THE BEST OF PUGLIA
Indicative itinerary subject to change until departure date
Day 1 Bari
Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure to start visiting the city. Dinner and Accommodation.
Day 2 Bari / Trani / Monte Sant'Angelo / Gargano
Breakfast. Departure for Trani and visit of its elegant historic center, famous for its lively sports harbor. Walk through its light stone alleys to the cathedral of St. Nicholas the Pilgrim. Time at leisure and lunch. In the afternoon, visit to Monte Sant'Angelo with entrance to the sanctuary, and to the cave of St. Michael the Archangel, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arrival at the hotel and dinner. Accommodation.
Day 3 Gargano / Vieste / San Giovanni Rotondo / Gargano
Breakfast. Guided tour of the historic center of Vieste, among alleys, arches and viewpoints to the sea. Lunch. In the afternoon, departure for San Giovanni Rotondo to discover the places linked to the life of St. Pius (Padre Pio), one of the most venerated spiritual figures in Italy. Return to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 4 Gargano / Barletta / Bari / Itria Valley
Breakfast. Departure for Barletta, where you will enjoy a pleasant walk through the historic center admiring the main monuments of the city, such as the Norman Castle, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Colossus of Barletta or "Heraclius" and the "Cellar of the challenge". Next, visit to a local olive oil mill and tasting along with the famous Altamura bread. Lunch and departure for Bari. Visit of the historic center, with the Basilica of St. Nicholas, a masterpiece of Apulian Romanesque. Transfer to the Itria Valley area. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 5 Itria Valley / Castellana Caves / Alberobello / Ostuni / Itria Valley
Breakfast. Departure for Grotte di Castellana and visit of the homonymous caves. Arrival in Alberobello, the "capital of the trulli", and walk through its monumental area declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch. Departure for Ostuni, the "white city", and walk through its picturesque historic center with a visit to its Romanesque-Gothic cathedral. Return to the hotel and dinner. Accommodation.
Day 6 Itria Valley / Lecce / Otranto / Itria Valley
Breakfast. Departure for Lecce, the "Florence of the South", capital of the Apulian baroque. Visit of the historic center, with the basilica of Santa Cruz, the Duomo square and the S. Oronzo square. Small olive oil tasting before lunch. In the afternoon, departure for Otranto, "Gateway to the East", with its Romanesque cathedral, the chapel of the tomb of the Blessed Martyrs and the suggestive crypt. Return to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 7 Itria Valley / Matera / Bari
Breakfast. Departure for Matera, European Capital of Culture 2019, a city carved into the rock, to visit the famous "sassi" (caves carved into the mountain), which are part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Lunch and departure for the Bari area. Dinner and accommodation.
Day 8 Bari
Breakfast. At a time to be arranged locally, transfer to the airport.
Remarks:
The order of the stays of the program may be modified, while respecting its content.
TUI EXPERT
New Year's Eve Gala Dinner is included (with drinks).
