The Apulian region and coastal instability problems

A brief reconstruction of the paleogeographic evolution of Central Mediterranean area has been described to focus the attention to the Southern Apennines thrust belt. The Central Mediterranean area is a complicated puzzle from the point of view of plate tectonics. The instability processes affecting the Apulian coastal areas and the related hazard have been discussed with special reference to the rocky coasts. The rocky cliffs are affected by erosional processes, which are worsened by complex mechanisms of interaction between the gravitational forces and the sea actions, leading to coastal retreats.