15D/14N - 2020 Wonders of Puglia, Campania and Calabria

day 1 wed Bari

Arrival at Bari. Independent transfer to your hotel Meeting with the other participants. Dinner and overnight.

day 2 thu Bari - Ostuni - Lecce

Breakfast and morning free time to visit the old town of Bari. At leisure for lunch.. Continue to Ostuni, a jewel of architecture better known as "the white city" for its white walls and its typical all white architecture. In the afternoon, continue to Lecce. Dinner and overnight

day 3 fri Lecce - Gallipoli - Lecce

Visit of the city called the "Florence of the South" and known for its famous art and architecture from the late baroque, revealed in the sixteenth century and the first half of the seventeenth century. You can admire the beautiful and rich decoration of the church of S. Oronzo, the Basilica of the Holy Cross and the Palace Celestini . On the corner of S. Oronzo admire the Roman amphitheater, the II Century ADC column of S. Oronzo, 29 meters high and a statue of the Saint on the top. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon departure to Gallipoli , wonderful town surrounded by ramparts on the sea. Return to Lecce. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

day 4 sat Lecce - Alberobello – Polignano a Mare - Bari

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart to Alberobello, the city of Trulli, Unesco's heritage with its typical houses with cone roofs used as houses or to store work utensils. Visit Alberobello and then lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon continue to Polignano a Mare, an old fishing village where sailors still breathe air. Its white houses contrast with the blue Adriatic Sea and its many cliffs and balconies make this coast a landscape worth admiring. Continue to Bari..

day 5 sun Bari - Trani - Castel del Monte – Trani-Molfetta- Bari

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Castel del Monte for the visit of the fortress, undoubtedly one of the most popular constructions of the times of Emperor Frederick II. Built around 1240 Castel del Monte becomes the permanent seat of the court of Federico Hohenstaufen, sovereign at three years of age of the Kingdom of Sicily. The monarch was called "Stupor Mundi" for his vast and complete culture, and left in his castle the imprint of the mystery that surrounded his figure.

Continue to Trani for the visit of the Cathedral over the sea. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon we will stop at the unknown but charming Molfetta before returning to Bari.

day 6 mon Bari - Matera - Naples

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Matera internationally known for its "Sassi ". The Sassi are original settlements of prehistoric (troglodyte) and apparently the first “houses” in Italy. These houses excavated in the rock are characteristic of Basilicata and Puglia regions. Many of these "houses" are really only caverns, and the streets in some parts, go through the roofs of other houses. One of the peculiarities of this ancient city is its similarity to the ancient cities near Jerusalem. It was captured by the eyes of directors and film studios. Matera is also Unesco heritage. Free time for a snack and departure to Naples. Arrive in Naples . Dinner and overnight

day 7 tue Naples-Capri - Naples

Departure to Naples to board the Jet foil that takes us to the magnificent island of Capri, resting place of Roman emperors, that surprises with its landscape of cliffs and caves. Highlights include the Marina Grande and multiple scenic spots from where you can enjoy spectacular views. Free lunch. Jet Foil return to Naples.

day 8 wed Naples-Pompeii - Tropea area

Breakfast at hotel and departure for Pompeii, where we will visit the excavations of this famous city that was completely buried by an eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD departure to the area of Tropea stopping en route for lunch (not included). Arrival in Tropea. Free time to visit the old town. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

day 9 thu Tropea - Pizzo - Tropea

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Pizzo. Visit to the castle where Murat was killed.Also visit the Church of Piedigrotta located on the sea and built in the tufa. Free time for lunch. In the afternoon return to Tropea, the former "Tropis" Roman city. Visit the Romanesque Cathedral (XII century), which preserves the sacred image of Our Lady of Rumania, XII century Byzantine icon. Tour to the historical center with its panoramic balconies and typical boulevards. Visit the Church of Santa Maria dell'Isola and the sea area of the city. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

day 10 fri Tropea - Capo Vaticano - Scilla - Reggio Calabria

Departure to Scilla through the fascinating landscape of the "Costa Viola" and in particular Capo Vaticano with beautiful landscapes on the sea. Arrive in Scilla and visit to Chianalea, the ancient fishing village. Visit the Castle Ruffo and the Church of St. Rocco. Free time for lunch in a restaurant in Mount St. Elias (590 meters above sea level). In the afternoon departure to Reggio Calabria.

day 11 sat Reggio Calabria

After breakfast. Visit of the city, the former capital of the region, and the National Museum of Magna Grecia, where we can admire the famous "Bronzi di Riace". After enjoying the breathtaking views defined by Gabriele D'Annunzio as "the most beautiful kilometer in Italy", we will visit the Roman Baths, the Greek fortifications and the Cathedral. Arrival at the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

day 12 sun Reggio Calabria - Gerace - Stilo - Catanzaro Lido

Today we head to Gerace: city tour of the medieval village which will allow us to admire some of the older churches and the famous Romanesque cathedral, the largest in Southern Italy. Free time for lunch. Crossing the "Costa del Jazmin" we will reach Stilo, the home of the famous philosopher Tommaso Campanella. Visit the famous "Cattolica" late Byzantine art monument, unique in Western Europe. Continue to Catanzaro Area.

day 13 mon Catanzaro Lido - Le Castelle (Isola di Capo Rizzuto) – Sila Mountains - Cosenza

Breakfast at the hotel and then departure for Punta Le Castella, better known as “Le Castella”, small town of Calabria, where we will visit the famous Aragonese Castle, which has been the scene of many movies thanks to its position on the sea and its charm. Departure for Cosenza through the Sila Mountains, which represent the green heart of Calabria and Southern Italy. Wonderful and unexpected mountain landscapes await us with an uncontaminated nature. Stop in the small town of Camigliatello Silano for a walk on the main street or to buy typical products of the area. Arrival to Cosenza

day 14 tue Cosenza - Paola - Cosenza

Breakfast at the hotel. Sightseeing tour of the city of Cosenza. In the Fountain of the thirteen channels you can drink water from the aqueduct of Zumpo in the Sila Mountains . Throughout the course Telesio there is the House of Culture and the Duomo of 1100 a.C., while in one of the seven hills you can admire the figure of the Castello Svevo , imposing fortress which was the ancient blazon of king of Sicily and Holy Roman Emperor Germanic Frederick II, called " Stupor Mundi ". Departure to Paola . Free time for lunch en route . Afternoon visit of the town of Paola , known for her strategic position on the Tyrrhenian Sea and for being the city of San Francisco de Paula. The main attraction is the Shrine of St. Francis of Paula, located in the upper part of the city, in a valley bordered by a river and its lush vegetation. It is a pilgrimage destination for all of southern Italy, especially in the region in which San Francesco is patron. Return to Cosenza. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

day 15 wed Cosenza - Lamezia Terme

Your tour concludes after breakfast

Inclusions: accomodation 4* hotels, - Half-board accommodation with buffet breakfast, 10 dinners (without drinks) 4 linches (without drinks), transportation on deluxe motor coach or minivan accordingly to the number of passengers Note: under 7 participants, the trip could be done with English/Spanish speaking driver/guide.

assistance during the whole tour by a Spanish and English speaking tour guide except on last day , Assistance in Spanish and English FROM 7 participants throughout the tour (multilingual), With less than 7 participants, the tour takes place without tour guide, Panoramic visits (no local guides) in Bari, Ostuni, Alberobello, Castellana Grotto, Trani, Castel del Monte, San Giovanni, Naples, Capri, Calabria (all cities), English/Spanish local guide for visit to Lecce, Matera and Pompeii, Ferry to Capri roundtrip, entrance to the Castellana Grotto, entrance to the Castle Ruffo Scilla, tax

Exclusions: flights, arrival & departures transfer, drinks during meals, entrance fees except those indicated as per included, tips, extras and anything not specifically mentioned in the program, porterage

Hotels: Bari- 4* Oriente / Hotel Garden Inn, Lecce- 4* Grand Hotel Lecce/ Hotel President / Hotel Delle Palme, Naples 4* -Hotel Naples / Hotel Palazzo Salgar/ Hotel NH Ambassador/ Hotel Palazzo Caracciolo, Tropea area 4* Hotel Tropis, Hotel Cala del Porto , Reggio Calabria 4* Hotel E-Hotel/ Hotel Excelsior/ Hotel Altafiumara/ Hotel Masoa 3*, Catanzaro 4* -Grand Hotel Paradiso/ Hotel Palace - Cosenza area/Rende 4* - Ariha Hotel /Hotel Italiana/Hotel Royal, or similar