TOUR – APULIA AND MATERA

Meeting with the tour leader in Bologna and beginning of the trip by motor coach to Puglia by driving along the Adriatic Coast. Free lunch along the way. In the evening, arrive in Bari, the capital of Puglia. Hotel accommodation. Dinner and overnight stay

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning depart for Trani, a beautiful town north of Bari. Meet with local guide and visit the Cathedral of St. Nicholas Pellegrino that stands isolated above the sea. The spectacular location, the elegance of the
forms, the pinkish-white color of the Murgia stone, make it unique in the panorama of Apulian Romanesque. Built beginning in 1099, for more than a thousand years the church has been an important point of
reference. Tour of the interior. A short distance away is the Swabian Castle (exterior), a superb example of Apulian-Romanesque architecture, built by Emperor Frederick II to defend the city. Free lunch and time at leisure for a walk through the narrow alleys of the old town. In the afternoon we reach Castel del Monte, built by Frederick II around 1250, modeled after the Palatine Chapel in Aachen, Germany. The castle is nestled in the
Apulian landscape and is fascinating for its symbolic meanings; it is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Tour of the interior. At the end, departure for Alberobello. On arrival settle in the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to Alberobello, a quaint town in the Murge region famous for being almost entirely made up of trulli, small buildings of ancient origin made of limestone with a circular or quadrangular base with
conical cover. Tour of the trulli complex with entrance to the Sovereign Trullo, Siamese Trullo, St. Anthony's Church and Casa d'Amore. The trulli of Alberobello, which have become a symbol of Apulia, are listed by UNESCO in the
World Heritage Site. Free lunch. Continue to the ancient town of Ostuni, known as the "White City" due to its characteristic whitewashed houses in a landscape of centuries-old olive groves sloping down to the
sea. Companion walk through the bustling streets of downtown. Late afternoon departure for Lecce, a beautiful city of art in the heart of the Salento peninsula. Hotel accommodation. Dinner and overnight stay

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to Alberobello, a quaint town in the Murge region, famous for being almost entirely made up of trulli, small buildings of ancient origin made of limestone with a circular or quadrangular base with
conical cover. Tour of the trulli complex with entrance to the Sovereign Trullo, Siamese Trullo, St. Anthony's Church and Casa d'Amore. The trulli of Alberobello, which have become a symbol of Apulia, are listed by UNESCO in the
World Heritage Site. Free lunch. Continue to the ancient town of Ostuni, known as the "White City" due to its characteristic whitewashed houses in a landscape of centuries-old olive groves sloping down to the sea. Companion walk through the bustling streets of downtown. Late afternoon departure for Lecce, a beautiful city of art in the heart of the Salento peninsula. Hotel accommodation. Dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning departure for Basilicata and Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage city. Guided tour of the Sassi. These are rock-cut caves and shelters used as dwellings until a few decades ago, a historical synthesis of human presence from the primitive rock civilizations to the High-Medieval period to the present day. Visit a cave house and the rock church of Santa Lucia alle Malve. Free lunch during the visit. Continuation to Bari. Upon arrival walk with tour leader in the Bari Vecchia area. Transfer to hotel. Hotel accommodation. Dinner and overnight stay

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure via highway in the direction of Bologna. Free lunch along the way. In the evening, return to Bologna and the place of departure.