PUGLIA AND SALENTO gran tour

1° Day Bari

Late afternoon arrival in the province of Bari. Evening meal and accommodation in hotel.

2° Day Trani – Bari

Breakfast in hotel then departure for a visit to Trani. Although even just the view of the Cathedral overlooking the sea is truly beautiful , that of the whole old part, the Jewish area with its three synagogues, the Swabian Castle three quarters of which sits on water, the nobles’ buildings that look onto the port, the ancient churches and the Court House are breathtaking , and you will treasure the memories in your heart for a long time. The town, once a marine and commercial centre, is now a mooring basin for sailing boats and motor boats, and has been built using the pinkish stone that is found naturally below the ground. You will always have this beautiful colour in your mind as well as a clear photo of this museum city just waiting for you to come and visit…..the Cathedral Basilica, the museum complex – Palazzo Lodispoto, the Swabian Castle, the Scolanova Synagogue, the Church of Ognissanti (also called Templari), the Church and Monastery of Santa Maria di Colonna, the diocesan Museum, the Church of San Giacomo, the Beltrani Building, the Church of Santa Chiara – Archaeology Site, the Caccetta Buiding, the Clock Tower, and the Church of Sant’Anna. Lunch in a restaurant, then transfer to Bari for a visit of the city: Basilica of San Nicola, the Old Part and the Swabian Castle. A walk along the streets in the city centre for some shopping in the elegant Via di Spagna. Return to hotel for evening meal and accommodation.

3° Day Alberobello - Fasano - Castellana

Breakfast in hotel then departure for Alberobello, the town that is famous for its “trulli” (the typical cone shaped, white houses made from dry stone), and that as well as being known all over the world for their unique beauty are also of great ethnic and sociological interest: Rione Aia Piccola, Rione Monti, the Trullo Church of Sant’Antonio, the Trulli Siamesi, the Trullo Sovrano, Casa Pezzolla, the Basilica of the Santi Medici Cosma and Damiano. Lunch in restaurant, then departure for Fasano and Castellana where you will visit the grottos. Their unique shape and size will be an unforgettable experience. Return to hotel for evening meal and accommodation.

4° Day

5° Day Lecce

Breakfast in hotel then departure for a tour of Lecce. A whole day spent going round the streets in this town is like being plunged into a reality of brightly lit up pavements that are so typical of these narrow lanes made of the white limestone that comes from Lecce. The bricks have been so skillfully placed one on top of the other that they have given birth to beautiful buildings like Palazzo dei Celestini, or the façade of the Church of Santacroce, and the Dome itself. You will visit: the di Cerrate Abbey, the Roman Amphitheatre, the Basilica di Santa Croce, the Steeple of the Dome, the Castle of Carlo V, the Church of San Niccolò and Cataldo, the Church of Gesù or del Buon Consiglio, the Church of Saint John the Baptist, the Church of San Giovanni Evangelista, the Church of San Matteo, the Church of Sant’Irene ai Teatini, the Church of Santa Chiara, the small Church of San Marco, Piazza Sant’Oronzo, the Dome, Ipogeo Palmieri, Piazza Sant’Oronzo e Sedile, Piazza Duomo, Porta Napoli, Piazzetta Arco di Trionfo, the Roman Theatre and the Torre del Parco. Stop for lunch during the tour. Return to hotel, evening meal and accommodation.

6° Day Otranto – Santa Maria Di Leuca – Gallipoli

Breakfast in hotel then departure for Otranto. You will visit the truly beautiful old part and the magnificent Cathedral where inside there is a very beautiful mosaic of Byzantine origin. After this you will set off along the beautiful eastern coast and head for Santa Maria di Leuca. Guided tour of the Villa La Meridiana stables (with their original stone floors, the ancient mangers, the bread cart) plus a cookery lesson held inside the stables entitled (“le mani in pasta”: you will be shown how “sagne torte”, “orecchiette”, “minchiareddhi”, “maritati” and “tria” are made) plus liquor tasting of “rosoli” and “ratafia” (made from prickly pears, rose petals and mandarins) selected from the “Dispensa di Caroli”; guided tour of exhibitions- if any – of the stables in Villa La Meridiana. Depending on availability, special opening and guided tour on request of the gardens and major floors with the mosaics, the ancient “stove” that still works perfectly, the “scale degli amanti” (“lovers’ stairs”), the round terrace, the sun clock, the birds’ water trough, the dovecote, and the “bagnarola”. Lunch in a restaurant in the area then departure for a tour of the famous town of Gallipoli. Return to hotel, evening meal and accommodation.

7° Day Lecce

Breakfast in hotel.