Puglia & Basilicata

Arrive in Rome and transfer independently to your hotel, where you will meet your Tour Manager and fellow travelers. Once the largest city in the world and the center of the powerful Roman Empire, the city's architecture charts the passage of time through its wonderfully preserved Roman monuments and buildings with distinctive medieval, Renaissance and Baroque features. Overnight Rome. 

• Dinner

We discover the many famous sights of Rome on a guided tour. We pass the incredible Colosseum, Italy's most famous classical sight, and the Roman Forum as well as Piazza Venezia and the Pantheon. Later, you're free to savor Rome's beauty at your own pace. The city is rich in world-class museums and galleries, though simply walking through the atmospheric streets is a treat. Overnight Rome. 

• Breakfast

Leaving Rome, we travel across Italy by rail - a scenic journey which takes us along the gorgeous Italian-Adriatic coastline. We travel into Puglia, the 'heel' of Italy - a rural region with an undiscovered feel. We arrive in the town of Lecce in southern Puglia then transfer by coach to our seafront hotel in the fishing town of Santa Maria al Bagno, our relaxing base for the next four nights. There's free time to get to know our lovely surroundings, possibly take a refreshing swim in one of the hotel pools, visit the private beach or spend some time on the sun terrace which overlooks the sea. Overnight Santa Maria al Bagno. 

• Breakfast, Dinner

We visit the town of Lecce today on a guided walking tour. With an interesting Old Town of elaborate Baroque architecture, Lecce has been dubbed 'the Florence of the South', and the city's narrow alleys are ideal for exploring on foot. We visit the Chiesa di Santa Croce, with its intricately carved rose window and grand chandeliers, and the Piazza del Duomo, the main square, in the shadow of Lecce's cathedral. Our guided tour ends in a traditional café, where we sample a Leccese coffee, made with almond milk and poured over ice and 'pasticciotto', a Southern Puglian dish. We then have a free afternoon to explore the town. Overnight Santa Maria al Bagno. 

• Breakfast, Dinner

You have a day at leisure to explore the town of Santa Maria al Bagno or relax at the hotel. Due to its beautiful coastline and good swimming beaches, the town buzzes with vacationers during the height of summer. There is an attractive promenade overlooked by elegant estates and palazzos. The traditional town center is just a short walk from the hotel, and above is the 'Tower of the Galatena River' a set of four medieval fortress towers known locally as 'the four columns'. The town was the site of a 'displaced persons camp' after World War II, and a small museum tells the moving story of refugees who were given temporary homes in Santa Maria al Bagno and how they were welcomed by the local population. Overnight Santa Maria al Bagno. 

• Breakfast

We set off for a full day of sightseeing, first to Galatina - one of the region's hidden gems, off the well-worn tourist track with an impressive domed cathedral. After some free time here, we continue to the historic town of Gallipoli which we explore with our local guide. Overnight Santa Maria al Bagno. 

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today we're transferred by coach to Lecce train station where we travel to our next enchanting base, Monopoli - a vibrant town on the Adriatic coast, with a maritime history and a characterful harbor. After checking into our hotel for three nights we are taken on a guided excursion to the unique whitewashed town of Alberobello. This magical UNESCO-listed town is packed with hundreds of 'trulli' - cone-shaped, limestone houses built in a unique style with an interesting history. The original houses date back to the 14th century and were constructed from small stones gathered from the land, and designed to be easily dismantled to avoid taxes!

We have a little time to get to know the town before meeting our knowledgeable and friendly guide, Mimmo Palmisano - affectionately known as Mr Alberobello - who hosts us at a delicious lunch in his family's restaurant before taking us on a fascinating guided tour. Our exploration of this beautiful area continues as we travel to the hill town of Locorotondo, a few miles away. Here we are free to wander the labyrinthine streets of the beautiful historic centre, among whitewashed buildings and some impressive stone churches. The town is renowned for its sparkling white Spumante wine, and the countryside around has an abundance of vineyards, olive groves and 'trulli' settlements. Overnight Monopoli.

• Breakfast, Lunch

This morning we head into the extensive streets of Monopoli with a local expert who guides us on an introductory walk, to get to know our surroundings. In the charming old quarter is a grand Baroque cathedral, pretty painted houses, faded stone palaces and several ornately carved churches. The Old Port is overlooked by a stunning 16th-century fortress castle, and striking whitewashed houses, including some of Venetian origin, which contrast with the translucent blue Adriatic Sea. The sleepy fishing harbor comes to life at dusk and dawn, when wooden blue and red fishing boats cast off and fishermen return with their catch.

After our morning tour the remainder of the day is at leisure, and you could visit one of several sheltered coves or sandy beaches before a slow lunch in one of the old town's inviting restaurants, taverns or outdoor cafés, where you'll find a tempting variety of fish dishes. Siesta time is respected here, but the colorful, flower-filled streets become livelier in late afternoon, when artisan craft shops, small boutiques and specialist grocery stores reopen. Overnight Monopoli.

• Breakfast

We visit Matera in Basilicata, which sits in a small canyon and is famous for its 'Sassi', a collection of ancient cave dwellings that have UNESCO World Heritage status. We explore the maze of winding streets and Paleolithic-era abodes, some of which date back to the 8th century and were inhabited until as recently as the 1950s. Matera has flourished in recent years and there are many boutiques, craft shops, bars and cafés to discover in your free time after our tour. Overnight Monopoli. 

• Breakfast, Dinner

Your tour of Southern Italy concludes after breakfast where you are free to continue your onward journey.

• Breakfast