Day 1 Bari or Brindisi Airport to Alberobello
- Bari Airport to Alberobello approximately 45 miles OR
- Brindisi Airport to Alberobello – approximately 40 miles
- Upon your arrival at the airport pick up your rental car
- Departure to Alberobello
- Overnight stay in Hotel in Alberobello
Day 2 Alberobello, Castellana Caves, Polignano a Mare, Alberobello –
- Approximately 37 miles
- Visit of the city of “Trulli”, a typical form of rural construction temporary, seasonal or permanent houses for small farmers and agricultural workers.
- After lunch you will head to Castellana Caves.
- Continue to Polignano a Mare and depending on when you arrive we advise you to rent a boat along the coast to visit the caves.
- Make sure you try the homemade ice cream of Polignano.
- Return to Alberobello
- Overnight at hotel in Alberobello
Day 3 Alberobello,Trani,Castel del Monte, Bari/Alberobello
- Approximately 154 miles
- Head north to Trani and visit the Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino built between 1056 and 1186,
- Continue to a jewel of Puglia: Castel del Monte. Built in 1240 on the orders of Federico II was a representative building and probably a hunting residence, testimony of the power and grandeur of the emperor.
- Castel del Montei is an UNESCO World Heritgage Site.the most visited monument-museum of Puglia,a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Arrive in Bari for lunch
- After lunch visit will be dedicated to the city see la Basilica di San Nicola, a church built in the 12th century to preserve the relics of San Nicola of Myra. The Cathedral of Bari, dedicated to San Sabino, bishop of Canosa.
- Continue your visit to see the Norman-Swabian castle, a fortress from the 12th century built by Roger the Norman. The castle was rebuilt by Federico II of Swabia.
- Visit the Justice column of Piazza Mercantile, with the inscription “Guardian of Justice”. Some say that the debtors who did not pay were attached to this column.
- Go past the old walls of Aragona and through the historic center of the city.
Return to Alberobello
Overnight at hotel in Alberobello
Day 4 Alberobello, Altamura, Matera, Alberobello
- Approximately 99 miles
- Departure to Altamura, well known for the production of bread. The “pane di Altamura” is a product of bakery obtained from remolding durum wheat semolina.
- Arrive in Matera, named Capital of the European Culture in 2019.
- Start with a visit to Sassi, a UNSECO World Heritage Site which represent the old quarters of the city of Matera. They form a system of housing called “la Gravina” and offer to the eyes of the visitor a unique scenario, testimony of the past.
- Go see the majestic Church of San Pietro Barisano, the churches of Santa Maria di Idris and San Giovanni.
- The church of Santa Barbara is a true jewel of rock art in Matera, rich in precious frescoes.
- Visit the cave houses: Casalnuovo and Vico Solitario.
- Return to Alberobello
- Overnight at hotel in Alberobello
Day 5 Alberobello, Martina Franca, Ostuni, Otranto
- Approximately 106 miles
- Leave Alberobello for Martina Franca, passing through the Valley of Itria, the Valley of the Trulli.
- The old city of Martina Franca presents itself to the visitors in a spectacular labyrinth of narrow streets, its white houses and charming streets.
- Walk in the streets of the historic center admire its doors, including the majestic Porta Saint Etienne.
- Next to Ostuni, known as the White City, for the typical and blinding (especially during summer) white color of its houses.
- While in Ostuni get lost in the narrow streets & stairs of the historic center.
- Arrive in Otranto, a city which has been attacked several times in the past by Saracen and Turkish pirates.
- Otranto is geographically the most easterly point in Italy, approximately 47 miles from the coast of Albania.
- Overnight at hotel in Otranto
Day 6 Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca, Gallipoli, Otranto
- Approximately 99 miles
- Visit Otranto: the Cathedral of Annunziata and the Aragonese Castle.
- Depart to Santa Maria di Leuca, by way of Maglie where you can stop at the archaeological sites with its Dolmens and Menhirs.
- Santa Maria di Leuca, often known as Leuca, is the “heel” of the Italian “boot”.
- In the afternoon drive to Gallipoli on the Ionian coast
- On the way you can visit the Natural Park of Punta Pizzo and continue along the coast.
- Stop at Baia Verde beach In the city of Gallipoli
- The Basilica of Sant’Agata, the Basilica of St. Francesco the ten altars inside are superb.
- See the Tafuri Palace and the Greek Fountain which, presumably, dates from the 3rd century BC.
- Return in the evening to Otranto
- Overnight stay in Otranto
Day 7 Otranto, Lecce
- Leave early in the morning to reach Lecce and visit its historic center
- The Piazza del Duomo, the Basilica of the Holy Cross and its Palace of the Celestini, all the Gates of the Old City, are the greatest examples of Baroque in Italy with those of Rome.
- Overnight stay in Lecce
Day 8 Lecce, Bari Airport or Brindisi Airprt
- Return rental car to Bari Airport – approximately 103 miles OR
- Return rental car to Brindisi Airport – approximately 28 miles
Includes:
- Car rental
- 7 nights hotel accommodations
- Daily breakfasts
- Entrance fees to sites and museums
- The daily distances in miles are calculated based on the most direct route.
Excludes:
- Airfare
- Hotel city tax
- Travel Insurance strongly recommended
Optional Tours & Add-ons:
- Airfare
- Private exploring with own personal guidesI
- Itinerary customized according to interests
Daily departures tailor-made by your Italian Destination Specialist
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Call us at 1-866-HI-Italy (444-8259) or (212) 308-3030!