The Monti Dauni is the hilly zone of Puglia in the province of Foggia which borders three other Italian regions; Abruzzo Molise and Campania. Notable international newspapers and magazines are always looking for the last 'undiscovered' part of Italy, but this zone might just be it. I was invited there as a guest of the Chamber of Commerce of Foggia as part of the SIAFT (Southern Italy Agrifood and Tourism) opinion leader trip.

Not only did we go, we did the whole trip by 4x4 off road vehicles, such is the terrain which remains off limits to the casual tourist. After taking the provincial road from central Foggia and passing Lucera, first stop was Pietra Montecorvino (pictured above) to pick up the Mayor. But more about the majestic castle and tower later. We then proceeded to Celenza Valfortore.

Delicious Italy has been to the Gargano promontory in north Puglia, province of Foggia, on two occasions. The first was a short 2 day trip organised by the parish in Rome with a pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo, where we stayed, and further short visits to Monte Sant'Angelo for the Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo, and the Abbey of Santa Maria di Pulsano.

The second trip was courtesy of the SIAFT (Southern Italy Agrifood and Tourism) invitation we received in June 2011. But with one big difference, the visit this time was by light aeroplane over the whole Gargano zone. For the record, the flight track list was the following:

Monopoli sits tranquilly overlooking the Med much as it must have done when it was part of the Marine Republics of Amalfi and Venice between the 11th and 15th centuries. It is not diifficukt at all to imagine how it must have been 500 years ago.

Head straight to the small port, or Molo Vecchio, where the traditional fishing boats still shore up for the night and marvel at the recently restored 'golden' walls of the castle which contrast spectacularly with the blues of the of the sea and sky. This and the surrounding fortifications date from 1552.

One culinary adventure per day. Such is life in Puglia, a beautiful region with hundreds of miles of coastline surrounding this peninsula which accounts for its wealth of seafood, greater olive, grape and wheat production than any other region in Italy, and a host of indigenous pastas, cheeses and meats. Join us and like all our clients, you will say "I have never tasted better or fresher food!"

Do you know your way around the province of Taranto? Perhaps not. The province borders Basilicata in the west and curves eastwards before eventually reaching the province of Lecce, the heel of Italy. Its northern borders are split 40/60 between Bari and Brindisi.

The Brindisi tourism authorities describe their territory as: 'a land kissed by the sun, a territory generous in nature, art and history, a beautiful coast, made to measure for holidaying, whether you prefer to laze on the beach or follow new paths where you can discover caves, castles, cathedrals, rock dwellings, trulli and old manor houses'.

That combination of faith, superstition, folklore and religious ritual linked to the countryside can still be experienced all over Italy. Not least in Puglia where the annual festivals devoted to the patron saints are still celebrated with intensity and local pride.

This is because such events still mean something and are rooted to the land and values of the local people. In the province of Bari, the best time to see them is during the holiday periods, especially mid summer when they coincide with the return to the homeland of many people who work far away during the rest of the year.

In an area of Italy more often associated with fish and the sea for the casual visitor, the cultivation of olives is one of Puglia's greatest resources and economic certainties.

To the extent that it can claim to be an emblem for the area and indeed most of Italy's mass consumed olive oil originates from the region.

It all started in the 18th century when a young Charles Bourbon proposed a reduction in taxes to the larger landowners in return for their help in cultivating olives.

Today, 50 million olive trees exist from those initial saplings. There are around 240,000 farms operating in the sector.

The province of Lecce has, without a doubt, a Mediterranean look about it. Its hot climate and vicinity to the sea, added to being so far south, are ideal for the growth of "weed" and olive trees.

The entire territory is covered with olive groves, from which the delicious Pugliese olive oil is pressed. In many parts the rows of olive trees are alternated with large vineyards; vine-growing provides one of the area's main sources of income.

The territory of Leuca, the very tip of Puglia, the so called heel of Italy, is characterised by stones walls, straw stacks and secular olive trees. These are powerful images made all the more evocative by the smell of origano, thyme, wild fennel and the salty sea.

Spectacular beauty which can be taken in with a round trip of the folliwng towns and hamlets.

Start in Cagliano del Capo where the roads are squeezed between the sea and the bare sun drenched rocks before arriving at the promontory of Ciolo. Here you can admire a series of gorges which head deep inland. They were natural shleters for the first primitve inhabitants of the zone, in particular the Cipolliane and Prazziche coves or caves.