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May / June
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15 Days
14 Nights
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Mysteries of the Mezzogiorno
Journey through Italy's south
through Abruzzo, Amalfi &
Puglia
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with Neil
Moore
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Sun 25 May to Sun 8 June 2008
Euro 4450 per person in twin share
AUD 7350 as at 11/07/07. Subject to change
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You will stay
in a mountain village in the Abruzzo, on the Amalfi coast, at Matera in Basilicata, and in Puglia at Trani, Locorotondo and the ancient seaside town of Otranto.
Guided visits will
be made to L'Aquila, Amalfi, Pompeii, Paestum, Matera, Trani,
Castel del Monte, Martina Franca, Alberobello, Ostuni and
Lecce
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Living Italy
explores the ancient past and the exhilarating present in this
fascinating journey from the great mountains of the central Apennines to
the castles of Frederick II and the Saracen strongholds of Southern Puglia stopping at the Amalfi coast on the
way.
Known as the 'mezzogiorno', the Italian south is a fascinating mix
of Greek, Norman, Arab, French and Spanish influences. With a history
significantly different from that of the north, this half of what was once
the Kingdom of the two Sicilies has seen greater
misery but also periods of extraordinary splendour and cultural ambition
which have left abundant traces throughout the region. From the towering
mountains of the Abruzzo - perhaps Italy's last frontier with it's
inaccessible hilltowns and forests still
providing refuge to wolves and bears - to the flatlands of Puglia with
thousand year old olive trees and magical clusters of the strange conical
houses known as trulli, you will be constantly
reminded that there is no other place that matches the cultural richness of
Italy.
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Unusually for Living Italy
we stay at six different locations on this program, but some of these are
amongst the most extraordinary 'hotels' to be found in Italy and
are worthy destinations in themselves. Three of them in fact are of the 'albergo diffuso' form where
the rooms are spread out within an urban habitat, not necessarily
connected one to another, and provide an unforgettable experience. The
distance we cover makes a number of the transfers longer than would be
ideal, but the country we travel through is fascinating and at times
spectacular. Excellent meals of local produce will be included at
strategic places within the itinerary, and the whole package will be
threaded together with Neil Moore's insights on history, art,
architecture and contemporary life. And of course we will feel obliged to
compare the local wines to those in our previous Italian tours.
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NEAR L' AQUILA
This is our most radical 'albergo diffuso': here made possible through the acquisition
by one owner of a significant proportion of a stunning mountain top
village, with the aim of recreating as far as possible its original
atmosphere and aspect while still providing the high standards required
by today's discerning traveller. It is a unique and unforgettable
experience and like no other hotel.
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AMALFI
An 'ordinary' four star hotel but with
full frontal views of the Gulf
of Salerno, roof top
sea-view dining and spectacular seafront terraces.
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MATERA
Another 'Albergo
diffuso' this time nestling in the heart of the 'sassi' area of Matera, a
troglodyte town and a world heritage Unesco site where the houses are the
built facades to caves excavated in the soft volcanic cliffs. Our rooms are
in these caves! Recently the setting for Mel Gibson's Passion of Christ,
the place has been inhabited continuously since Neolithic times.
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LOCOROTONDO.
Our third albergo
diffuso, situated in this fascinating whitewashed
town built in concentric circles in the midst of a landscape of 'trulli', the remarkable conical stone houses that are
such a feature of this part of Puglia.
OTRANTO
A stylishly renovated small villa
perched on top of the sea walls of the city - now a fashionable seaside
resort - with stunning views across the straits of Otranto
to the mountains of Albania
visible over the water.
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Detailed itinerary
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This is a preliminary itinerary with details of activities on some
days still to be added. B L D means that breakfast, lunch and/or dinner
will be included that day.
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Sun 25 May
Arrivals
O'night Santo Stefano D
The tour
begins at Rome's Fiumicino
Airport at 11AM with a group transfer to Santo Stefano in
the Abruzzo. Dinner in the ancient dining room at
the accommodation.
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Mon 26
May
Castles and Monasteries
O'night Santo Stefano B
Today we
visit the extraordinary castle of Calascio
and the nearby octagonal church in what can only be described as an
exhilarating setting. In the afternoon a visit to Campo Imperatore and a view of Italy's tallest mountain
south of the alps.
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Tue 27 May
Sulmona
O'night Santo Stefano B
In the
morning a visit to the renowned romanesque
monastery of San Clemente at Casauria, followed by a trip to nearby Sulmona, home of the poet Ovid. In the afternoon
transfer to L’Aquila and a
guided tour of this pretty regional capital.
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Wed 28
May
Transfer to
Amalfi
Overnight Amalfi
B
Stopping
at the fascinating town of Scanno and
passing by Montecassino we head for the
Amalfi coast and a change of historic pace, arriving in the
21st century at Vietri.
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Thu 29 May
Pompeii
Overnight Amalfi
B L D
A guided trip to the the
ruins of Pompeii, ancient Rome’s most
famous ghost town. Lunch at
Il Principe
not just Pompeii's leading restaurant, this is one of the best in all
Campania.
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Fri 30
May
Capri
O'night Amalfi
B D
Boat trip
along the entire Amalfi coast and then the rest of the day at leisure
wandering around the island
of Capri.
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Sat 31 May
Paestum /Transfer to Matera
O'night Matera
B
On our way
to Matera in Basilicata we visit Paestum - ancient Poseidonium
– which has amongst the best preserved Greek ruins in the
Mediterranean in a beautiful setting by the sea.
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Sun
1
June
Matera O'night Trani
B
A Unesco
world heritage sight, the “sassi” of Matera
make up a unique and extraordinary urban landscape which we explore at
our leisure today. In the afternoon we transfer to Trani
in Puglia
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Mon 2
June
Trani
Overnight Locorotondo
B L
One of the
prettiest sights on Puglia’s
Adriatic coast. We explore the town with its breathtaking Norman
cathedral rising sheer from the sea, and lunch in a restaurant with a
view over the port full of fishing boats. In the afternoon we transfer
to Locorotondo,
visiting Polignano on the way
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Tue 3
June
Locorotondo
Overnight Locorotondo
We are now
in the area of the famous Trulli, and this
morning we have the opportunity to see them close up when we have a
wine and local food tasting at a local “masseria”.
The afternoon is free to explore the town of Locorotondo.
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Wed 4
June
Martina Franca, Alberobello
Overnight Locorotondo
Morning
visit to Alberobello, city of the trulli,
and then on to elegant Martina Franca where we lunch. Tour of the town
in the afternoon
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Thu 5 June Ostuni & Wine tasting
/Transfer to Otranto Overnight
Otranto
Guided visit
to the white town of Ostuni
in the morning. After lunch a local wine tasting and then transfer to
our last hotel at Otranto, with a view
across the water to the mountains of Albania
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Fri 6 June
Lecce
Overnight Otranto
Today we
travel to the beautiful town of Lecce
where we have a guided tour followed by lunch. On
our return to Otranto we visit the
extraordinary mosaics in the cathedral.
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Sat 7
June Otranto
Overnight Otranto
B D
A day in Otranto
entirely at leisure. Optional visit to beaches and a cave complex not
far from the town
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Sun 8
June
Departure
B
Transfer to Bari
airport where the tour officially ends.
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The tour officially ends at Bari
airport at around 1 pm. If your flight leaves before this
time we will arrange a separate transfer for you from the
accommodation. Additional charges will apply.
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