Best Of Apulia Region - 9 Days (Small Group)

You’ll reach Bari, the capital of Puglia, on your own. Meet your tour guide at 14:00 the hotel and off you go on a tour to discover the beauties of Bari. In the afternoon you’ll reach its historical center, known as “Bari Vecchia”, and learn interesting information about Bari’s past as well as the history of its main monuments. Walk down little alleys and find yourself in tiny little squares inside the walls, until you reach the Pontifical Basilica of Saint Nicholas, that contains the relics of Saint Nicholas, and the Castello Svevo (or Swabian Castle) built in the XII century by Norman King Roger II and later restored by Frederick II of the Holy Roman Empire. From inside the castle one can enjoy a beautiful view (entrances not included). After the visit, Piazza Mercantile is worth a visit: the Colonna della giustizia (or Column of justice) stands out right in the middle. It is thought to have been used as a pillory. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight is in Bari.

Breakfast at the hotel, you will head to Trani. Known as "Perla di Puglia" (or the pearl of Puglia), Trani is a medieval town located 53 kilometers (that’s 33 miles) south of Bari. Its Jewish district and the majestic Cathedral will be yours to admire. The latter was built using a local stone, a calcareous tuff characterised by its colour, an extremely light almost-white pink. In the afternoon, the next monument will be Castel Del Monte, the most amazing castle built by Frederick II. It is protected as a World Heritage Site. Its geometric design is unique: it is an octagonal prism with an octagonal tower at each corner. Many mysteries are still unresolved, including the real purpose of the castle. After Castel del Monte, Alberobello is the next stop, the “città dei Trulli”, also protected as a World Heritage Site. Trulli are dry stone huts with a conical roof originally built for storage purposes. They were also permanent dwellings and are called casedde by locals (or little houses). Alberobello is a gem, a true fairy tale place in the heart of Puglia. You will spend the night in a dream hotel, an “albergo diffuso” (one of the network of scattered hotels), and get the chance to sleep in a trullo. Dinner is included. Overnight is in Alberobello

Enjoy breakfast, a bus will be waiting in a parking lot adjacent to the hotel (200 meters from the Trulli). It will take you to Basilicata, a border region. Welcome to Matera, its capital, “la città dei sassi” (literally the city of the stones), Italy’s own version of Cappadocia in the south of Italy. European Capital of Culture 2019, Matera is a UNESCO Heritage site. Take your time to admire the sassi from different perspectives and overlooks. These cave dwellings inhabited since the Paleolithic period make for the monumental historical center and are connected by a maze of quaint little alleys, which will make you feel like you are catapulted in a real-life nativity scene. The sassi are visually reminiscent of ancient sites near Jerusalem, and so they were a setting to many Christian-themed films, including The Gospel According to St. Matthew (Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1964), The Passion of the Christ (Mel Gibson, 2004), and Ben-Hur (Timur Bekmambetov, 2016). A visit to Matera Cathedral is a must. You will return to Alberobello in the evening. Dinner and overnight are in the trullo in Alberobello.