
Abruzzo, Puglia & Matera
Mysteries of the Mezzogiorno
Discover the spectacular mountains of the less-visited Abruzzo region and uncover the many layers of picturesque Puglia.
tour snapshot
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October 5-20, 2026 | 16 Days
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Neil Moore. View full bio >
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The tour starts at 2.30pm on Monday 5 October, at Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport, Rome.
The tour ends at c.11.00am on Tuesday 20 October, at Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport, Bari. -
Download detailed itinerary >
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Grade Three. This tour is among our most physically demanding.
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$13,640 AUD per person, twin share (land content only)
$2,970 AUD supplement for sole use of a hotel roomA $1,000 AUD non-refundable deposit is required per person to confirm your booking on tour
Inclusions
15 nights’ accommodation in 4 and 5-star hotels. Airport-hotel transfers as indicated. All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners and 1 wine-tasting. Services of an expert tour leader and an experienced tour manager throughout. All ground transport, entrance fees and tipping.
View standard tour inclusions > -
Status: Places Available - Maximum 16
tour overview
Known as the Mezzogiorno – also the Italian word for midday – and once a part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the Italian peninsula’s southernmost regions are exceedingly rich in Greco-Roman, Norman, French and Spanish cultural residues.
This new 16-day tour, led by artist and historian Neil Moore, begins with the spectacular natural beauty, enchanting villages and Roman ghost towns of the mountainous Abruzzo area, where an ancient pagan past is barely concealed beneath an apparently modern surface.
We then unravel the many layers of the picturesque Puglia region, with its Norman castles, fascinating stone “trulli” and white-washed towns encapsulating millennia of Greek, Roman and Byzantine civilization. Our journey concludes with the ancient Sassi cave complex of Matera, a settlement that is possibly the oldest continually inhabited city in the world.
By day, we experience stunning architecture, world-class archaeological sites, medieval, Roman and ancient Greek art, and the vibrant food and wine of the region – arguably among the best of Italy’s gastronomy. While at night, we enjoy staying in some of Italy’s most unique accommodation.
tour highlights
The aim of every Academy Travel tour is to provide a rewarding, in-depth travel experience.
your expert tour leader
Neil Moore was born in Oxford, grew up in Melbourne and Canberra and has an Honours degree in Fine Arts from the University of Sydney, where he also taught art history in the Power Department of Fine Arts. Since 1988, Neil has lived in an Umbrian hill town, restoring a medieval ruin into a family home and focusing on his work as a painter. For over 20 years, he has designed and led small group cultural tours to Italy, and he brings this extraordinary wealth of experience as a tour leader to his work. Pictured as Neil’s profile photo is his latest self portrait.
In good hands...
In addition to your expert tour leader, you will be accompanied by a trained tour manager for the duration of the tour. Our tour managers will ensure your safety and comfort on tour, while also overseeing the behind-the-scenes logistics. Our tour managers are great travel companions who ensure your needs are well taken care of. From offering suggestions for your free time, to a lively chat at dinner or even providing space for a quiet moment of reflection, rest assured you are in good hands when travelling.
tour itinerary
Santo Stefano di Sessanio (2 nights), Sulmona (3 nights), Trani (3 nights), Ostuni (4 nights), Matera (3 nights)
Included meals are shown with the letters B, L and D
tour Accommodation
The accommodation on this tour is quite exceptional, with two of our locations being the “Albergo Diffuso” variety in which each of the rooms is different with its own unique style. Our starting point at Santo Stefano in Abruzzo was Italy’s first of this type, combining high tech with ancient interiors for an unforgettable experience, while our accommodation in Matera gives a whole new meaning to the idea of cave dwelling. And Masseria Ayroldi near Ostuni is a fortified estate – a farmhouse protected by ancient-walls and surrounded by olive trees.
With the nature of these places, there will be a variety in the size and appointments of individual rooms.
Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Sextantio Albergo Diffuso (2 nights)
Sulmona, Hotel Rojan (3 nights)
Trani, Marè Resort (3 nights)
Ostuni, Masseria Ayroldi (4 nights)
Matera, Le Grotte della Civita (3 nights)
tour booking
$13,640 AUD per person, twin share (land content only)
$2,970 AUD supplement for sole use of a hotel room
A $1,000 deposit is required per person to confirm your booking on tour. This deposit is non-refundable.
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Book Online
To secure your place(s) on tour, book online below with “Athena”, our virtual tour consultant.
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Book via Email or Post
Download a printable booking form. You can also complete the form on screen and submit via email.
Still deciding? Hold a place…
We are happy to hold a tentative place for 7 days while you make your final arrangements.

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your tour consultanT
The consultant for this tour is Sharon Williams. For further information or to discuss the tour, please call 9235 0023 (Sydney) or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) or email sharon@academytravel.com.au
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