Apulia

Apulia
SE009
air or rail & our coach
8days
Stay and explore

1st day: Bari
Arrival at airport of Bari. Transfer to the hotel. Rest of day at leisure. Dinner and night.

2nd day: Castel del Monte – Barletta – Trani
After brekafast departure for Castel del Monte, one of the most impressive fortresses of the middle age, with it's eight towers built in a perfect circle. It was constructed during 1240 and lays with an incredible view of the surrounding landscape. Proceed for Barletta and visits  at the historical centre housing the “Koloss”, a 5mt high Byzantine statue, the Cathedral of  St. Maria Maggiore, etc.  Lunch at restaurant. Continue on to Trani and visits of the Cathedral S. Nicola Pellegrino, one of the most beautiful Roman church of south Italy. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

3rd day: Grotte di Castellanna – Alberobello – Locorotondo – Ostuni
After breakfast, drive to Castellana Grotte. Guided tour of the Caves, with marvellous and different shaped stalacites and stalagmites concretions. Afterwards to Alberobello, home of the “Trulli” (cylinderform buildings with their tips on their rooves). In the afternoon continue on  to Locorotondo and Ostuni, visit of the historical center and its Gothic Cathedral. Return to the hotel, dinner and night.

4th day: Taranto – Grottaglie 
After breakfast, drive to Taranto. This old city is situated between the gulf and the great port . Guided city tour: the Romanesque Cathedral, the Church San Domenico, the castle and the national museum. In the afternoon continue on to  Grottaglie, important center of viniculture, the Cathedral and castle, known for manufacturing ceramics. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.

5th day: Lecce – Galatina
After breakfast, drive to Lecce. The style  known as the baroque, takes on such graceful forms and such particular features as nowhere else. Because of this characteristic it has been called “the Florence of the Baroque”, as Gregorovius defined it.Guided tour : Piazza del Duomo with the Seminary, the Bishop’s Palace, the Cathedral and the Bell Tower, the Basilica del Rosario, the Church Santa Chiara, San Matteo, delle Grazie and the Basilica of the Holy Cross, which is the most important  monument of this period, the Abbey of Santa Mara a Cerrate, etc.. In the afternoon continue on  to Galatina. Visit  of the Franciscan Church Santa Caterina d’Alessandria and the Church San Pietro e Paolo. Return to the  hotel. Dinner and overnight.

6th day: Matera – Altamura – Gravina
After breakfast, drive to Matera in the Basilicata. This  old city overlooks a deep glen. The houses are carved in the limestone (Sassi). You will see the Romanesque-Apulian Cathedral, the Church San Domenico, San Francesco, San Giovanni Battista and Sant’Agostino with a magnificent view of the Tramontano Castle, the “Strada dei Sassi” and the rockhouses. Continuation to Altamura. Situated on the top of a hill about 500 m. high, it is one of Italy’s oldest settlements, as can be seen from the remains of the primitive, megalithic boundary walls. There visit the Cathedral with its gorgeous Romanesque Portal. After continue on to Gravina di Puglia, a little city facing a ravine. The streets climb tortuously on both sides of the slope which the Cathedral overlooks. Return to the hotel of Bari. Dinner and overnight.

7th day: Bari – Mola di Bari – Conversano
After breakfast, in the morning visit of Bari. Guided tour : the Romanesque Cathedral, dedicated to St.Sabin, the Bascilica of San Nicola, dedicated to the patron saint of the city, the Byzantine Castle, etc.. In the afternoon continuation to Mola di Bari, visit of the Cathedral.  Then on to Conversano, then  visit the Cathedral, the Church of San Cosma and Damiano, etc.. Return to the hotel, dinner and night

8th day: Departure
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport, according with the flight departure time.

 


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