POSTCARDS FROM PUGLIA & THE AMALFI COAST

Leave Sorrento in the morning for Positano. Enjoy a brief stop at the Belvedere for a unique view of Moorish architecture blended with pastel colored houses. Weather permitting, board a motorlaunch and cruise along the coast to Amalfi for a walking tour of the old town. Continue to Ravello for lunch at a restaurant with spectacular views of the Amalfi Coast and the Bay of Salerno. Enjoy some free time for a stroll around the center of town before returning to Sorrento. (B,L)

A morning jetfoil whisks you across the blue Bay of Naples to the fabled Isle of Capri, where you will ascend to the Piazzetta, visit the Floral Gardens of Caesar Augustus, and still have free time for lunch and some shopping before returning to Sorrento. Tonight, dinner is at a local restaurant. (B,D)

After breakfast, depart for Lecce. Nicknamed the “Florence of the South” because of its mostly Baroque-era churches packing its maze of narrow streets, Lecce dazzles with elaborately carved facades and interiors that erupt with symphonies of angels, cherubs, saints and Madonnas. On our way to Lecce, stop at a local winery for a wine tasting session at a well renowned estate. Dinner at the hotel. (B,D)

This morning’s guided city tour will introduce you to the beauty of Lecce. Built in the local soft creamy limestone with dazzling architectural surprises around every corner, Lecce is a minor Baroque masterpiece. Its spider’s web of streets offer a kaleidoscopic mix of long-range vistas, alluring glimpses and playful perspectives that have long enchanted visitors. In the afternoon, head towards Otranto for a guided tour of Italy’s easternmost town. The imposing castle, thick perimeter walls, and robust towers dominate much of the town, giving way to a small port, a series of sea-front promenades with excellent fish restaurants, and the town’s very own beautiful white sandy beach and turquoise waters. Overnight in Lecce. (B)

After breakfast, depart for Ostuni. Rising high above the vast olive-carpeted plateau of the lower Murgia, Ostuni has long been an awe-inspiring sight for those travelling across Puglia. Strong defensive walls and tumbling clusters of white-washed houses wind around the hillside, at the top of which, proudly surveying the surrounding land, sits the magnificent Gothic Cathedral. After an olive oil tasting session, you will have time for lunch on your own before continuing to Selva di Fasano. Dinner and overnight at hotel. (B,D)

This morning, visit Alberobello, Puglia’s picture-postcard town famous for its conical-roofed houses - “trulli” - and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its narrow pedestrian streets, little shops selling local produce, and a few nice cafes and trattorie offering al fresco dining, Alberobello will enchant you. This evening, a wine tasting session will be followed by dinner featuring typical dishes of Pugliese cuisine at your hotel. (B,D)

This morning, depart for Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. Your afternoon tour will guide you through the city of the Caverns, entrenched villages, peasant houses carved in the rock, frescoed rocky churches, grand Romanesque, Pugliese and Baroque churches, and noble palaces. Overnight in Bari. (B)

This morning, depart for Trani and a visit of the old town center, a charming Medieval network of streets with plenty of fine architecture arranged around the picturesque fishing port, which is itself flanked by numerous bars, cafés, and fish restaurants. During your guided city tour, see Trani’s iconic seafront Cathedral, one of the finest anywhere in Italy. A tour of Puglia wouldn’t be complete without dipping into its traditional gold flavor: extra virgin olive oil. During a visit of a typical oil mill you will be walked through the entire production process, from the milling by granite millstones to the packaging. After a delicious lunch consisting of local food products like taralli, continue to Andria for a visit of its architectural marvel: “Castel del Monte”. Return to Bari. (B,L)

 This morning, you will be taken on a guided tour 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. Tonight, bid arrivederci to Puglia at a lovely dinner in a local restaurant in Bari. (B,D)

Morning transfer to Bari Airport for your return flight home. (B)