Puglia 2016

PUGLIA

18 – 27 April, 2016

Itinerary

3

 

Day 1 Monday 18 April, 2016: Malta – Bari

10:45     The group meets at Malta International Airport. Check-in formalities

12:45     Departure from Malta International Airport on Alitalia flight AZ 887

14:10     Arrival at Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport

17:15     Departure from Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport on Alitalia flight AZ 1607

18:20     Arrival at Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport

Coach transfer (18km) to the 4 star Nicolaus Hotel in Bari (Tel. +39 080 568 2111)

Check-in formalities and room allocation

Rest of the day at leisure

Overnight

Bari Basilica di San NicolaBari lungomare

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2 Tuesday 19 April, 2016: Monopoli – Polignano a Mare – Bari

07:00 – 09:30 Breakfast

09:30     Coach pick up from the hotel for a full day guided excursion visiting:

  • Monopoli (48km): a walking guided excursion of the historical centre of this picturesque fishing village and the Baroque cathedral of Monopoli
  • Polignano a Mare (9km): a walking guided excursion of this the ancient fishing town, sitting atop limestone cliffs and famous for its home-made ice-cream, visiting a gelateria (tasting not included). Free time for lunch (lunch not included)
  • Bari (39km): a walking guided excursion visiting the 12th century Basilica of St. Nicholas, housing relics of Bari’s patron saint and a pilgrimage destination for centuries

Coach transfer back to the hotel (4km)

Rest of the day at leisure

Overnight

Monopoli Polignano a Mare

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 3 Wednesday 20 April, 2016: Trani – Castel del Monte

07:00 – 09:30 Breakfast

09:30     Coach pick up from the hotel for a full day guided excursion visiting:

  • Trani (49km): a walking guided excursion the old quarter of Trani known as the “Pearl of Puglia” visiting the cathedral dedicated to St. Nicholas the Pilgrim. Free time for lunch (lunch not included)
  • Castel del Monte (32km): a walking guided excursion of this UNESCO World Heritage Site octagonal citadel and castle built by Great Emperor Frederick II of Swabia in the 13th century

Coach transfer back to the hotel (54km)

Rest of the day at leisure

Overnight

8

18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 4 Thursday 21 April, 2016: Alberobello – Apulian cheese tasting experience

07:00 – 09:30 Breakfast

09:30     Coach pick up from the hotel for a full day guided excursion visiting:

  • Alberbello (56km): a walking guided excursion of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and capital of the trulli, 13th century fairytale like round stone houses with conical roofs topped by a pinnacle. Free time to visit the weekly local market and for lunch (lunch not included)
  • in the afternoon we will visit a mozzarella producing farm in Putignano (14km) to taste some traditional Apulian cheese

Coach transfer back to the hotel (42km)

Rest of the day at leisure

Overnight

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 5 Friday 22 April, 2016: San Giovanni Rotondo & Monte Sant’ Angelo (optional)

06:30 – 10:30 Breakfast

Free day at leisure OR optional excursion with coach pick up from the hotel for a full day guided excursion visiting:

  • San Giovanni Rotondo (144km) and the Shrine of Padre Pio (declared a saint in 2002) inside the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (Our Lady of Grace) built between 1956 and 1959 – the second-most visited Catholic shrine in the world after the Our lady of Guadalupe Shrine in Mexico City
  • the Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church in San Giovanni Rotondo, completed in 2004 and considered a notable example of modern architecture, designed by the Genoan architect Renzo Piano. Padre Pio’s body is on public display in the outstanding golden mosaic crypt of the church
  • free time for lunch (lunch not included)
  • the Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel in Monte Sant’ Angelo (26km): a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Catholic shrine, church and sacred cave, where Archangel Michael appeared to the Bishop of Sipontum in AD 490, and subsequently the destination of millions of pilgrims who have named it the “door to the sky”
  • Coach transfer back to the hotel (149km)

Overnight

 San Giovanni Rotondo San Michele Arcangelo sanctuary

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 6 Saturday 23 April, 2016: Apulian hands-on cooking & extra virgin olive oil tour & tasting including lunch – Ostuni

07:00 – 09:30 Breakfast

09:30     Coach pick up from the hotel for a full day guided excursion visiting:

  • an elegant masseria (an ancient fortified farmhouse) in the Ostuni countryside (65km) for a hands-on cooking class to prepare typical Apulian home-made pasta. There will be an extra virgin olive oil tour and tasting at the masseria followed by lunch (included) including traditional Apulian dishes, wine, water and coffee
  • Ostuni (20km): a walking guided excursion of the historical centre of this “white city” with its traditional white painted houses

Coach transfer back to the hotel (86km)

Rest of the day at leisure

Overnight

 Apulian Masseria

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 7 Sunday 24 April, 2016: Matera

07:00 – 09:30 Breakfast

09:30     Coach pick up from the hotel for an extended half day guided excursion visiting:

  • Matera (66km): a walking guided excursion of this UNESCO World Heritage Site best known for its sassi (literally meaning “stones” – ancient houses excavated into the rock face) visiting a furnished “casa grotto” cave dwelling to see how ancient inhabitants lived. Free time for lunch (lunch not included)

Coach transfer back to the hotel (66km)

Rest of the day at leisure

Overnight

 

Day 8 Monday 25 April, 2016: Lecce

07:00 – 09:30 Breakfast

09:30     Coach pick up from the hotel for a full day guided excursion visiting:

  • Lecce (153km): a walking guided excursion of the “Florence of the South” as it is known, visiting the Baroque Cathedral, the 2nd century Roman amphitheatre and the beautiful Basilica of Santa Croce. Free time for lunch (lunch not included)

Coach transfer back to the hotel (153km)

Rest of the day at leisure

Overnight

Lecce 2 Lecce 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 9 Tuesday 26 April, 2016: Locorotondo – Martina Franca – Taranto

07:00 – 09:30 Breakfast

09:30     Coach pick up from the hotel for a full day guided excursion visiting:

  • Locorotondo (70km): a walking guided excursion of this white-washed town known as one of the most beautiful towns in Italy (“i borghi più belli d’Italia”)
  • Martina Franca (6km): a walking guided excursion of this elegant Baroque town with beautifully decorated churches and noble palaces. Free time for lunch (lunch not included)
  • Taranto (32km): a walking guided excursion of this port city known as the “City of the two Seas” (sitting between the Great Sea “Mar Grande” and Small Sea “Mar Piccolo”) visiting the National Archaeological Museum

Coach transfer back to the hotel (93km)

Rest of the day at leisure

Overnight

Taranto Martina Franca

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 10 Wednesday 27 April, 2016: Bari – Malta

Picnic breakfast

05:30     Coach pick up from the hotel and transfer to Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport (18km)

Check-in formalities

08:00     Departure from Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport on Alitalia flight AZ 1608

09:00     Arrival at Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport

10:30     Departure from Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport on Alitalia flight AZ 886

11:55     Arrival at Malta International Airport

 

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This Itinerary may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances