Day 0
(Tue) Leave the U.S. arriving the next day in Bari, Puglia at the Karol Wojtyla airport (BRI). Transfer to hotel in Bari.
May 28
(Wed) Our first night will be spent in Bari, a port city on the Adriatic Sea and the capital of southern Italy’s Puglia region. Its mazelike old town, Barivecchia, occupies a headland between 2 harbors. In the morning a local guide will lead us on a street food walking tour, making several stops to taste local foods and to visit important sites.
May 29-30
(Thurs & Fri) We will drive south to the Polignano a Mare-Monopoli area and check into our lodgings and explore these historic towns. Known for excellent beaches, we will have a chance to swim in the Adriatic Sea and take a boat tour to see grottos and the beautiful coastline.
May 31-June 1
(Sat & Sun) The city of Lecce, where will stay for these two days, is known for its beautiful Baroque architecture. We will visit these beautiful buildings as well as, the sunken Roman amphitheater. During our guided tour, we have a chance to stop at a local caffè to enjoy a Caffè Leccese and Pasticciotto tasting. On the second day a scenic drive down the coast is planned, visiting towns along the way such as Galatina, Otranto and Ricase. We will admire the incredible frescoes in the Basiica of Santa Caterina in Galatina and have lunch near Tricase and, if time and weather permits, a swim in the Ionian Sea.
June 2-3
(Mon & Tues) After breakfast we will drive north into the Valle d’Itria to visit the coned-shaped Trulli houses, experience a hands-on cooking experience, see the Ancient masserie, the once fortified farmhouses and then end our day checking into a boutique hotel in Matera where the “rooms” are derived from the caves once inhabited by the Sassi people. Tuesday we will have a tour through the warren of lanes of the ancient part of the city and learn how the Sassi people lived for centuries in these dwellings carved into the hillsides.
June 4-8
(Wed-Sunday) We leave Matera in early morning to drive north to the region of Abruzzo. We will make a stop or two along the way to see the iconic Trabocchi fishing piers, visit charming villages and, of course, have lunch. After checking into our hotel in the town of Colonnella, our base for the next five days, we have been invited to a welcome aperitivi at my friend Sam Ciapanna’s home. Sam will be our guide as we explore the region of Abruzzo. All the daily details are still being planned with Sam, but they will include many of his favorite places. As an example of one of our day’s excursions, Sam suggests, a day in Teramo, beginning in Mosciano Sant’Angelo at the Gran Noblesse Pasticceria, then heading into Teramo for a walk to various sights, then lunch at an agriturismo near Campi. In the evening he suggests the passeggiata in the old, lungomare sections of Giulanove. Our days will include a tour of Colonnella, a visit to Ascoli Piceno in the region of Le Marche, tastings of the local wine and cheeses and regional dishes, another chance to swim in the warm Adriatic Sea, visits to the hill towns of Civitella del Tronto, Tortoreto and others. We will have five days brim full of Abruzzo experiences!
Day 00
We will head out early to Rome to catch flights late that day or the next morning.
(Tue) Leave the U.S. arriving the next day in Bari, Puglia at the Karol Wojtyla airport (BRI). Transfer to hotel in Bari.
May 28
(Wed) Our first night will be spent in Bari, a port city on the Adriatic Sea and the capital of southern Italy’s Puglia region. Its mazelike old town, Barivecchia, occupies a headland between 2 harbors. In the morning a local guide will lead us on a street food walking tour, making several stops to taste local foods and to visit important sites.
May 29-30
(Thurs & Fri) We will drive south to the Polignano a Mare-Monopoli area and check into our lodgings and explore these historic towns. Known for excellent beaches, we will have a chance to swim in the Adriatic Sea and take a boat tour to see grottos and the beautiful coastline.
May 31-June 1
(Sat & Sun) The city of Lecce, where will stay for these two days, is known for its beautiful Baroque architecture. We will visit these beautiful buildings as well as, the sunken Roman amphitheater. During our guided tour, we have a chance to stop at a local caffè to enjoy a Caffè Leccese and Pasticciotto tasting. On the second day a scenic drive down the coast is planned, visiting towns along the way such as Galatina, Otranto and Ricase. We will admire the incredible frescoes in the Basiica of Santa Caterina in Galatina and have lunch near Tricase and, if time and weather permits, a swim in the Ionian Sea.
June 2-3
(Mon & Tues) After breakfast we will drive north into the Valle d’Itria to visit the coned-shaped Trulli houses, experience a hands-on cooking experience, see the Ancient masserie, the once fortified farmhouses and then end our day checking into a boutique hotel in Matera where the “rooms” are derived from the caves once inhabited by the Sassi people. Tuesday we will have a tour through the warren of lanes of the ancient part of the city and learn how the Sassi people lived for centuries in these dwellings carved into the hillsides.
June 4-8
(Wed-Sunday) We leave Matera in early morning to drive north to the region of Abruzzo. We will make a stop or two along the way to see the iconic Trabocchi fishing piers, visit charming villages and, of course, have lunch. After checking into our hotel in the town of Colonnella, our base for the next five days, we have been invited to a welcome aperitivi at my friend Sam Ciapanna’s home. Sam will be our guide as we explore the region of Abruzzo. All the daily details are still being planned with Sam, but they will include many of his favorite places. As an example of one of our day’s excursions, Sam suggests, a day in Teramo, beginning in Mosciano Sant’Angelo at the Gran Noblesse Pasticceria, then heading into Teramo for a walk to various sights, then lunch at an agriturismo near Campi. In the evening he suggests the passeggiata in the old, lungomare sections of Giulanove. Our days will include a tour of Colonnella, a visit to Ascoli Piceno in the region of Le Marche, tastings of the local wine and cheeses and regional dishes, another chance to swim in the warm Adriatic Sea, visits to the hill towns of Civitella del Tronto, Tortoreto and others. We will have five days brim full of Abruzzo experiences!
Day 00
We will head out early to Rome to catch flights late that day or the next morning.