The structural deformation and the petroleum system of the southern Apennines thrust belt (SATB) are studied along a regional cross section traversing the Monte Alpi–Tempa Rossa fields. The SATB is interpreted as a system of three major structural blocks incorporating the basement and the sediments up to the Apulian platform deposits beneath an allochthonous complex. The Thrustpack software has been used to reconstruct the successive geometries and their progressive burial under foredeep sediments and the allochthonous complex. The bottom of the Apulian platform and the basement are involved in the deformation, and the thickness of the Permian interval, drilled in the foreland, is extended regionally. The timing of the deformation is constrained by the ages of the Pliocene foredeep sediments drilled on top of the Apulian platform. This record was also instrumental to propose a flexure scenario of the migrating foredeep-forebulge system, in which the slope of the topography had to be maintained to a realistic value. These assumptions and boundary conditions were tested by successive, two-dimensional kinematic and thermal reconstructions until a satisfactory match could be obtained with the available temperatures and vitrinite reflectance data. A final good thermal calibration has been obtained for the structural blocks of Monte Alpi and Tempa Rossa. However, the relatively poor quality of the temperature and vitrinite data available for the most hinterland structure questions the conclusions about the validity of our proposed geometry and assumed accumulated thrust displacement. The methodology used in this work is a useful tool in exploration, because it forces one to improve and update structural scenarios and to provide the grounds for highlighting important data gathering to further enhance an evaluation of the hydrocarbon potential at a basin scale. This latter point will be described in a companion chapter.