof. Atop the cone is a symbol selected by the Trullo’s owner and pertinent to the occupant.
Each cone represents a room in the home, and the structure is a popular one for those interested in restoration, as many people from Germany and Britain have already discovered. Prices for trulli that have not been restored are a few thousand dollars, while fully functioning trulli can be in the neighborhood of $50,000 US. Trullis are protected under the UNESCO World Heritage Law, and the guidelines for restoration are strict. But the result can be a fun, interesting bit of Pulia's history!
With universities, industry, flourishing agriculture, a strong economic base and the countryside just minutes from the center of any town, Puglia is a welcoming change for those considering living in Italy. Property is still affordable, food costs are low if you purchase your pantry needs at the local fresh markets, and the lifestyle is that of a city, beach town, countryside locale all rolled into one. What else could you ask for when considering A Change of Lifestyle?