The coast itself was very marshy, malarial and uninhabitable. Except for a few port cities, such as Bari, Otranto, Gallipoli and Taranto, all settlements are therefore located inland.
The coastline of this region is largely swampy, diseased-prone, and uninhabitable. As a result, most towns and villages are located inland, with the exception of a few coastal cities like Bari, Otranto, Gallipoli, and Taranto.