From ancient Pompeii to the amazing Trulli of Alberobello

Day 1 – Sorrento area Arrival on the Sorrento Peninsula, accommodation in hotel for 3 nights HB.

Day 2 – Amalfi coast After breakfast, a trip to the so-called “Costiera amalfitana” (Unesco World Heritage Site), an area of great physical beauty and natural diversity. It has been intensively settled by human communities since the early Middle Ages. There are a number of towns such as Amalfi and Ravello with architectural and artistic works of great significance. The rural areas show the versatility of the inhabitants in adapting their use of the land to the diverse nature of the terrain, which ranges from terraced vineyards and orchards on the lower slopes to wide upland pastures. Return to hotel in late afternoon for dinner.

Day 3 – Pompeii After breakfast, the morning is dedicated to a guided tour of Pompei (Unesco World Heritage Site). Pompei, the city buried by the great eruption of Vesuvius, is an impressive and revealing insight into life in antiquity. You will visit the Antiquarium, which contains documents about the city’s history and articles of daily use as well as models of mills. Afternoon at leisure and return to hotel for dinner.

Day 4 – Trani – Fasano / Cisternino area Breakfast and departure for Puglia. Along the way, a stop in Trani. The architectural jewel of the city of Trani is its beautiful cathedral, also called the “queen of Apulian cathedrals.” It is the highest expression of the Romanesque style in Apulia and stands before the square Swabian Castle, one of the most impressive structures built by Friedrich II. Arrival at hotel in Monopoli area, for 3 nights HB.

Day 5 – Castellana Caves / Alberobello Breakfast and departure for a full day trip to Castellana and Alberobello. The long underground caves offer visitors a unique natural spectacle. You will penetrate about 1 km into the caves on a one-hour tour. We continue on to Alberobello, where a typical lunch is booked in a friendly restaurant in a real “Trullo”. After lunch, we visit the town, capital of the round stone houses called “Trulli”. There are more than one thousand trulli in the centre, which has been named a World Heritage Site. Return to hotel in late afternoon and dinner.

Day 6 – Castel del Monte After breakfast, departure for Castel del Monte (Unesto World Heritage Site) where a local guide awaits you for the visit. The Castel del Monte is an exquisite masterpiece of Swabian architecture, built by Friedrich III on one of the highest spots in the Murge. Here, Apulian masonry, the new court lifestyle, and classical inheritance come together. Afternoon free and return to the hotel for dinner. Free afternoon and return to hotel for dinner.

Day 7 – Matera and Altamura Breakfast and departure for full day excursion. Today we discover the ancient town Matera, famous for the so called “Sassi di Matera”: cave dwellings of tufa stone laid on each other half bored into the rock walls. This is the most outstanding, intact example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean region, perfectly adapted to its terrain and ecosystem (Unesco World Heritage Site). Then the visit continue to Altamura (the name means means ‘High Walls’). Here we taste the exquisite focaccia (kind of white pizza). Return to hotel for dinner.

Day 8 – After breakfast and a final photo, departure for return journey.