Puglia—Ocean, Gastronomy and History June 17—26, 2016

Join UB School of Dental Medicine, Cruise and Travel Partners and
Fantastica Italia on our 4th Italy Discovery Tour!
Puglia—Ocean, Gastronomy and History
June 17—26, 2016
Friday, June 17th: Arrival in Naples airport and transfer to Vieste
Arrival in Bari and transfer to Vieste. Welcome dinner in at the
hotel restaurant and overnight stay.
Vieste is an attractive whitewashed town jutting off the
Gargano's easternmost promontory into the Adriatic
Sea. It's the Gargano capital and sits above the area's
most spectacular beach, a gleaming wide strip backed
by sheer white cliffs and overshadowed by the towering
rock monolith
Friday June, 17th to Sunday, June 19th : 2 nights at
Pizzomunno Vieste Palace Hotel in Superior Double
Rooms with breakfast
Located on Vieste’s seafront, Hotel Pizzomunno is next to its own private beach and offers a wide range of sports facilities
and dining options. The fusion of antique and contemporary amenities reflects the charm of an elegant and exclusive
atmosphere.
Saturday June 18: Excursion to Tremiti island
Breakfast at the Hotel and private transfer to
Vieste harbor for a full day excursion to this
wonderful archipelagos. A light lunch will be
served on the boat after visiting the untouched
island of San Domino. Then you will dock to San
Nicola, whose abbey-fortress is particularly
imposing.
Sunday June 19: Alberobello
Breakfast at the Hotel and transfer to Alberobello
En-route, stop in Trani, a off of the beaten path, beautiful little gem. The city houses the so-called “Queen of Cathedrals”,
located directly on the sea. Lunch will be served just a few steps away: the excellent cuisine and the location makes “Le Lampare
al Fortino” the best restaurant in town. After lunch, take a walk through the sunny streets of Trani and reach the Castle for a
brief visit, then continue to Alberobello for check-in at your special accommodation.
The Trulli of Alberobello
The trulli , limestone dwellings found in the southern region of Puglia, are remarkable examples of drywall (mortarless)
construction, a prehistoric building technique still in use in this region. The trulli are made of roughly worked limestone
boulders collected from neighboring fields. Characteristically, they feature pyramidal, domed or conical roofs built up of
corbelled limestone slabs.
Sunday June 19 to Wednesday June 22: 3 nights at Trulli Holiday Resort
Monday June 20: Day to the Grottoes
Breakfast at the Hotel and morning at leisure in the streets of Alberobello. Lunch on your own and transfer to the Grottoes of
Castellana , one of the most important attractions in Apulia, where you will enjoy a visit of this expansive system of natural
underground passageways and chambers, known throughout Europe as one of the largest and most formation-filled system of
underground galleries. In the late afternoon we will head to Polignano a Mare where you will have some free time for
exploring this former roman town before dinner. Dinner in one of the most spectacular restaurant in the world: Grotta
Palazzese. Carved out of magnificent limestone rocks, with a view over the blue-green Adriatic, the restaurant lies in an
unparalleled location.
Tuesday June 21: Ostuni, the white town
Morning and lunch at leisure. Late afternoon transfer to
Ostuni (about 1h30minutes), known as the “white city of
Apulia”. It is a splendid place, which reigns over olive groves
from the Middle Ages. A picturesque labyrinth of alleyways
and stairways enchants visitors. After the sunset reach
Masseria Torre Coccaro for a cooking demonstration of the
most typical Apulia delights, followed by dinner.
Wednesday June 22: Lecce and cooking class
Breakfast at the Hotel. Check out and transfer to your hotel near Lecce. En-route stop for a hands-on, traditional Pugliese
cooking class under the guidance of local chefs. Continue to Lecce for an afternoon guided tour: the city is known as the pearl
of the Apulian Baroque: the striking buildings and the indisputable beauty of its churches makes the city the Florence of the
south. You will visit Piazza Oronzo, which forms the heart of the city, and see the remains of the Roman amphitheater. The
Church of Santa Croce and the cathedral are beautiful examples of the Leccese Baroque.
Continue towards to your accommodation in Carpignano Salentino for check-in and overnight.
Wednesday, June 22nd to Friday, June 24th: 2
Nights at Tenuta Furnirussi in Junior Suite Rooms
with Breakfast.
Located in Serrano, in the heart of the Grecia
Salentina, and surrounded by the largest organic
fig plantation in Europe: a resort where the perfumes and colors of the Mediterranean countryside are a basic part of the atmosphere.
Thursday June 23: Otranto and Gallipoli
Breakfast at the Hotel and bus transfer to Otranto. Self
guided visit of Otranto and free time for lunch. In the
afternoon, drive to Gallipoli, founded by Greek colonists
as Kallipolis, which means “beautiful city”: visit one of the
most ancient oil mills and free time to explore the city on
your own. While leaving the town, stop in a Masseria for
olive oil and local wine tasting.
Transfer back to hotel for dinner at leisure and overnight
stay.
Friday June 24: Puglia traditions and transfer to Matera
Breakfast at the Hotel and check out. Transfer to Torricella, where you will enjoy a tour of Masseria Jorche where an enologist
will enlighten you about the phases of production and the characteristics of the wine, ending with a wine tasting. Proceed with
lunch on the premises: meals in the masseria represent a real immersion into the traditions and culture of the people of Salento
in its most ancient and real expression: captivating events, accompanied by well-known songs and typical instruments all geared
towards fun and pleasure. During lunch, enjoy a demonstration of the ‘pizzica’, a traditional dance which is still very prominent
in the Salento traditions. After the meal and dances, continue on to the city of rocks: for our overnight accommodation right in
the “sassi”!
Friday, June 24th to Sunday, June 26th: 2
Nights at Hotel Sant Angelo in Deluxe Rooms
with Breakfast
Sant’Angelo Luxury Resort is placed in the enchanting rocky scenery of the Sassi of Matera.
The hotel is the result of a great restoration process that involved cave-dwellings, buildings,
stairs, narrow streets and courtyards
thus creating a new concept of hotel... the
"scattered hotel" or simply "albergo diffuso".
Saturday June 25: Matera and Altamura
Breakfast at the Hotel. After breakfast, a short ride brings you to Altamura: the city is known for its particular quality of bread
called Pane di Altamura, which is sold in numerous other Italian cities. According to the Latin poet Horace: "...for water is sold
here, though the worst in the world; but their bread is
exceeding fine, inasmuch that the weary traveler is used
to carry it willingly on his shoulders." The guided tour
includes focaccia and bread tasting. Free time for lunch,
then get back to Matera for a guided tour: under the
guidance of a licensed guide you will discover the several reasons that makes this city a World Heritage Site.
Special farewell dinner surrounded by sassi.
Sunday June 26: Departure
Breakfast and check out of our hotel. Departures from
Naples Airport
Tour Price $3,299pp
The price does not include:

Air fare to Italy

Local visitor taxes (to be paid CASH locally)

Gratuities

Everything not listed above