8 days from £749
Departing 26th September 2007

ITINERARY

WED - UK to Puglia
Scheduled flight to Bari from your choice of either Stansted (direct) or Heathrow (via Rome) – call for details of regional flights. On arrival we are met by our private coach and guide for the transfer to the 4* Hotel Sierra Silvana in the village of Selva di Fasano in the heart of Puglia where we stay seven nights on half board basis. We enjoy a welcome drink prior to our evening meal.

THURS - Locorotondo, Alberobello & Martina Franca
This morning we travel to Locorotondo and Alberobello to see the white washed conical shaped trulli houses for which the Puglia region is famous. We then visit the charming medieval town of Martina Franca. Located on a hill overlooking the Valley Itria, this elegant town of winding streets and Rococo balconies dates back to the 10th century with the 17th century Ducal Palace in the Piazza Roma acting as the main hub of life.

FRI - Lecce
Today we travel to admire the wealth of Baroque architecture in Lecce. On arrival there is the option of a guided tour of this charming Southern Italian town known as the ‘pink city’. There is then time to wander at your leisure through the piazzas, winding streets and churches. Why not enjoy the sights and sounds of market day in Lecce or the peace and serenity of the Basilica della Santa Croce, a delightful ornate church dating from 16th century.

SAT - Massafra & Ostuni
The cave dwellings and cave church of Cripta di S.Marco at Massafra is our destination this morning. In the afternoon we visit Ostuni, a delightful white washed town, with tiny narrow streets set below its imposing cathedral, topped by domes of green, yellow and white tiles.

SUN - Castel del Monte & Bitonto
We visit the world heritage site of Castel del Monte today. Built in the 13th century for Emperor Frederick II, the castle rises majestically above the Murge Plateau and is acknowledged as one of the most sophisticated secular buildings of the Middle Ages. We then travel on to Bitonto, home to one of Puglia’s most beautiful cathedrals.

MON - Matera & Altamura
Matera is a gem of a city in Italy's Basilicata region and is famous for its Sassi dwellings carved out of stone. Afterwards we visit Altamura, home to a magnificent cathedral dating from the 1300’s and the Museo Archeologico housing finds from Neolithic times.

TUE - Grotto di Castellana, Savelletri & Monopoli

For our last full day in Puglia we visit the spectacular limestone caves of the Grotto di Castellana, a complex of underground caves and caverns estimated to be 50 million years old. We then travel to Savelletri with time to take lunch at one of the port’s many fish restaurants. En route back to our hotel and time permitting, we visit Monopoli to see its fine cathedral. For the final night of our holiday we enjoy a farewell dinner of typical Puglian cuisine.

WED - Puglia to UK
We sadly say goodbye to Puglia and have assisted coach transfer back to Bari for our scheduled flight back to the UK.

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