This city on the Adriatic coast of southern Italy was an ancient trading center, an embarkation point for the Crusaders during the Middle Ages, the southern end of the Appian Way; today it's a popular departure point for cruise ships to Greece and other p

Located on the Adriatic Sea, on the "heel" of Italy's boot, this port city has a deep, natural harbor that has defined its history for millennia. Its strategic position made it a crucial hub for the Roman Empire, which solidified its importance by making it the final destination of the famous Appian Way. A column near the waterfront still marks the terminus of this great Roman road, which connected the city directly to Rome and cemented its role as a vital center for trade and military passage to the East.

This role as a gateway to the eastern Mediterranean continued long after the fall of Rome. During the Middle Ages, the city's well-protected harbor became one of the most important embarkation points for knights, pilgrims, and supplies heading to the Holy Land during the Crusades. Thousands of soldiers, including those of the Sixth Crusade led by Emperor Frederick II, departed from its docks, making the city a household name throughout Christian Europe.

Today, Brindisi continues its ancient legacy as a primary connection point between Italy and its eastern neighbors (Review). While its military importance has waned, its harbor is bustling with activity. It serves as a major ferry terminal and a popular port of call for cruise ships, carrying countless tourists and travelers across the Adriatic to Greece and the Balkan Peninsula, echoing the very same sea routes that have made it a strategic crossroads for over two thousand years.