Tour in Puglia
San Giovanni Rotondo and the Gargano (4 days)
Day 1: Loreto
Departure early in the morning for the Marche. Free lunch. Guided tour of the Sanctuary of the Holy House of Loreto, one of the main places of Marian worship. According to tradition, inside the basilica is the Holy House of Nazareth, where Jesus lived. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in San Giovanni Rotondo.
Day 2: San Giovanni Rotondo – Monte Sant’angelo
Breakfast. In the morning guided tour of San Giovanni Rotondo and the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie (both the old church where Padre Pio lived and the new church designed by Renzo Piano). The crypt of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where his remains are kept, is the fulcrum of devotion, a destination for pilgrimages. The visit continues with the Via Crucis and the Casa Sollievo della Soflievo hospital, strongly desired by the Saint. Free lunch. In the afternoon, excursion to Monte Sant’Angelo for a visit to the Sanctuary and the Grotto of San Michele Arcangelo, where the Archangel appeared. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Gargano: Vieste, Peschici, Rodi Garganico
Breakfast. Guided excursion day to visit the pearls of the Gargano starting in the morning with Vieste.
The historic center of Vieste, commonly called “Vieste Vecchia”, stands compactly on a rock overlooking the sea. The ancient village, of medieval origin, has kept its original characters almost intact, with its characteristic irregular streets, squares and marked terraced houses. Free lunch. In the afternoon, the excursion continues to the historic center of Peschici, full of fascinating views, with its artisan shops and numerous places where you can taste the typical dishes of the Apulian tradition. Photo stop in Rodi Garganico and then return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 4: St. John in Venus and Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano
Breakfast and return trip photo stop in San Giovanni in Venere, an ancient church whose origins date back to 500 AD. on a promontory from which you can admire the sea. Arrival in Lanciano for free lunch and a guided visit to the Eucharistic Miracle in the Church of San Francesco. The Sanctuary originates from a miraculous event that took place around 700, during the mass, the consecrated host and wine were transformed into flesh and blood. Return journey with arrival scheduled in the evening.
What’s included
- 3 * hotel in half board
- Visits with professional guides
What’s excluded
- Transport of any kind
- Compulsory insurance
- Entrance fees not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Ns. travel assistant
- Anything not expressly indicated under “the fee includes”
- Lunch with tourist menu (first, second, side dish, fruit or dessert) from € 20; drinks ¼ wine and ½ water € 5
- Lunch with tourist menu (first, second, side dish, fruit or dessert) from € 20; drinks ¼ wine and ½ water € 5
- Document required: valid identity card. The program could be reversed.
- Cancellation fee of 0% if cancelled
Salento and Matera (6 days)
Day 1: Pesaro
Departure in the morning and stop in Pesaro for a guided tour and free lunch. Pesaro is a very interesting city also from a cultural and architectural point of view: the Cathedral, built on the remains of a late Roman building, which boasts an interesting mosaic heritage; the Church of S. Agostino, which preserves a remarkable Venetian-Gothic portal on the facade; the Sanctuary of the Madonna Delle Grazie. Continue to the hotel along the route, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Castellana Caves and Alberobello
Breakfast and transfer to visit the Castellana Caves, the complex of underground cavities of karst origin where you cross caves with fantastic names, canyons and deep abysses, discover fossils, stalactites and stalagmites. Continue to Alberobello and free lunch. In the afternoon guided tour in the centre in the area of the characteristic Trulli, characteristic cone constructions. Continue to visit the ancient village of Ostuni, the White City. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3: Lecce – Otranto – Santa Maria Di Leuca
Breakfast and transfer to Lecce for the guided tour of the Baroque city: an open-air museum, where you can admire the Renaissance architecture and the richness of the Baroque with palaces, masks, friezes, pinnacles and rose windows, churches and balconies, alleys and squares make this city a treasure chest. Free lunch. Transfer to Otranto for a guided tour of the fortress city on the sea. Continue with the guided tour of Santa Maria di Leuca. Return to hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Gallipoli – Taranto
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning guided tour of the ancient centre of Gallipoli, a maze of narrow streets that reflect the original Greek derivation system. The symbol of the city is the imposing Angevin-Aragonese Castle, which can only be visited from the outside. Free lunch and transfer for the guided tour of Taranto, an important colony of Magna Graecia. In the end, transfer to the hotel in Basilicata for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Matera
Breakfast and transfer to Matera and day of visit with a local guide. In the morning we start with the Murgia Matera Park with the amazing panoramic view of the Rione Sassi and the rupestrian church of Madonna Delle Tre. Continue with the Rioni Sassi making photo stops. Stop for free lunch. In the afternoon we move on to the medieval area of Matera with the Cathedral Basilica, the Sasso Barisano, Piazza Vittorio Veneto, the rupestrian church of the Santo Spirito and the churches of San Domenico and Cavalieri di Malta. In the evening dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6: Urbino
Breakfast and transfer to Urbino for the guided tour: the exteriors of the Ducal Palace of Federico da Montefeltro which represents the physical symbol of the Renaissance state, the Cathedral, San Bernardino, a splendid construction attributed to Bramante, and the Medieval Village. Return trip arriving late in the evening.
What’s included
- 3 * hotel in half board in the surroundings of the places visited
- Visits with professional guides
- Entrances (Grotte di Castellana, Murgia Park of Matera)
What’s excluded
- Transport of any kind
- Compulsory insurance
- Entrance fees not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Ns. travel assistant
- Anything not expressly indicated under “the fee includes”
- n.b. the program can be adapted to customer needs
- Single room supplement € 25 per person per night. Any city tax to be paid directly at the hotel.
- Entrance fees to Duino Castle and Miramare Castle, including booking fee € 25 per person (subject to confirmation)
- Lunch with tourist menu (first, second, side dish, fruit or dessert) from € 20; drinks ¼ wine and ½ water € 5
- Cancellation fee of 0% if cancelled