Compare Puglia, Basilicata & Calabria: Southern Italy from “Heel” to Toe by Road Scholar

Day 1
In Transit to Program
In Flight

Day 2
Arrival Brindisi, Check-In, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Lecce D Patria Palace Hotel Lecce
Activity note: Hotel check-in from 12:00 noon. Drive to the hotel is about 28 miles (45 km), approximately 1 hour from the airport.

Afternoon: After checking-in at the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before a light snack and our Orientation session. Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Unless specified otherwise, the majority of transportation will be provided via motorcoach thereby necessitating ascending and descending a few steps. All meals include wine, coffee and water. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Before dinner, we’ll enjoy a welcome cocktail together at the hotel.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a plated and served meal with wine, coffee and water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know each other, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the full day ahead.

Day 3
Baroque in Lecce
Lecce B,L Patria Palace Hotel Lecce
Activity note: Walking about 4 miles, approximately 2 hours in both morning and afternoon; flat terrain.

Breakfast: At the hotel, the breakfast buffet’s choices include an egg dish, a variety of sliced cold cuts and cheeses, breakfast breads, jams, hot and cold cereals, and fresh fruit with coffee, tea and water.

Morning: We’ll begin with a lecture at the hotel with a local expert focused on discovering the Baroque in Lecce. Afterwards, we will embark on an expert-led walking field trip of Lecce with emphasis on finding examples of the Baroque discussed earlier. During the walk, we will explore the Old City and its iconic Baroque monuments, churches, and even some ancient Roman ruins including the Basilica of Santa Croce, Piazza Sant’Oronzo, the Roman Ampitheatre, Cathedral’s Square, and some Baroque Noble Palaces. The remainder of the morning will be free for independent exploration of Lecce before meeting back at the hotel at a predetermined time.

Lunch: At a local restaurant in Lecce, we’ll have a plated and served meal with wine, coffee, and water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will continue our expert-led walking field trip of Lecce’s Old City to explore the Roman Theatre, the Church of Saint Matthew, and some less touristy areas of the Old Town.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
Medieval Salento, Galatina, Gallipoli
Lecce B,L Patria Palace Hotel Lecce
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Total driving distance is about 55 miles with stops for field trips, approximately 2 hours collectively. Walking about 3 miles total, approximately 1.5 hours in both Galatina and Gallipoli on flat terrain.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will be joined by a local expert at the hotel for a lecture on medieval Salento and its relations between the East and West. We’ll learn about the connections early Salento had with the Byzantine Empire, the Holy Land, and the Ottoman Empire. We’ll then board our motorcoach and transfer to Galatina for an expert-led field trip to the Basilica of Santa Caterina to admire its beautiful frescoes. It is regarded by many to be “The Assisi of Salento” in comparison to the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi because of its many frescoes painted by various talents from all over Italy in the early 15th century.

Lunch: At a local restaurant in Galatina, we’ll have a plated meal featuring regional cuisine with wine, coffee and water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Carrying on via motorcoach, we will continue to Gallipoli for an expert-led field trip of the Old Town. We’ll explore the Baroque noble palaces and cathedral, walk along the city walled overlooking the Ionian Sea. The term “kale polis” means “beautiful city” in Greek, which helps to elucidate the origins of the modern name, Gallipoli. We’ll then return to the hotel.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 5
Muro Leccese, Otranto
Lecce B,D Patria Palace Hotel Lecce
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Drive to Otranto is about 25 miles, approximately 1 hour. Walking about 2.5 miles total on flat terrain.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will transfer to Otranto, a town of Messapian (pre-Roman origin) which, in the wars of Pyrrhus and of Hannibal, sided against Rome. Now, Otranto is a town and commune in a fertile region in the province of Lecce, situated on the east coast of the Salento peninsula, and famous for breeding horses in earlier times. While in Otranto, we will go on an expert-led walking field trip through its Old Town to see its signature monuments including the Cathedral di Santa Maria Annunziata and its incredible mosaic floor depicting, among other things, The Tree of Life.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Afternoon: We will then board our motorcoach for an expert-led field trip to Muro Leccese, where we will stroll through the historical medieval village and visit the Museum Borgo Terra at the Renaissance Palazzo del Principe. Afterwards, we will also get to see an underground olive oil mill dating back to 1602 that functioned all the way until the early 1800s. It is located quite close to the Palazzo because it belonged to the prince. We’ll then return to the hotel.

Dinner: Plated hotel meal.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Day 6
Egnazia, Alberobello, Puglia & Unification
Alberobello (BA) B,L,D Grand Hotel Olimpo
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Drive to Egnazia is about 55 miles; approximately 1.5 hours. Walking about 1.5 miles, approximately 2 hours; cobblestone paths; some benches on which to rest.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll stop en route to Alberobello at the archeological site of Egnazia for an expert-led field trip through its museum and ancient Roman and pre-Roman ruins, complete with an on-site lecture. We will then continue our transfer to Alberobello and check into the hotel in time for lunch and a welcome drink.

Lunch: At the hotel, we will enjoy a meal with coffee, tea, water included.

Afternoon: At the hotel, we’ll have some free time before an informative afternoon session led by a local expert analyzing the region of Puglia after the unification of Italy, which began early in the 19th century at the close of Napoleonic rule.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a plated meal featuring regional cuisine plus a glass of wine, water and coffee; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 7
Trulli Architecture, Alberobello UNESCO Site, Locorotondo
Alberobello (BA) B,L Grand Hotel Olimpo
Activity note: Walking about 1.5 miles, approximately 1 hour, on mostly flat terrain with some steps.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we will enjoy a breakfast buffet, with coffee, tea, water included.

Morning: At the hotel, we’ll receive a presentation on the trulli architecture of Puglia given by a local expert as a way to familiarize us with what we will see throughout the day. We will then begin our expert-led field trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Alberobello, which is situated on the second step of Le Murge, south of the Canale di Pirro. It was born as a farming village near an oak-forest and this is the origin of its name, which was originally “silva arboris belli.” All around Alberobello, the rolling countryside is planted with vines, olives and almond trees and dotted everywhere by clusters of trulli (dry stone huts with conical rooves), which take their name from the Greek tholos (cupola) and give the whole area a social characteristic that is unique to Italy: born following the division of landed property, they constitute the so-called phenomenon of scattered population. Each family group lives on its own land without forming urban centers; these microcosms are based on an estate averaging two hectares in size, all farmed, with a trullo standing in at the center and dominating the land.

Lunch: In an 18th-century farmhouse situated in the area called “Murgia dei trulli,” we’ll enjoy a plated and served meal of traditional Pugliese cuisine, with wine, coffee and water included.

Afternoon: After transferring to the small village of Locorotondo, we’ll explore the white town on foot with our Group Leader before returning to the hotel.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 8
Castel del Monte, Torrevento Winery, Cooking Demonstration
Alberobello (BA) B,L,D Grand Hotel Olimpo
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Drive to Castel del Monte is about 62 miles, approximately 1.5 hours. Walking about 1 mile, approximately 1 hour.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: After transferring via motorcoach, we’ll begin our day by visiting Castel del Monte, a castle well known for its octagonal shape and eight octagonal towers in each corner, built directly on a treeless, rocky bank. We will be joined by a local expert for a lecture on Frederick II: Stupor Mundi. A local expert will lead us through this 1966 UNESCO Heritage Site inductee that was built in about the year 1240 C.E. by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen. Continuing on, we will visit Torrevento Winery for an informative and enlightening field trip led by an expert staff member of the winery. We’ll learn about the local wine grape growing traditions of the region, see the cellars, and hear about the production process, all on site. Afterwards we will be treated to a wine tasting so we can sample the flavors of the region.

Lunch: At Torrevento Winery, we’ll have a light lunch enriched by local products and wines.

Afternoon: We’ll then return to hotel via motorcoach. We’ll have some free time before the head chef of the hotel shows us how to prepare traditional recipes of Puglia—the “heel” region of Italy’s “boot”—in a special cooking demonstration.

Dinner: At a local restaurant in Alberobello, we’ll have a plated meal of regional cuisine with a glass of wine, water and coffee; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 9
Bari, Polignano al Mare
Alberobello (BA) B,L,D Grand Hotel Olimpo
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Walking about 3.5 miles total on mostly flat terrain, approximately 3 hours total. The drive is approximately 75 miles total, about 2.5 hours total, with stops for field trips at various locations.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will board the motorcoach and head to Bari for a full morning walking field trip throughout this picturesque port city and its historical center on the shores of the Adriatic Sea. On our way around Bari led by a local expert, we will see the Basilica of San Nicola, the cathedral, the outside of the castle, and the main square of the Old City.

Lunch: At a local restaurant in Mola di Bari, we’ll have a plated and served meal with wine, coffee and water; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: After transfer to the small village of Polignano a Mare, we’ll explore the old part of the village on foot and have a stroll along the waterfront before returning to the hotel.

Dinner: Plated hotel meal.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Day 10
Matera, Sassi, Free Time
Matera B,L,D Hotel San Domenico al Piano
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Drive to Matera is about 43 miles, approximately 1.5 hours. Walking about 2.5 miles, approximately 2 hours; Sassi is very rocky; several steps and slopes; be sure to wear comfortable shoes.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Via motorcoach, we will transfer to Matera. We will embark on a walking field trip to the Sassi di Matera, the oldest part of the city, led by a local expert. This area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it is considered to be “…the most outstanding, intact example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean region, perfectly adapted to its terrain and ecosystem.” The first settlements can be dated back to the Neolithic period, approximately 7000 years ago, while later settlements illustrate a number of significant stages in human history. We will be joined by a local expert for a lecture on what the Stones know.

Lunch: At the hotel restaurant, we’ll have a plated and served meal with wine, coffee and water; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will check in at the hotel, with the remainder of the afternoon free.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a plated and served meal with wine, coffee and water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 11
Parco Murgia Materana, Metaponto
Matera B,L Hotel San Domenico al Piano
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Walking about 2 miles on cobblestone streets; some steps to see the underground cistern. The drive is approximately 35 miles total, about 1.5 hours with stops for field trips.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll begin with a walking field trip to the Palombaro Lungo, a spectacular underground cistern dating back to the early 19th century. It held much of the water supply for Matera and was located in the main square just a short distance from the hotel. From here, we will go on an expert-led field trip exploring the area of Parco Murgia Materana including the stunning viewpoint known as the Belvedere. The park houses an ancient environment of soft rocks that have been carved into cliffs, ravines, gorges and caves, many of them used by prehistoric humans for shelter and eventually worship, as evidenced by the spectacular rock churches. A variety of unique fauna inhabit this rocky wonderland including the lesser kestrel falcon (the park’s symbol), hedgehogs, a range of reptiles, and a wealth of beautiful desert flora.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated and served meal with beverages included.

Afternoon: We will then head to Metaponto, once part of the Ancient Greek colonies of Magna Grecia, and go on a field trip to the ruins of the Tavole Palatine and the National Museum of Archaeology with a local expert. Afterwards, we will return to the hotel.

Dinner: On your own to sample the local fare.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 12
Castelmezzano, Free Time
Matera B,L,D Hotel San Domenico al Piano
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Drive to Castelmezzano is about 50 miles, approximately 1.5 hours. Walking about 1.5 miles, approximately 1.5 hours on cobblestone streets; hike to the mountain peak requires navigating an inclining stretch of a cobblestone path with several steps.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will travel to Castelmezzano for a walking field trip through the city nestled into mountain slopes. From the striking sight of Emilio Caizzo’s square, we’ll first learn about its history, cultural customs and curiosities from a local expert. The village is known as “the pearl of the Dolomiti Lucane” and is regarded as one of Italy’s most beautiful sites, with notable people hailing from it, from skyscraper architects to members of the Knights Templar. The main church of the village, Santa Maria dell’Olmo, contains beautiful pictures and statues, dating from the Middle Ages to the 17th century with various styles from the Byzantine to the Baroque. As part of our walking field trip, we will hike to the mountain summit to overlook the town. Those who do not want to hike may wait below in the village and enjoy time in the park or exploring the quaint streets.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated and served meal with beverages included.

Afternoon: We will return to the hotel. The remainder of the afternoon will be free in Matera.

Dinner: Plated hotel meal.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Day 13
To Cosenza, Rossano, Amarelli
Cosenza B,L,D Hotel Royal
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Drive to Cosenza is about 127 miles, approximately 3.5 hours. Walking up 2.5 miles, about 1 hour; several steps and slopes during field trip.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will board our motorcoach for transfer to Cosenza. We will stop en route to Rossano. We will visit with our group leader the Cathedral dedicated to Madonna Achiropita, the Diocesan Museum, the historical center and one of the many noble palaces.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated and lunch including a mix of appetizers, a main course, and dessert with wine, coffee, cappuccinos, and water included

Afternoon: After lunch, we will travel by motorcoach to Amarelli and visit a local licorice factory. We will then return to the hotel. We will then continue our transfer to Cosenza and check into the hotel.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll enjoy a plated and served 4-course meal with wine, coffee, tea, water and liqueur included.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 14
Reggio Calabria, Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia, Scilla
Cosenza B,L,D Hotel Royal
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. The ride from Cosenza to Reggio is about 110 miles, approximately 2.0 hours and the ride from Reggio to Scilla is about 30 minutes. Walking about 3 miles, approximately 2 hours total; some steps and inclines.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we will enjoy a breakfast buffet, with coffee, tea, water included.

Morning: We’ll transfer via motorcoach to Reggio Calabria and we’ll visit the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia, or National Museum of Reggio, home to the famed Riace Bronzes, which are among very few surviving examples of Classic Greek bronze statuary. Our Group Leader will hold a talk focusing on the cuisine and cultural traditions of Calabria. Reggio Calabria is the regional capital city of Calabria, standing at the foot of the Aspromonte, a wild mountainous region, for centuries isolated from the rest of the world. In some villages, the dialect spoken is still based on ancient Greek. The museum houses an extraordinary collection of prehistoric Greco-Roman and medieval antiquities, including beautiful terra cottas, marbles and small bronzes of fine workmanship from Sibari, Locri, Medma and other sites throughout Calabria. While here, a local expert will provide background information as pertaining to the history and importance of myth in Reggio Calabria

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated and lunch including a mix of appetizers, a main course, and dessert with wine, coffee, cappuccinos, and water included.

Afternoon: We’ll then have a transfer by motorcoach to visit the fishing village of Scilla and the old district of Chianalea, where a local expert will lead us on a field trip through Castello Ruffo and its Museum of the Swordfish, as these animals are the specialty of this area. We’ll then begin a walking field trip with our Group Leader through the alleyways of the Chianalea District, the old fisherman district, also referred to warmly as the “small Venice.” We will return to the hotel.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a buffet meal complete with wine and water.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Day 15
Statti Winery, Catanzaro
Catanzaro B,L,D Hotel Palace
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Cosenza to Catanzaro is about 62 miles, approximately 1.5 hours; Walking about 2 miles, approx. 1 hour on mostly flat cobblestone terrain.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will then check out of the hotel and begin our transfer to Catanzaro with a field trip stop in the Statti winery for a visit and wine tasting.

Lunch: At Statti Winery, we’ll have a light lunch enriched by local products and wines.

Afternoon: We will travel the final stretch of our transfer to Catanzaro. We will stop and visit the Scolacium Archeological Park. We will then check into the hotel, with time to freshen up before dinner.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a buffet meal with wine and water included.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 16
Calabria’s Art, Santa Severina, Battistero Bizantino
Catanzaro B,L,D Hotel Palace
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach. Drive to Santa Severina is about 40 miles, approximately 1.5 hours. Walking about 3 miles, approximately 2 hours; flat terrain.

Breakfast: At the hotel, the breakfast buffet includes a variety of breads, pastries, cold cuts, cheese, fresh fruit, and cereals with juice, milk, coffee, cappuccinos, tea, and water.

Morning: Santa Severina, a town with a long and rich history, is located on a rocky hill that only has a single access point: through the village square where a massive and beautifully preserved castle dominates with its presence. On a walking field trip led by our Group Leader, we will visit the Diocesan Museum where we will see some of the most important and precious religious vestments, tools and statues from the surrounding area while learning about the symbolic meanings inherent to these ancient legacies. As we continue we will stop at the baptistery, which is considered to be one of the most iconic and, up until recently, characteristic ancient Byzantine churches in all of Italy. Last but not least for the morning, we will enter the prominent castle in the square built of sandstone and fossil shell conglomerate rock. The interior hosts an archaeological museum and is decorated with countless stuccos and paintings.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a plated and served 4-course meal with wine, coffee, tea and water.

Afternoon: We will return to the hotel. The remainder of the afternoon will be free in Catanzaro.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a plated and served 3-course farewell dinner including wine, prosecco and water to toast new Road Scholar friendships while recounting our favorite experiences from the program.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

Day 17
Program Concludes
In Flight B
Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11.00 a.m. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet depending on departure time. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!