History of Apulia Italy - Travel Guide & Information

This description page of Apulia, will guide you in planning your trip to Italy and help you to find useful travel information about the history of this Italian Region.

This region, once inhabited by the illiriche and Greek populations, included the anciently territory of Apulia ( Puglia) and Calabria.  The Romans, who invaded the region during the war against the Sanniti and Pirro (3rd and 4th centuries BC), founded various colonies, such as Luceria, Venusia, and Brundisium.  Economically healthy in both agriculture and commerce due to its strategic position between the East and Rome, to which the region was connected by the Via Appia, Apulia ( Puglia ) played an important role in the Roman age.

With the diffusion of Christianity between 3rd and 4th centuries, there were many dioceses founded in Apulia ( Puglia ) under the powerful Constantinople.  In the following centuries the region was attacked by Longobards, Francs and lastly Saracens to whom the surrundered completely. Only Bari succeeded in maintaining its own autonomy.  In the 9th century, with the resumption of the Empire of East, Bari, Taranto and others cities returned under the power of the Byzantines. Lecce became an important cultural and religious center.  But soon the cities matured, and they were organized against Bisanzio to obtain independence.  Roberto il Guiscardo,  became duke of Puglia and Calabria in 1059 and, in 1071, conquered Bari and Brindisi, realizing the territorial unification of the region.

Thanks the foundation of the Reign of Sicily and Puglia in 1130, the region began a period of important economic and cultural growth with the construction of harbors, cathedrals, fortresses and city walls. Puglia endured an ulterior civil development under Guglielmo II that, holding good relationships with Venice, facilitated commerce with Federico II.  From 1264 to 1435, Puglia fell under the domination of Anjou and still more under Aragonenses (1442-1503), the process of feudalism enforced the decline of the region and caused strong inner conflicts.

With the Bourbons in 18th century, there were some improvements. But during the Restoration, the Bourbons did not know to react effectively to brigandage, and with their fall, Puglia was annexed to the Reign of Italy in 1860.

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