About us

Friends of Puglia was created with the intention of being a point of reference for all Apulians living in the UK and also for any UK residents who have an interest in Puglia. We want to create a bridge between Puglia and the UK, and to aid cultural exchange and the movement of people. Thinking back to when we first moved to London, it might have helped to know the best things to do to get a job; to know about the best English colleges/schools and to receive advice on the best places to rent a flat. We learnt these things in time. But it would have been nice to have been able to ask someone for advice, someone who had lived through the same things. This additional support would have helped us settle into English life and made life a little easier.

But there is also another reason why we decided to found this association. Apulia has been experiencing an extraordinary period of growth and creativity. In particular, it is re-discovering its love for tradition, and evidence of this is the current trend which is uncovering Puglia’s artistic, musical and culinary roots. This trend is reflected in the increasing media coverage Puglia is receiving in Italy and in the UK. We do not wish to be sideline witnesses to this exciting development, and as Apulians living in the UK we long to be actively engaged in the process. On the one hand we want to promote an image of Puglia which outlines its best qualities and prime features; on the other, we wish to deliver our views and opinions on the changes that are taking place.

Finally, it is most important to emphasize that we do not wish to found an exclusive club: anyone and everyone is more than welcome to join, provided they share the objectives of the association. Under no circumstances will ones geographical or ethic origins, political views or religious beliefs come as impediment to joining the association.