Compare A Week In... Puglia 2019 by Tauck vs Great Italian Cities (Summer) by Trafalgar
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
4 | Great
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4.5 | Great
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| Duration | 8 days | 10 days |
| Price From | $ 4,490 | $ 2,650 |
| Price Per Day | $ 561 | $ 358 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Premium |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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N/A |
| Flights & Transport | No | No |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
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| Description |
Smaller groups, averaging 24 Tauck guests on our Puglia Italy tours exploring one of Italy's most fascinating regions, from ancient cave dwellings to Baroque architecture, cosmopolitan resort towns and unique villages, full of remarkable and unexpected sights and flavors... like the fairy-tale like trulli houses... |
Rome, Florence and Venice are the stars of the show on the most incredible of Italy trips. This unforgettable trio features visits to food markets, ancient Roman ruins and the artistry of great masters. But that’s not all, as you’ll also get to dine with an Italian family in their beautiful Tuscan villa. |
Day 1 Arrive in Bari, then welcome to Matera
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Palazzo Gattini, Matera. A transfer is included from Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport to Palazzo Gattini, set in a 15th-century stone palace in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Matera. Join us for a rooftop welcome reception, followed by dinner in a local restaurant.
MEALS : D
LODGING : Palazzo Gattini
PORTOFCALL : Matera, Italy
Day 2 The Sassi of Matera & a 13th-century castle
Hop aboard a tuk-tuk for a ride through the winding streets of Matera. The cave dwellings you will see here made their debut in Paleolithic times and were lived in until 1960. Go inside a typically furnished cave home, before driving to Alta Mura, the "City of Bread" for a taste of local life. Take a guided tour inside 13th-century Castel del Monte this afternoon, one of the best-preserved castles in southern Italy and a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it also is featured on the Italian version of the one-cent euro coin! Spend the evening at leisure back in Matera.
MEALS : B
LODGING : Palazzo Gattini
PORTOFCALL : Matera, Italy
Day 3 Baroque treasures of Lecce
Drive through the countryside to Lecce today, stopping en route at a winery known for its Puglian Primitivo wine. Enjoy a tasting tour and lunch and continue on to your hotel in Lecce. A guided walking tour on cobbled city streets includes a close look at its Baroque architectural gems, the ornate 15th-century Chiesa di Santa Chiara; the 2nd-century Roman Amphitheater, unearthed in 1901; the Piazza del Duomo; and the allegorically dressed Basilica de Santa Croce, a must-see site inside and out. Spend the remainder of the day exploring as you wish.
MEALS : B, L
LODGING : Risorgimento Resort
PORTOFCALL : Lecce, Italy
Day 4 Galatina, Otranto & Zoe entertainment
Head to nearby Galatina, home of the "Tarantella," for a tour of the Basilica di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria where you will view impressive frescoes depicting biblical stories. On a visit inside the Baroque Chiesa di San Paolo, see the church well that was reputed to have healing powers from magic spiders. After lunch, drive to the fortified seaside town of Otranto for a guided walking tour of its historic sites. See its famous castle and visit its medieval cathedral, home to a magnificent floor mosaic (and wooden coffered ceiling) along with its macabre crypts. Dinner tonight at an authentic masseria delights with a family-style farm-to-table menu that showcases ingredients grown on site and "Officina Zoe" pizzica folk music and dance.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Risorgimento Resort
PORTOFCALL : Lecce, Italy
Day 5 Through Puglia to Ostuni & on to your Masseria
Spend the morning at leisure, before driving to an Apulian masseria for a tour of its grounds and a lunch featuring locally produced ingredients. En route to your masseria hotel in Savelletri di Fasano, explore the multi-level medieval city of Ostuni, charming with whitewashed houses.
MEALS : B, L, D
LODGING : Masseria Torre Maizza / Masseria Torre Coccaro
PORTOFCALL : Ostuni, Italy
Day 6 Trulli in Alberobello
Discover the cave homes of Alberobello today. Walk down narrow alleys of the tightly packed "barnyard district" of Rione Aia Piccola, where some 400 whitewashed trulli, once inhabited by the region's farmers, still stand strong today. Nearby, visit the two-story Trullo Sovrano; now a museum, it was built in the 18th century for the local priest and houses religious relics from the past. Time at leisure lets you explore and sample a taste of local fare. This evening's dinner at a classic Puglia seafood restaurant gives you an opportunity to savor the catch of the day fresh from the sea.
MEALS : B, D
LODGING : Masseria Torre Maizza / Masseria Torre Coccaro
PORTOFCALL : Alberobello, Italy
Day 7 Seaside Polignano a Mare & a farewell dinner
Built into a rugged ravine pitted with caves and painted with deep blue grottoes, Polignano a Mare is renowned for its cliff diving, for inspiring the song "Volare" by Domenico Modugno, and, according to the locals, ice cream. Enjoy time to wander in town before returning to your resort. Join us for a farewell dinner tonight.
MEALS : B, D
LODGING : Masseria Torre Maizza / Masseria Torre Coccaro
PORTOFCALL : Savelletri di Fasano, Italy
Day 8 Journey home
Tour ends: Savelletri di Fasano. Fly home anytime. Transfers are included from Masseria Torre Maizza or Masseria Torre Coccaro to Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport or Brindisi Airport, regardless of time or day of departure. Ask at booking about extending your stay with additional hotel nights in Savelletri di Fasano or in Bari. You should allow three hours for flight check in.
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : Savelletri di Fasano, Italy
Day 1: Welcome to Rome
You're in for a bellissimo journey through the spectacular cities of Italy, which kicks off in the 'Eternal City' of Rome. Join your travel companions and Travel Director for a delightful Welcome Dinner. Your introduction to la dolce vita begins with an orientation drive past Rome's most magnificent sights.
Grand Palatino
Dinner
Day 2: Explore Ancient Rome and the Vatican City Dive Into Culture
This morning we join our Local Specialist for a very special experience as we Dive Into Culture in the smallest nation on earth - Vatican City. Explore the extraordinary collections of the Vatican Museums and stand beneath Michelangelo’s sublime ceiling in the Sistine Chapel, admiring the artistry of great masters and walking in the footsteps of popes who have found peace within the walls of this enclave for centuries. Visit the expansive St Peter’s Basilica before continuing to the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo, where you’ll enjoy a tour of the lush gardens and lunch in its beautiful surrounds before returning to Rome.
Grand Palatino
Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3: Rome Your Way
Enjoy a full free day to explore Rome your way, or consider an Optional Experience delving into the tragic history of Pompeii - the Roman city frozen in time by the devastating eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Your Local Specialist will bring the ancient story of this city to life before you return to Rome, passing by the Abbey of Monte Cassino, the site of fierce fighting during the Second World War.
Grand Palatino
Breakfast
Day 4: Admire Assisi and on to Florence
Journey north through the rolling hills of Umbria to the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi. Here your Local Specialist will reveal the story of this most venerated figure on a visit to the Basilica of St. Francis, the final resting place of this famous saint and home to a wonderful series of frescoes by Giotto. Later we continue our journey through the scenic Tuscan countryside to Florence. Tonight, we Connect With Locals over dinner at a Be My Guest experience enjoying delicious specialties against the backdrop of picture-perfect olive groves and vineyards.
Grand Mediterraneo
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5: Discover Renaissance Florence
Enjoy a leisurely encounter with the artistic and architectural marvels of Florence during your walking tour with a Local Specialist. Visit the striking Piazza della Signoria with its impressive sculptures and palazzi. Amble through the charming cobblestone lanes to the multi-colored marble Duomo and Baptistery, before admiring the scenic view of the Ponte Vecchio straddling the Arno River. Learn about the quality and workmanship of two of this city’s historic industries at demonstrations of Florentine leathercraft and 18-carat gold. Spend the rest of the afternoon sauntering through the historic center of Florence, shopping for high-quality leather for which the city is famous, or admiring the artistic contribution of the Medici at every turn.
Grand Mediterraneo
Breakfast
Day 6: Uncover Pisa’s Treasures Connect with Locals
After a morning at leisure in Florence, cross the fertile Arno Valley to Pisa and join a Local Specialist to visit the Square of Miracles, home to the incredible Leaning Tower and the iconic marble Cathedral. See the ornate Baptistery and the Camposanto, a monumental cemetery built on sacred soil brought back from the Holy Land during the Crusades.
Grand Mediterraneo
Breakfast
Day 7: Journey to Bologna and Venice
Travel north, through the Apennines, to the medieval city of Bologna, perhaps best known for the delicious pasta sauce that bears its name. Your sightseeing tour with a Local Specialist includes views of the Kissing Towers which lean towards each other, seemingly poised to embrace. Then it's off to the romantic island city of Venice with its rich cultural and artistic heritage. Spend time at leisure gliding along its enchanting canals in a gondola or wander through the city's labyrinthine lanes, over bridges and into quiet campi.
Amadeus, Principe
Breakfast
Day 8: Cruise Venice’s Canals Make Travel Matter
Savor the iconic and unexpected highlights of Venice as you cruise by private launch to St. Mark's Square to admire the Bridge of Sighs, Palladian churches, Customs House, St. Mark's Basilica and the ornate Doge's Palace. This afternoon, your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience will see you enjoy one of the city’s last remaining studios where you’ll gain insights into the delicate Venetian art of glassblowing. Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure admiring this city on water or consider an Optional Experience to the island of Burano where colorful fishermen’s homes line the canals.
Amadeus, Principe
Breakfast
Day 9: Experience Venice’s Food Market
Sites made famous in poetry, song and prose are explored today when we join a Local Specialist for a walking tour from our hotel along the canals to the famous Rialto Bridge, where all the flavors of Italy come to life at a centuries-old food market. Amble through the narrow calli of Venice and admire the beautiful architecture, walking over the Rialto Bridge before spending the rest of the day visiting the sights of your choice. Our love affair with Italy's great Italian cities comes to an end this evening as we enjoy a Farewell Dinner.
Amadeus, Principe
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10: Farewell Venice
For now, it's time to say a fond arrivederci to Italy and newfound friends who have shared in the memorable sights, sounds and flavors.
Breakfast
