The Italy No One Knows
Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria & Sicily
FIRST CLASS or BOUTIQUE HOTELS:
4 nights Ostuni Hotel Ostuni Palace (4*) or similar
1 night Matera Hotel San Domenico (4*) or similar
2 nights Riace Hotel Federica (3*sup) or similar
3 nights Tropea Hotel Rocca della Sena (4*) or similar
4 nights Taormina Hotel Piccolo Giardino (4*) or similar
The quote does include:
First-class or boutique hotels for 14 nights
Hotel and service charges
Hotel porterage service
Included Meals:
4 Lunches
3 Dinners
2 cooking classes with professional Chefs
extra virgin olive oil testing
2 Wine Tasting
Bergamot tasting
Honey tasting
Private arrival transfer from Bari airport to Hotel in Ostuni
Private departure transfer from Hotel in Taormina to the Catania Airport
Touring by luxury Mercedes Benz minivan, minibus as per program
Parking fees, Motorway tools, City permits fees, Fuel
Ferry boat strait of Messina
Local guides
Entrance fees
Professional Tour Director/Assistant during your stay
Sightseeing as indicated
Authentic Southern Italy
Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria & Sicily – 14 nights
Day 1 > Bari – Ostuni-APULIA [B, D]
Upon arrival in Bari, meet your tour leader and transfer to Ostuni. Orientation tour of the city, know as “la città Bianca” (the white town) with its picturesque streets and spectacular view of the surrounding valleys of almond and centuries olive trees. Welcome Dinner at the Hotel.
Day 2 > Ostuni – Lecce [B]
Visit beautiful Lecce, which is the province’s capital town. Lunch on your own. On the way back stop nearby Ostuni to visit a unique Olive mill, dated back to the end of 17th century. All around the olive mill there are the famous centuries olive trees, protected today by the UNESCO, while Ostuni is part of the Itria Valley. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 3 > Ostuni – Bari – Polignano a Mare [B]
Half day excursion to Bari. Enjoy visiting the old city center and and admire the Castello Svevo, the great wall of old city and the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, saint patron of Bari, known worldwide with the name of Santa Claus. Stop on route for a short visit of Polignano a Mare, a delightful small city built on a cliff overlooking the Adriatic sea. It is also famous for the jet set of several episodes of “the Bold and the Beautiful” and also known because Polignano gave the birth to Domenico Modugno, famous singer of “Volare”, symbol of the italian music in the world.
Day 4 > Ostuni – Martina Franca and Valley of Itria [B]
Visit Martina Franca and its examples of architecture from Baroque period. Enjoy the excellent panorama of the Valle D’Itria . After lunch continue to Locorotondo and Alberobello and have the chance to visit the Trulli, the symbol of the town, rural houses build with just stones named “Chiancarelle”. Alberobello has become UNESCO world heritage in 1996.
Day 5 > Matera [B]
Transfer departure to Matera, the famous town of “Sassi” (stones) voted as capital city of European cultural 2019. Here you will visit the scene of Mel Gibson movie, Passion of the Christ.
The Sassi originate from a prehistoric settlement, and are suspected to be some of the first human settlements in Italy. Untill the 50’s , Matera was the only place in the world where people were still living in the caves, in the same houses of their ancestors of 9,000 years ago. Visit of Sasso Caveoso and the Sasso Barisano. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at charming Hotel in the historical center.
Day 6 > Riace (Jasmine Riviera) – Calabria [B, D]
Journey south along the rest of the Italian Peninsula, enjoy the scenic drive and landscape through the regions of Southern Italy. On route experience a visit at one of Cirò winery, including wine tasting. In the afternoon arrival in Riace, for check-in at your Hotel. A Welcome cocktail will be served followed by dinner.
Day 7 > Gerace – Calabria [B, L]
Today’s excursion starts with visit and tasting of a Olive oil directly from the mill followed by a guided tour of the medieval hill town of Gerace, which is known as one of the most picturesque & historical centers in the region. Here you will visit a famous Norman Cathedral considered to be the largest in Southern Italy, dated 11th Century A.D. Continue to a Bergamot estate and have a taste of local specialities. Lunch at the Restaurant included.
**Cooking class, hands-on lesson where you will learn how to make some of the italian and Calabrian dish. Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 8 > Stilo, Serra San Bruno, Tropea [B, L]
Excursion to visit Stilo, a medieval village at the bottom of Mount Consolino, today one of the hundred most beautiful villages in Italy. Here is situated the oldest Byzantine church of Italy, La Cattolica. Continue to the magnificient and lush Serre Calabre Mountains. Arrival in Serra San Bruno and visit of the Italian oldest Monastery La Certosa di San Bruno and the picturesque church of Santa Maria del Bosco, where the monk St Bruno was buried. Lunch at local trattoria included.
Arrival in Tropea, a unique medieval little village know as the Pearl of the Tyrrhenian coast, one of the most picturesque & historical centers in the region. Enjoy the Guided tour of the city. Taste of the famous red sweet onion, “Cipolla Rossa di Tropea” and other local products as ‘Nduja, a spice salami know as Calabrian Viagra. Relax at the beautiful seashore if you wish.
Day 9 > Tropea, Pizzo Calabro [B]
Visit the village of Pizzo Calabro for a vista of its Castle, where Napoleon Bonaparte’s Brother- in-low, the prince J. Murat spend the last days of his life in prison. Stop at the Belvedere and tried a unique gelato, the famous Tartufo di Pizzo (truffle).
Enjoy free time for shopping of locals products. Return to the Hotel and time at leisure.
Day 10 > Tropea
Balance of the day at leisure. ** Possible boat tours along the Cost of Gods.
Day 11 > Scilla – Reggio Calabria – Taormina [B, D]
This morning our journey continues to explore the very southern point of the Italian peninsula, the fisherman village of Scilla. Stop in Reggio Calabria and visit of its Museum, where are displayed the famous Greek statues “Bronzi di Riace”. Continue by ferryboat crossing the straits of Messina to reach Taormina. Late afternoon check in to your hotel. Dinner at a local traditional restaurant.
Day 12 > Taormina – Mountain Etna [B, L]
Explore in the morning the slopes of Mt. Etna, the largest active volcano in the European continent. Enjoy the best views as you drive through the fertile slopes and villages that sit on ancient volcanic eruptions. Interesting honey- tasting session in Zafferana. Wine Tasting and light lunch at local Winery of Nero Mascalese wine. Late afternoon walking tour of Taormina. Visit the Greek/ Roman theater. Balance of the day at leisure.
Day 13 > Taormina – Agrigento [B, D]
Departure to Agrigento. Guided visit to the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO Site. Sicily is considered the most concentrated area of Greek temples outside Greece. Return to Taormina. Arrive late afternoon at your hotel in time for an enjoyable and relaxing dinner.
Day 14 > Taormina – cooking class day – God Father’s Tour [B, L]
Free day in Taormina. Optional God Father’s Tour. Take a short trip to the the villages of Forza d’Agro’ and Savoca, where F. F. Coppola filmed his Oscar award winner. Rest of the day at leisure for shopping and free activities
**Cooking class Program:
Meet our Chef and follow him to the local market. During the welcome meeting you will receive a book with the description of the recipes, customized apron and hat. Starts a 3 hours cooking course, followed by lunch.
Day 15 > Taormina
Morning transfer to Catania Airport for your return flight home.
Lecce
Visit beautiful Lecce, which is the province’s capital town.
Ostuni to visit a unique Olive mill, dated back to the end of 17th century.
Bari
The Chatedral of St. Nicholas, saint patron of Bari
the medieval village
the splendid Opera House Petruzzelli and Corso Cavour
Polignano a Mare
Delightful small city built on a cliff overlooking the Adriatic sea
The birth town of Domenico Modugno, famous singer of “Volare”
Martina Franca
Architecture from Baroque period:
Porta di Santo Stefano
Palazzo Ducale and the Bell tower of Chiesa di San Martino
Valle D’Itria with Trulli
Locorotondo
Alberobello
Ciro’ – Calabria
Cirò winery including wine tasting
The Soverato Bay
Gerace
Visit of a Olive oil mill and tasting
Medieval hill town of Gerace
Norman Cathedral considered to be the largest in Southern Italy, dated 11th Century A.D
Tropea
Medieval village guided tour
Taste of the famous red sweet onion, “Cipolla Rossa di Tropea”
‘Nduja, a spice salami know as Calabrian Viagra
Scilla – Reggio Calabria
The fisherman village of Scilla
Crossing by ferry boat the straits of Messina
Reggio Calabria visit the Museum, where are kept the famous Greek statues “Bronzi di Riace”
Taormina – Sicily
The Greek/Roman theater
God Father’s Tour to Savoca and Forza d’Agro’
Cooking Class
Etna
Excursion on top of the Etna Volcano
Honey-tasting session in Zafferana Etnea
Wine Tasting and light lunch at local Winery of Nero Mascalese wine
Agrigento
The ancient Greek city Akragas, a hillside town
The magnificent Valley of the Temples, 5th century B.C, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Italy No One Knows:
A trip to southern Italy is a journey to untouched places where you can be inspired by the tradition and costumes of centuries ago.
The first impact all visitors have, once they arrive, is watching the endless natural landscape, the coexistence of the mountains and the sea in a peaceful view. The genuine local food and the warm hospitality of the locals will make you feel the real Italian life style.
Traveling to southern Italy you need to leave behind all that you have seen and learnt in the rest of Italy. As you travel towards South, tourists are not consumers anymore, are special guests.
During your stay you may experience a lunch at local farmhouse or at local host family, you could stand for hours watching centuries-old olive trees next to a glass of wine, deep a piece of warm bread into extra virgin olive oil or simply relaxing on a fabulous beach touched by an emerald water.
“Il mezzogiorno” has so much to offer, that having the caring eyes and the knowledge of a local expert, will allow you to experience an Italy you have dreamt about and you might consider it a trip of a lifetime.
