Apulia

Arrival at Brindisi airport, meeting with the guide that will escort the group for the whole tour and transfer to Salento area. Accommodation in hotel Patria Palace 5* in Lecce (or similar).

Free dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, visit of Lecce, the Baroque capital of Puglia. The heart of the city is Piazza S.Oronzo, dominated by a Roman amphitheatre. Notable also Piazza Duomo and the Basilica di Santa Croce. In the narrow alleys there are the workshops of the most famous papier-machè artisans in Italy.

Typical lunch in restaurant, In the afternoon, visit of Otranto, the most Eastern town of Italy. The Cathedral dating back to XI century hosts the martyrs of the Turkish attack to Otranto and one of the biggest mosaics in Italy.

Return to the hotel. Free dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, transfer to Galatina to visit the beautiful church of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria. Later on, visit of the enchanting town of Gallipoli that overlooks the sea.

Seafood lunch in restaurant.

In the afternoon visit of Santa Maria di Leuca, the southernmost point of Puglia,  “de Finibus Terrae” where the Ionian and Adriatic seas meet themselves.

Return to the hotel. Free dinner and overnight.

 Transfer to Ostuni. Guided visit of Ostuni, the Medieval “White Town”, whose narrow whitewashed alleys guide the visitors to the majestic Cathedral in late Romanic and Gothic style. Lunch in restaurant.

Later on, visit of Alberobello, the fairy-tale Trulli capital, offering a unique sight of this typical dwellings, declared by UNESCO World Heritage.

Visit of Locorotondo. In Itria Valley area, this nice town deserves a visit: surrounded by its town wall, it is criss-crossed by narrow alleys that run between the quaint whitewashed houses that are enlivened by colourful floral displays adorning the balconies.

Accommodation in Hotel Palace 4* in Bari (or similar), Free dinner and overnight.

Transfer to Matera for the guided visit of the “sassi”, the typical peasant dwellings, carved out from the rock, and the cave churches with Byzantine frescoes.

Lunch in a typical restaurant.

In the afternoon visit of Bari, where the group will visit the downtown area, Saint Nicholas Basilica, the Cathedral of Saint Sabino and the Swabian-Aragonese castle.

Accomodation in 4* hotel in Bari. Free dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Visit Castel del Monte. The perfection of the forms, the harmony between elements originating from different cultures, the aura of mystery surrounding it, make of this imposing fortress a unique masterpiece, the reason why it was declared World Heritage Site. It was built by Frederick II of Swabia, versatile and ingenious personality, who followed the planning phase in all its details.

Lunch in restaurant.

In the afternoon visit of Trani, nice town with an enchanting cathedral over the sea, that is dedicated to San Nicola Pellegrino (Saint Nicholas the Pilgrim) and is an example of Apulian Romanesque architecture, combining with harmony and elegance, elements of styles from different periods and cultures.

Return to the hotel. Free dinner and overnight.

Transfer to Bari airport.