PUGLIA & BASILICATA
7 Days / 6 Nights
On arrival at Bari Airport transfer to your hotel near Alberobello. Once arrived, enjoy some free time to relax followed by dinner at your hotel.
Today you will visit villages such as Alberobello that feature buildings designed in the iconic trullo style. You will enjoy lunch together in a typical farm house of the region. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast this morning we include a full-day tour of Matera, whose “Sassi” houses are carved into the hillside. They are Basilicata’s most famous site and the town was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.
After breakfast in hotel depart for an excursion to visit Ostuni. You will also have the opportunity to sample the olive oil that is produced in this region.
Today’s excursion takes you to Lecce, “the Florence of the South” thanks to its splendid Baroque architecture. View the city’s highlights in the company of a local guide.
Today, full-day excursion to the coastal town of Trani and to the medieval fortress of Castel del Monte.
After breakfast transfer to Bari Airport for your return flight.
SAVORING SALENTO
9 Days / 8 Nights
Arrival at Bari Airport. Transfer to the hotel in Bari. Welcoming drink. Time at leisure. Typical Pugliese dinner at a centrally located restaurant and overnight in Bari.
After breakfast in hotel departure for Castellana Grotte and underground tour of the caves. Free lunch. In the afternoon return to Locorotondo for a wine (bianco Locorotondo)/oil tasting. Continue to the hotel for the check in, dinner and overnight.
After breakfast in hotel leave for Matera and tour of the ancient “Sassi”. Free lunch and then transfer to Altamura to visit its cathedral. In late afternoon return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Breakfast in hotel. Departure for Alberobello to admire its trulli. Then transfer to Martina Franca, where you will visit its Baroque city centre. Next you will move to Ostuni. Visit the historical centre, including its Gothic cathedral. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
After breakfast leave for Otranto. Free lunch and then have a half day guided tour of this very ancient city, including the Cathedral and the Aragonese Castle. In late afternoon accommodation in hotel, dinner and overnight.
Breakfast in hotel and departure for Lecce. Half day guided visit of this Baroque city. Free lunch and free afternoon. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
After breakfast board the coach and drive to Gallipoli. After the town sightseeing, move to Nardò, a Baroque town in the heart of the Salento. On the way back to Otranto stop in Galatina to visit its Romanesque church. In late afternoon return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Breakfast in hotel and departure for Manduria, the land of Primitivo di Manduria DOC. You will stop in a winery and taste an excellent Primitivo. Free lunch. Continue on to Bari for the check in hotel. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Return to the hotel and overnight.
Breakfast in hotel and then transfer by private coach to Bari Airport for your return flight.
FOOD, WINE & CULTURE TOUR OF SOUTHERN ITALY
8 Days / 7 Nights
Upon your arrival today, we will provide transfers from Naples airport to our hotel in Sorrento. This evening enjoy a welcome dinner before we embark upon our journey through southern and eastern Italy.
After breakfast we will meet our driver and transfer to the archaeological site of Pompeii. Later we will return to Sorrento for a fun pizza making class in a farmhouse. We will learn how to prepare the “real Italian pizza” and then taste it together with a glass of great local wine.
This morning transfer down to Sorrento Pier and board the fast ferry to Capri Island. Upon arrival, we will meet our local guide, who will be with us the entire day, then board a ferry to Capri Island. We will hop onto the funicular to the hilltop town of Capri, where we will take a walking tour of the public gardens. Lunch on your own. After lunch, weather permitting, we will board a private motorboat to the entrance of the Blue Grotto, otherwise we will drive up to Anacapri and visit Villa San Michele. This afternoon learn how to prepare Capri’s famous limoncello liqueur. Later in the afternoon we will board our ferry to Sorrento, then transfer back to our hotel. After an independent dinner, don’t miss tonight a gelato demonstration in a gelato shop in Sorrento, followed of course by a tasting of this delicious ice cream!
This morning depart for a guided tour of the Amalfi Coast. Visit and lunch in Amalfi. This afternoon enjoy a pastry experience in Amalfi! The tour will lead you in an ancient pastry of Amalfi where you will see the pastry chef showing you the tricks to making the island’s sweet specialties: the Caprese Cake and the Sfogliatella. Return to Sorrento and enjoy the evening at leisure.
Today depart for Matera. Enjoy a tour of Matera’s ancient Sassi, including several rock-hewn churches. Then start a local food and wine tour. First stop for a laboratory and tasting of IGP Matera’s bread at a bakery. It continues with a cheese tasting in a cheese factory, ending with a visit to an oil mill and a tasting lunch with the best local products washed down by the finest local wines, in particular the Matera’s Primitivo DOC. Typical dinner at a local restaurant in the centre.
Today’s drive takes us to the fortified hilltop town of Ostuni. In the afternoon you will go to a masseria where you will enjoy a hands-on pasta making class to learn to prepare the typical “orecchiette” pasta. At the end of the class you will sit down and taste the dishes you have prepared, together with a glass of local wine. Continue on to Alberobello for overnight.
Today we will visit villages such as Alberobello that feature buildings designed in the iconic trulli style. We will enjoy lunch together in a typical farm house of the region, where we will taste some of the typical local products, like extra virgin olive oil, pickles, cheeses, meats, honey, wines… Tonight we have a special farewell dinner featuring regional cuisine in an authentic setting.
Say “Arrivederci” to Italy as we provide a transfer to Bari Airport and you board your plane back home.
ITALIAN ADRIATIC COAST
A journey as long as a sea
10 Days / 9 Nights
Upon your arrival at Bologna Airport, transfer to your hotel centrally located in Bologna. Welcome drink at the hotel or a nearby bar and overnight Bologna.
Breakfast in hotel. Enjoy a guided walking tour of the city. Meet your guide and see Bologna’s main historical sites and vibrant markets during a 2-hour walking tour. In the afternoon enjoy a lesson to discover the secret of making fresh and delicious pasta. Enjoy making tortellini, fresh dough and tagliatelle with the expert “Sfogline”, Bolognese women specialized in the fresh pasta making. After the class, to complete the experience, you will taste what you’ve created for dinner. Overnight Bologna.
After breakfast depart for the “Food Valley” of Modena and Parma. Upon arrival enjoy an excursion to a cheese factory, where you will see all the working steps in the production of Parmigiano Reggiano. At the end of the visit, you will taste a glass of good, dry Lambrusco, and, of course, plenty of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese tastings. Then the tour moves to an “acetaia” to see the secrets of the famous Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena D.O.P. A tasting will follow. Now continue on to see the manufacturing of prosciutto. Here you will also enjoy full tasting of fresh slices of prosciutto di Modena D.O.P in a combination with some nice Lambrusco wine. Return to the hotel for a free evening and overnight.
Breakfast in hotel. This morning depart Bologna and the Emilia Romagna region for the Marche, stopping in San Marino for a visit. Then continue to Urbino, one of the cultural capitals of the Renaissance. After a guided tour of this important university town, check in your accommodation in the Urbino area, dinner and overnight.
After breakfast in hotel get ready to discover the Frasassi Caves. Then transfer to the coast south of Ancona and enjoy some time on the Conero Riviera. You will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant tasting traditional dishes. In the afternoon continue to Ascoli Piceno and check in your hotel. Free evening and overnight Ascoli Piceno.
After breakfast meet your local guide and visit the town of Ascoli Piceno. At the end of the tour take the chance to taste the typical Ascoli olives: delicious fried olives stuffed with meat. In the afternoon transfer to Offida where you will have a winery visit and after you will start a complete wine tasting combined with regional typical products, such as fried olives, moscioli, ham, cheese and bread. Return to the hotel in Ascoli Piceno for a free evening and overnight.
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning you will depart the Marche region for Apulia. Your first stop will be Castel del Monte to visit its important medieval castle. After the castle sightseeing you will reach Andria, where you will taste the characteristic “burrata” cheese. Check in your accommodation in the Alberobello area, dinner and overnight.
After breakfast transfer to Altamura. After a walking tour of the town you will stop in a bakery to taste the famous bread of Altamura. At last you will taste the “focaccia” stuffed with cherry tomatoes and olives, the wine-favored “taralli”, the typical “friselle” and a local type of pasta called “mostaccioli”. Afterwards we will head to Matera, the so-called town of “Sassi” (stones). After the town sightseeing, return to your accommodation in the Alberobello area for dinner and overnight.
Breakfast. This morning go visit Alberobello, protected as international heritage by Unesco for its trulli houses. Then, continue on to Ostuni and have a tour of this medieval town. Your journey continues to Cisternino, where you will have dinner in a typical “vuccerìa”, little butcheries offering genuine meat according to the local tradition to be char-grilled. Return to your accommodation in the Alberobello area for overnight.
After breakfast in hotel transfer to Bari Airport for your return flight.
ITALY RELIGIOUS TOUR
When travel meets spirituality
10 Days / 9 Nights
Arrival at Rome Airport and transfer to Assisi. During the trip we will make a small stop in Greccio and at the chapel of the Nativity. Lunch in restaurant. In the evening we will continue our trip to Assisi. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Breakfast in hotel. In the morning we will visit the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and the Porziuncula. Then we will proceed with a guided walking tour of Assisi. We will visit the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi and the Basilica of Saint Clare. Independent lunch. Afternoon at disposal. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
After breakfast depart for Cascia. Here we will visit the Sanctuary and the Monastery of Saint Rita, the church of Saint Francis and the church of Saint Anthony. Lunch in restaurant. In the evening we will continue our trip to Loreto. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Breakfast in hotel. In the morning visit to the Sanctuary of the Holy House, situated in the centre of the Great Basilica. After the lunch in restaurant transfer to Lanciano, where we will visit the Church of Saint Francis. We will continue towards San Giovanni Rotondo, where Saint Pío of Pietrelcina lived. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
After breakfast in hotel, we will visit the Sanctuary of Saint Pio, including his tomb and the former church. Then visit the new church. Lunch in restaurant. Later we will visit the caves of Saint Michael the Archangel. Then return to San Giovanni Rotondo. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
After breakfast in hotel, transfer to Bari. Here we will visit the Norman-Swabian Castle and the Basilica di San Nicola. Visit also the Cathedral of San Sabino, where the relics of this saint are situated. Lunch in restaurant. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
After breakfast in hotel, transfer to Naples. Tour of the city with a local guide. We will start from Spaccanapoli and its architectural wealth. Visit to the churches: Santa Chiara, San Domenico Maggiore, San Severo, the Duomo di San Gennaro and its piazzas: Bellini, Gesù Nuovo, etc. Later we will admire the Castel Nuovo, the Royal Palace and the Teatro San Carlo. Lunch in restaurant. Transfer to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
After breakfast in hotel, transfer to the port of Naples and take the ferry to Capri. We will enjoy a tour of the two parts of the island, Capri and Anacapri, and see the famous “Faraglioni”. Later we will board the ferry back to Naples. Transfer to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
After breakfast in hotel, transfer to Rome. Along the way we will visit the Abbey of Montecassino and its museum. Lunch in restaurant. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Breakfast in hotel and free time before boarding your private coach to Rome Airport for your return flight.