Grand Tour of Puglia and Ischia (11 Days)

A Grand 11 Day Tour of Italy
Start weekly in Bari

Bari • Vieste • Peschic • R.Garganico • S.G.ROTONDO
FORESTA UMBRA • M.S.ANGELO • Trani • Castel del Monte
Bari • C.Grotte • Ostuni • Alberobello • Lecce • Otranto
Castro • Taranto • Grottaglie • Matera • Ischia

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One-week tours with departures every Saturday of some of Italy’s finest regions. Stay in 3 and 4 star hotels with full board. Travel in air-conditioned coaches with tour guide.

Day 1 – SATURDAY – Bari (or outskirts) – Weekly: May – Sep
We’ll meet you at Bari Airport or Train or bus station and escort you to your hotel. Check-in at selected hotels (we’ll confirm to you all hotels at the time you make your reservation). Evening at leisure. Before dinner enjoy a welcome cocktail and meet with tour guide for tour presentation.

Day 2 – SUNDAY – Vieste/Peschic/R.Garganico/Bari (BL)
Breakfast at hotel. The day will be dedicated to visits of the northern point of the National park. We will tour Vieste, the ancient fishing village on the furthest point situated on a headland; a must-see for those what want to visit the National Park of Gargano. We will also visit the historic canter and visit the typical “trabucco” ancient Phoenician invention of wooden construction used even today for fishing. Relax for lunch in nearby restaurant. After we will make our way for Peschici, the vivacious colorful fishing village and visit San Menaio and Rodi Garganico. Return to Bari, arrival to hotel.

Day 3- MONDAY – S.G.ROTONDO/FORESTA UMBRA/M.S.ANGELO (BL)
Breakfast at hotel followed by departure for San Giovanni Rotondo, visited by pilgrims all over the world. Then we will continue to the “Foresta Umbra” dense with unique fauna. Enjoy lunch in a restaurant and then proceed to Monte Sant’Angelo, visit the famous Basilica di San Nicola and the grotto of San Gabriele and Castello Svevo with the tomb of Manfredi, Frederick II’s son. Return to hotel in Bari, dinner and overnight

Day 4 – TUESDAY – Trani/Castel del Monte/Bari (BL)
Breakfast at hotel followed by departure for Trani, where we will visit the “Villa Comunale” and the cathedral by the sea. Proceed to Castel del Monte and visit the ancient hunting dwelling of Frederick II, which is nowadays UNESCO patrimony. After lunch taken in a restaurant we will depart for Bari and visit the Basilica di San Nicola and the Sveva castle. Arrival at hotel and overnight stay.

Apulia-Castellana Grotte-Timeless Italy. Video by TheGeorgetubel.

Day 5 – WEDNESDAY- C.Grotte/Ostuni/Alberobello (BL)
Breakfast at hotel and departure for Castellana and visit the magical grottos discovered by speleologist Franca Anelli. Relax for lunch at a traditional Pugliese farm. Afternoon departure for Alberobello “the village of the Trulli”. We will visit the church of San Cosma and Damiano, Church of Trullo and Trullo Sovrano. Continue to Ostuni also known as the “White city” – picturesque town with beautiful scenery and characterize by whitewashed attractive houses. Visit the gothic cathedral, the column of Sant’ Oronzo and the houses of Corte. Arrival in hotel.

Trulli along Monte Pertica in Alberobello
By Marcok di it.wiki (Own work) [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC-BY-2.5], via Wikimedia Commons

Day 6 – THURSDAY – Lecce/Otranto/Castro (BL)
Breakfast in hotel and departure for Lecce, known as “the Florence of the south”. Tour of the Roman amphitheater, the 15th century castle, the cathedral, the Palazzo del Seminario, Basilica of Santa Croce. Return to hotel for lunch. In the afternoon visit the town of Otranto, known as the “gate to the east”, where we will tour around the medieval canter dominated by the Alfonsino castle and Byzantine church which boasts a marvelous mosaic from 1100 and the Beati Martiri chapel. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then we will proceed to the small village of Castro. Return to hotel.

Day 7 – FRIDAY – Taranto/Grottaglie/Matera (BL)
Breakfast at hotel and departure for Grottaglie. We will visit a local artistic ceramic workshop and then take a walk around the historic canter. After we will proceed to the city of Taranto, an important ancient Greek colony. Enjoy a tour the gold museums and the archaeological museum. Relax for lunch in a local restaurant and then proceed to Matera. Visit the famous “Sassi” which are the prehistoric houses dug out from the cliffs which are now UNESCO patrimony. We will continue to Bari.

Day 8 – MONDAY – Naples/ Ischia (BL)
After breakfast tour of the historic center: Santa Chiara church and the cloister, Gesù Nuovo church, the Duomo of San Gennaro and the craft shops of San Gregorio Ameno and other monuments. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant followed by a tour of the archaeological museum. Afterwards, a panoramic tour of the city by coach and stop at Piazza Plebliscito. Off to the pier to board your ferry to Ischia and your hotel.

Sample hotels in Ischia: Mezze Torre. Reina Isabela, Excelesior or similar.

Day 9 – TUESDAY – Ischia (B)
Breakfast is included daily at your hotel. Full day on your own to explore Ischia as you wish, or just enjoy your hotel and the beach.

Day 10 – WEDNESDAY – Ischia (B)
Breakfast is included daily at your hotel. Full day on your own to explore Ischia as you wish, or just enjoy your hotel and the beach.

DAY 11- THURSDAY – Departure Ishia / Naples (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Check out. Ferry tickets and transfer are included back to Naples and on to the train station or the airport. Bon Viaggi

Your tour guide or local rep is always available to answer any of your question, be it on the tour or a phone call away during your leisure time.

Hotels:
Garden Hotel Ripa (Vieste), Nicotel S. Giovanni Rotondo (S. Giovanni Rotondo), Tenuta Moreno (Mesagne), Selenia (Castro Marina), Messapia Hotel & Resort (S. Maria di Leuca), Agropolis (S. Giovanni Rotondo), Mediterraneo (Brindisi), Grand Hotel Tiziano (Lecce), Villa Romanazzi Carducci (Bari), Hotel 4 Stelle per Tour e Minitour Basilicata (Maratea).

Prices include:

• Guided /Escorted sightseeing and all ground transportation (air conditioned) as indicated, with a multi lingual speaking tour guide.
• Meals as indicated pre-set menu (B = breakfast: Daily, L = lunch:, D = dinner:)
• Accommodation, in three and four stars hotels, rooms are with private bathroom facilities
• Hotel tax, service charges & continental breakfast daily.
• Local multi-lingual guides
• Ferry ticket Naples Ischia Naples
• Service tax
• Entrance fees

Not Included:

• Personal expenses, beverages, and meals not specifically included.
• Gratuities for local personnel
• Drinks/beverages.
• Airport transfers
• Travel insurance.
• Italian airport taxes
• International air fare

Please read our Terms & Conditions. By sending your deposit, you confirm that you have read and have accepted these conditions.

Hotels are subject to change (within category stated or upgraded) even on a last minute basis.

Itinerary sequence is subject to change, without deleting or missing any item/tour listed, even on a last minute basis