Bari

In the region in the heel of the Italian "boot", Bari is the capital of Puglia. It's an off-the-beatean-path destination, tucked along the southern Adriatic. Bari is conveniently divided between its picturesque Old Town on a peninsula to the north and its modern city center to the south. The chief draws are architectural, especially the Romanesque 12th century San Nicola Church made of stunning white limestone and the imposing Swabian Castle.