DAY 1, Thursday - Depart for Italy
Depart for Italy
DAY 2, Friday - Arrive in Bari
Welcome to Puglia, a spectacular expanse of land that juts out into the turquoise Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Arrive in the energetic port city of Bari and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Your tour will begin with an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager at approximately 6 PM, followed by dinner. We recommend that you select flights which arrive no later than 4 PM
Overnight: Bari
Meals: Dinner
DAY 3, Saturday - Bari's Old Town
The exploration of Bari starts in the revitalized narrow streets of Bari's Old Town, Bari Vecchia. View the Bari Cathedral and the stunning Romanesque Basilica of San Nicola, housing the relics of St. Nicholas, known as Father Christmas. Next, your historical walking tour reveals the 12th century Castello Normanno-Svevo, built by the Normans. Have free time to explore Bari's pretty squares, admire the architecture, or sip an espresso at an outdoor café. Perhaps take the optional tour to the delightful town of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which introduces the Apulian traditional dry-stone huts known as Trulli. The evening is yours to indulge in traditional Pugliese food at one of the many trendy restaurants and cafés lining the buzzing piazzas
Optional: Alberobello and its Trulli (PM)
Overnight: Bari
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4, Sunday - Masseria Lunch, Lecce
Begin your day with a visit to a beautiful local farmhouse, called a Masseria, to savor a lunch of regional specialties including local wine. Afterward, in Lecce, stroll along 300-year-old cobblestone streets past exquisite Baroque architecture and understand why Lecce is fondly named the "Florence of the South." View Piazza del Duomo and the Roman amphitheater dating back to the 2nd century BC. Then, admire the masterpiece of Southern Baroque in the Basilica of Santa Croce. Have time to wander on your own and consider dining at one of the quaint trattorias in the city center
Overnight: Lecce
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 5, Monday - Full Day in Lecce
The day is yours to discover Lecce on your own, or choose to participate in the optional tour through the Salento Peninsula. A picturesque drive takes you all the way to the tip of the Italian heel, where the Adriatic Sea meets the Ionian Sea. Rocky coastline, beaches, fishing villages, and watchtowers are waiting to be experienced in the most remote area of the Puglia region. After your lunch featuring local products and dishes, continue along the coast to Otranto, the easternmost Italian town. Walk the historic center surrounded by ancient walls at your own pace and try a gelato before returning to Lecce
Optional: Full Day Salento & Otranto with Lunch
Overnight: Lecce
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 6, Tuesday - Matera
Today, learn the secrets of extra virgin olive oil, the "green gold" that enhances the flavor of almost any Mediterranean dish, as you travel to fascinating Matera. Here, learn about Matera's roots connecting to the Paleolithic Age as you explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mysterious Sassi, ancient stone dwellings carved into rock, are believed to be the first human settlements in Italy. Over the centuries, the Sassi were adapted into family homes. Tonight, dinner is at your hotel in Matera
Overnight: Matera
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 7, Wednesday - Mt. Vesuvius and Pompeii en route to Naples
A morning drive takes you to the remarkable archaeological site of Pompeii, located at the base of Mount Vesuvius, a city that was frozen in time under a thick carpet of volcanic ash almost 2,000 years ago. Walk through the original sloping streets of Pompeii and view the tragic fossils of people attempting to escape beside their children and dogs, along with the preserved ruins of the Temples of Apollo and Jupiter, and the Forum. Continue to Naples and spend the afternoon at leisure
Overnight: Naples
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 8, Thursday - Naples Historic Center
Start the day with a panoramic tour of the city to discover its beauty. The city overlooks the bay of Naples, extending from the Sorrento Peninsula to the Volcanic area of the Campi Flegrei, and its skyline is dominated by the majestic Mount Vesuvius. Continue to explore the historic center with its narrow streets and vibrant piazzas. The afternoon is at leisure to experience the city at your own pace. Perhaps visit the Naples National Archaeological Museum, the underground city, or take a stroll on the seaside promenade. Tonight, at dinner, bid farewell to your Tour Manager
Overnight: Naples
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 9, Friday - Depart Italy
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast
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provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates
are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators.
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