Apulia and Basilicata, discovering the deep south of Italy
This area is extremely complex yet easy to visit and love. In this crossroads of peoples and travellers in the very heart of the Mediterranean Sea, tourists are always welcomed with warm hospitality. Going through age-old traditions and amazing landscapes moulded by man, you will reach monumental historical sites, such as the city of Lecce and its Baroque style, and magical places sculpted by nature, such as the Caves of Castellana. Other must-see destinations are Alberobello and its trulli, the traditional huts with conical roofs, and the Sassi di Matera, both UNESCO sites, which will take you back in time.
Primopiano Viaggi proposes
Day 1 – Apulia
Arrival of the group in the late afternoon in Apulia. Accomodation at the hotel in the nearby of Alberobello, dinner and overnight.
Day 2 – Caves of Castellana and Alberobello
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Castellana to visit the caves, a vast group of natural underground cavities with limestone soil. These Caves are considered to be one of the most remarkable sets of natural underground caves in Italy and Europe, due to their extension, the spectacular size of the galleries, and the prodigious wealth of crystalline concretions. Drive to Alberobello for lunch at the restaurant. In the afternoon, visit to Alberobello and its “Trullis”, curious dwellings of rural origin built using a daring technical system, with a central plan with dry stone walls and a conical roof. The historical center has been declared a national monument and included in Unesco’s World Heritage List. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 3 – Matera and Altamura
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Matera for a city tour. Since 1993, it has been included in the Unesco World Heritage List. It is built at the foot of the mountains and its houses are carved out of tufo (volcanic tuff), a white high porous limestone rock easy to work with. These testimonies of cave-dwellings are called the Sassi and result at first sight in a labyrinth of caves, houses, cellars and alleys that get lost in each other. Lunch at the restaurant. In the afternoon, visit to Altamura, which stands out for its Cathedral, an example of Apulian Romanesque-Gothic style. Dinner and overnight.
Day 4 – Lecce and Otranto
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for the guided tour of Lecce nicknamed “the Florence of the South”. Discovery of the Via Calmieri, the baroque basilica of Santa Croce with its richly decorated façade, the Roman theater and its museum, Piazza San Oronzo, Piazza del Duomo, entirely surrounded by Baroque buildings, one of the most remarkable squares in Italy. Lunch at the restaurant. In the afternoon, on to Otranto to visit the city and its Cathedral. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 5 – Grottaglie and Taranto
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Grottaglie, the capital of ceramics. The center of this city is almost entirely dedicated to the workshops of potters and terracotta artisans who perpetuate the ancient tradition. Guided tour of a laboratory. Continue to Taranto for lunch in a restaurant. In the afternoon, guided tour of the city, a condensed history that intertwines with the sea and unfolds in the ancient village, among noble palaces and underground jewels. Return to hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 6 – Castel del Monte / Return to your area
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, visit of Castel Del Monte Castle, the most famous monument of Emperor Frederick II of Swabia. Visit of the building, which dates back to the 13th century and admirably synthesizes all the stylistic and cultural influences of the Emperor’s artistic entourage. The castle is octagonal in shape, with eight towers, also octagonal, placed at the corners. Lunch at the restaurant.
Departure of the group and end of our services.
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