Vintage Puglia

DAY 1

Flights from London Airports to Bari. Train transfer to Bari where we stay for the next 5 nights in the 4-star Hotel (TBC), opposite the railway station. Welcome dinner.

DAY 2

This morning, we have a guided walk around the medieval city centre of Bari, the capital city of the Puglia Region and, after Naples, the second most important economic centre of the mainland of Southern Italy. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the town, to relax or taking a FERROTRAMVIARIA train to the north of Bari. The tangled network of crooked streets and passageways that make up Bari's old town is commonly known as Bari Vecchia. Home to many of the city's churches and historic buildings, the area is a beautiful example of ancient medieval architecture. So, you thought you had to go to Lapland to visit Father Christmas? In Bari they have the real thing. The Basilica di San Nicola, or Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, is thought to be the final resting place of this famous saint. The basilica was built between 1087 and 1197 after the relics of St Nicholas were brought to Italy from Myra, in what is now Turkey. This splendid building is dominated by its gilded wooden ceiling.

DAY 3

Today, we travel to the North. First, we take a FERROTRAMVIARIA train to Ruvo or Andria and with a shuttle bus we will reach Castel del Monte, a 13th-century citadel and castle situated on a hill in Andria. It was built during the 1240s by King Frederick II, who had inherited the lands from his mother Constance of Sicily. The castle is famous for its bold octagonal plan, and classicizing details of the architecture. In 1996, Castel del Monte was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, which described it as "a unique masterpiece of medieval military architecture". After the visit we will move with a bus to Trani, a pearl on the Adriatic see. A visit with the guide will permit us to discover the treasure of this idyllic village - its cathedral on the shore of the sea. Back to Bari with a local train and overnight.

DAY 4

In the morning, we take a FAL train to Matera, a UNESCO site, for a guided tour of the old town, with its typical "Sassi" (stone) houses dug into the limestone. The film starring Mel Gibson "The Passion of Christ" was filmed in Sassi streets. After the tour there is time for a lunch break and free time before returning by train to Bari.

DAY 5

Today, we travel on the Ferrovie del Sud Est (FSE) line to Alberobello, famous for its Trulli round houses, unique to this area, with conical stone roofs. The Trulli have been on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites since 1996. They are a fine example of an ancient, prehistoric building technique surviving to the modern age. The conical structures are built without mortar and many feature pagan symbols and rune-like designs. Here we have time for a lunch break. We return to Bari via Taranto where we have the time for a quick stroll in the ancient part of the town. Overnight in Bari.

DAY 6

Today we travel to the South. First, we take an FS train to Lecce in the Salento Peninsula. During the journey we travel along the east coast until Brindisi and then bend to the middle of the region. In Lecce we will reach our hotel on foot being just in front of the railway station, where we stay for the next 4 nights. The rich Baroque architectural monuments found in Lecce have given rise to the name "Florence of the South". The city also has a long affinity, going back to its foundation, with Greek culture. After our lunch break, we have a 2-hour guided tour of Lecce old city centre. The geographical heart of Lecce is the Piazza del Duomo, although it feels cut off from the city. As you walk into the square you experience a feeling of wonder as the drama of the piazza reveals itself to you. The 12th century cathedral is unusual in that it has two facades, one to the west and the other, more ornate, facing the piazza. It is framed by the 15th century Palazzo Vescovile (Episcopal Palace) and the 18th century Seminario, designed by Giuseppe Cino.

DAY 7

With the FSE local service we reach the village of Tuglie for a visit to the Museum of Rural Life. This is nestled in the gardens of a 17th century ducal palace. At the end of our visit, we will be served with a tasting of local foods. The local train will lead us in the afternoon to the west coast for a stop in Gallipoli (from the Greek Kallipolis, meaning "Beautiful City"). The old town is located on a limestone island in the Ionian Sea, linked to the mainland by a bridge built in the 16th century. Overnight in Lecce.

DAY 8

Free day in Lecce or for trains enthusiast we can ride on the FSE lines reaching Gagliano, the southernmost station on the heel of Italy, close to Santa Maria di Leuca point. We will take a chartered bus to reach the top end of Italian peninsula famous for its iconic lighthouse and, next to it, the large sanctuary De finibus Terrae (End of the Land) built to commemorate the passage of St. Peter during his travel to Italy.

DAY 9

In the morning, we explore the east coast and, with the FSE local service, we travel to Otranto through Maglie. We stop to visit the town on the Adriatic coast, the easternmost Italian town. The main sights are the Cathedral consecrated in 1088 and the Aragonese Castle. If the weather is clear, we can see the mountains of Albania across the Strait of Otranto. Return journey either with train or private bus according to train timetable. In the afternoon we will visit the local railway museum. Farewell dinner in a restaurant in Lecce and overnight.

DAY 10

Coach transfer to Brindisi/Bari airport for flights back to the UK.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner