Italy declared neutrality at the start of World War I, but by July 1915, the Triple Entente had convinced the Italians to enter the war against the Central Powers.
Admiral Paolo Thaon di Revel, the Italian naval chief of staff, believed that Austro-Hungarian submarines could operate too effectively in the narrow waters of the Adriatic, which could also be easily seeded with minefields.
The threat from these underwater weapons was too serious for him to use the fleet in an active way.
Instead, Revel decided to implement blockade at the relatively safer southern end of the Adriatic with the main fleet, while smaller vessels, such as the MAS boats, conducted raids on Austro-Hungarian ships and installations.

The closest Puglia came to engaging a hostile vessel came on 27 January 1915, when while patrolling off Durazzo, she encountered the Austro-Hungarian scout cruiser Novara, but the Austro-Hungarian ship retreated without either vessel firing a shot.
In late February 1916, Puglia and the cruiser Libia covered the withdrawal of elements of the Serbian Army from Durazzo.
The Austro-Hungarian Army was pursuing the retreating Serbians, and Puglia provided gunfire support to delay the Austro-Hungarian advance.
She was converted into a minelayer later that year.
She entered service in this role on 1 July, and she remained on active duty through the early 1920s.

After the war, Puglia had been assigned to patrol the Dalmatian coast.
On 11 July 1920, men from the ship became involved in the unrest in Split.
During a violent confrontation with a group of Croats, the ship's captain and a sailor were shot and killed.
Puglia was sold for scrapping on 22 March 1923.
While the ship was being dismantled, the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini donated the ship's bow section to the writer and ardent nationalist Gabriele D'Annunzio, who had it installed at his estate as part of the Vittoriale degli italiani museum.
Italy declared neutrality at the start of World War I, but by July 1915, the Triple Entente had convinced the Italians to enter the war against the Central Powers. Admiral Paolo Thaon di Revel, the Italian naval chief of staff, believed that Austro-Hungarian submarines could operate too effectively in the narrow waters of the Adriatic, which could also be easily seeded with minefields. The threat from these underwater weapons was too serious for him to use the fleet in an active way. Instead, Revel decided to implement blockade at the relatively safer southern end of the Adriatic with the main fleet, while smaller vessels, such as the MAS boats, conducted raids on Austro-Hungarian ships and installations.
The closest Puglia came to engaging a hostile vessel came on 27 January 1915, when while patrolling off Durazzo, she encountered the Austro-Hungarian scout cruiser Novara, but the Austro-Hungarian ship retreated without either vessel firing a shot. In late February 1916, Puglia and the cruiser Libia covered the withdrawal of elements of the Serbian Army from Durazzo. The Austro-Hungarian Army was pursuing the retreating Serbians, and Puglia provided gunfire support to delay the Austro-Hungarian advance. She was converted into a minelayer later that year. She entered service in this role on 1 July, and she remained on active duty through the early 1920s.
After the war, Puglia had been assigned to patrol the Dalmatian coast. On 11 July 1920, men from the ship became involved in the unrest in Split. During a violent confrontation with a group of Croats, the ship's captain and a sailor were shot and killed. Puglia was sold for scrapping on 22 March 1923. While the ship was being dismantled, the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini donated the ship's bow section to the writer and ardent nationalist Gabriele D'Annunzio, who had it installed at his estate as part of the Vittoriale degli italiani museum.
Italian cruiser Puglia