Puglia & Matera

7 days | £2995 per person with flights | 1-7 Sept 24

Puglia & Matera

The south of Italy is still largely, and unjustly, unknown. Come with us as we explore the sun-drenched region of Puglia, from Trani south into the Salento, the tip of the heel of the Italian boot, a land rich in history, full of treasures of art and architecture. Our journey will, in some senses, have a companion: Frederick II, king of Sicily and southern Italy as well as Holy Roman Emperor (1194-1250), who built many of the spectacular sites we will visit. Our first base will be Trani, where Frederick built the city's castle and prayed in its magnificent cathedral. From there we will make a visit to see Frederick's most magnificent castle and residence, Castel del Monte, one of the jewels of the thirteenth century. Our path next takes us out of Puglia and into neighbouring Basilicata, across the “murgia” or plain to Matera, one of the oldest cities in the western world, with continuous human habitation from the late Paleolithic era onward, with its fascinating “Sassi” or dwellings cut out of the rock of the ravine that defines one of the city's edges. Then we make a visit to Bari, capital of Puglia, with another castle built by Frederick, to pay our respects to St Nicholas in his great basilica before moving south to Lecce, our second base of exploration. We will begin with Lecce itself, with its astonishing Baroque decoration, but the Salento area has more to show us, from Otranto with its twelfth-century mosaic floor and its streets running down the hill to the sea, to the landscape of the interior, where Frederick II went hawking, and Gallipoli where we will walk along the edge of the Ionian Sea. Our visit ends with a trip to the Puglian town of Martina Franca with its characteristic trulli or conical domed buildings, and all through our journey we will be sampling the variety of food and wine that come from this most extraordinary and unexpected region.

Day to day Itinerary

Day 1

Morning flight from London Gatwick to Bari.

Drive to Bitonto to visit one of the most striking cathedrals in the region modelled on the basilica of Saint Nicholas of Bari; its crypt dates from the pre-Romanesque period. Continue to Trani where the first of three nights will be spent.

Included dinner

Day 2

Trani is famous for its cathedral perched on the tip of a promontory, a jewel of the Pugliese/Romanesque style and for the dazzling whiteness of its historical centre, which stands out against the deep blue of the sea. The 12th-c. church of Ognissanti is a former Templar church that is still intact.

Drive to Andria for lunch at an organic farm. Continue to Castel del Monte to visit Frederick II’s unique octagonal fortress from the 12th century situated on a hill top. The Castle has been a Unesco site since 1996.

Included lunch at farm

Day 3

A day excursion to Matera, the European Capital of Culture for 2019 and a Unesco site since 1993. 

Walk through the centre and “I Sassi” to visit the Romanesque Cathedral and the Crypt of the Original Sin, located in a rocky cavern on the edge of a ravine, painted inside with scenes from the Old and New Testaments, dating from the 9th century.

Included Lunch

Day 4

Bari is the principal city of Puglia and its capital. The old mediaeval city is situated on a walled peninsula stretching out into the sea. The Basilica of Saint Nicholas is the first and the most impressive Romanesque basilica of Puglia. Inside, the Cathedra and the Ciborium of Saint Eustace are superb works of mediaeval sculpture dating from the 11th c. Also visit the nearby 12th-c. Cathedral. Continue to Lecce where the last three nights will be spent.

Included Dinner

Day 5

Lecce lies in the easternmost part of the “heel of Italy” and it is renowned for its joyous and exuberant interpretation of the Baroque and Rococo styles, enhanced by the creamy-coloured stone of the facades of both churches and palazzi. The Cathedral and the Church of Santa Croce are the finest examples of the “Barocco Leccese”.

In the main square of the city lie the remains of a Roman theatre.

Included Lunch

Day 6

Day excursion into the heart of the Salentine Peninsula, a “natural bridge” stretching towards the East, where various populations settled over the course of its history. The Byzantines, Normans and Aragonese have all left traces in the architecture, food and languages, which are still perceptible today.

Otranto is the easternmost town in Italy. Enclosed within its Aragonese walls, it has a Norman cathedral with a remarkable 12th-c. mosaic floor.

Galatina is a charming agricultural centre, where the church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria is decorated inside with 15th-c. frescoes of the school of Giotto. Continue to Gallipoli on the Ionian coast of the Peninsula.

Included dinner

Day 7

After breakfast, check out of hotel and travel to Martina Franca, set in the Valle d’Itria, famous for its white conical constructions called “Trulli”. The façade of the church of Saint Martin has a splendid bas-relief of the saint.  Continue to Bari airport for return evening flight to London Gatwick.

Hotel San Paolo al Convento

The rooms of the historic Hotel San Paolo at the Convent of Trani have been completely restored respecting the original layout of the monastery from which it stands. The stay here is a unique experience thanks to the scenery that this hotel is able to offer: on one side the deep blue sea, on the other the historic cathedral and the green of the belvedere gardens.

Room Amenities

• Air conditioning 
• Television
• Safe
• Wifi
• Mini fridge
• Bathroom with shower cubicle and hairdryer
  

Grand Hotel di Lecce

The Grand Hotel Di Lecce is a luxurious and elegant hotel in the historic city of Lecce, Italy. It offers beautifully appointed rooms, exquisite cuisine, a spa, and a prime location for exploring the city's attractions. With its impeccable service and attention to detail, the Grand Hotel Di Lecce provides a truly memorable and indulgent experience for guests.

Room Amenities

• Sky television 
• Tea & Coffee Maker 
• Room service
  

With Flights: £2995

Join Direct: £2845

Single Supp: £250

Departure Dates:

1-7 September 2024

Duration:

6 nights / 7 days

Your Holiday Includes:

• Scheduled return flights from London Gatwick to Bari (Economy class) with British Airways
• Transfers and excursions in Italy by private coach
• Three nights B&B in a charming 4-star Hotel San Paolo al Convento in Trani and Three nights B&B in the Grand Hotel di Lecce.
• Three dinners and three lunches
• Guided visits to monuments and museums listed in the programme
• Services of the lecturer and a tour manager
• Detailed programme and study notes
• All entrance fees, taxes, and gratuities for coach drivers and waiters
  

Guest Lecturers

Nigel McGilchrist

Living and teaching in the Mediterranean area (Italy, Turkey and Greece) for over forty years, Art Historian Nigel McGilchrist began work with the Italian Ministry of Arts in the field of wall painting conservation. He has taught for universities both in the USA and in Italy, and now lectures independently for the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and for a number of other cultural organisations.. He has accompanied over eighty art and architecture tours in both Europe and Asia. With a particular interest in Buddhism and its art, and a family connection with Japan, he has taken groups to Bhutan, India, Cambodia, Thailand and Japan. He is the author of a 20-volume series of books on the art, history and architecture of the Greek Aegean Islands; and his most recently published book on Pythagoras (When the Dog speaks, the Philosopher listens) draws on the deep connections between Greek and Eastern philosophy.

Hotel Resorts: Trani; Lecce

Star Rating: ★★★★☆

Board Basis: Bed & Breakfast