Puglia to Pompeii

The tour starts at c.4.00pm on Thursday 23 October, at Rome Fiumicino airport, before our group flight to Brindisi and a coach transfer to Lecce.

The tour ends after breakfast on Friday 7 November, with a group transfer available to Rome Fiumicino airport, arriving at at 12.00pm for onward flights.

Meeting our tour leader at Rome’s Fiumicino airport we take the group flight to Brindisi followed by the short coach transfer to Lecce. After checking into our hotel there is time to freshen up before a light dinner in the hotel restaurant. Overnight Lecce (D)

After a talk in the hotel, we spend the morning exploring the delightful town of Lecce, the crown jewel of the Mezzogiorno. On our walking tour we discover Lecce’s Roman heritage as well as its vibrant 16th and 17th-century ‘Southern Baroque’ architecture, an expressive and highly decorative style that incorporates gargoyles, asparagus columns and cavorting gremlins. The afternoon is free to explore the town independently or simply relax. We meet this evening for our welcome dinner at a fine local restaurant. Overnight Lecce (B, D)

Our full day tour takes us down the Salentine Peninsula to the town of Otranto. Inside the massive defensive walls that still enclose the historic centre of this lovely coastal town, we discover a charming labyrinth of streets, shops and bars as well as the 12th-century cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. Inside, we view its spectacular “tree of life” mosaic pavement and sombre crypt holding the bones of over 800 martyrs who died during the Ottoman invasion of the city in 1480. We also visit the imposing late 15th-century Aragonese castle, which offers splendid views across the port and the old town from its outer walls. We enjoy a relaxing lunch in a local restaurant before returning to Lecce, with the evening is at leisure. Overnight Lecce (B, L)

Departing Lecce today, our destination is Matera. We first stop in the port-city of Brindisi, once a bridging point for crusading knights. After exploring the old town, brimming with narrow streets and ancient monuments, we then
travel onwards to Taranto – once a major centre of Magna Graecia. Here we visit the National Archaeological Museum whose collection of Greek and Roman antiquities, including many found in the local area, is considered one of the most important in Italy. After a break for lunch, our make our way to Matera, where our accommodation is a unique and atmospheric rock-carved hotel whose therapeutic spa dates from Roman times. After time to check-in and relax, we meet for dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Matera (B, D)

The city of Matera was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993 in recognition of the importance of its Sassi, ancient excavations carved into the soft limestone either side of a ravine. Our walking tour this morning takes us through this fascinating district where we see frescoed rock- cut churches and chapels as well as the former dwellings of the poorest of the city’s residents, now occupied by hotels, restaurants and museums. With an optional visit to the cathedral, a rewarding climb to the highest point in the city, and the small archaeological museum, which holds an impressive collection of artefacts from the local region, the afternoon is free to explore the elegant “new” town, with its pale limestone Baroque churches, palazzi, and broad piazzas which rise above the Sassi. Overnight Matera (B)

Departing Matera this morning, we travel north to the seaport city of Trani, stopping first in the town of Alberobello. We have a break for lunch on arrival, followed by time to explore this lovely town, home to steep, narrow streets filled with beautifully preserved, ancient trulli – whitewashed drystone huts with conical roofs, many still occupied by local residents. Continuing to Trani in the afternoon, we check-in and have time to relax before we gather for dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Trani (B, D)

The historic seaport of Trani enjoys a stunning waterfront location on the Adriatic coast with harmonious limestone architecture, a large Norman-Swabian fortress lining its two bays and a monumental Romanesque cathedral perched on the very edge of the sea. The best way to explore it is on foot so, in the company of our local guide, we’ll spend the morning discovering its many attractions. The afternoon is free to relax, explore Trani at your leisure and enjoy an al fresco meal on the waterfront. Overnight Trani (B)

Our full day tour takes us to Barletta, Cannae and the unique Castel del Monte. While today a busy agricultural centre, Barletta was once a Phoenician trading post and enjoys a rich history. Here we explore the narrow streets of the historic old town, built around an imposing Norman castle, and see the Colossus of Barletta, a large bronze statue of an Eastern Roman Emperor, nearly three times life size, discovered in 1231. We then visit the site of the Battle of Cannae, where in 216 BC the Carthaginian general Hannibal routed the Roman army. A small museum and viewing platform at the site allow for a good understanding of this famous event. After a break for lunch we continue on to Castel del Monte, a remarkable octagonal fortress built by the Emperor Frederick II and one of the most significant medieval buildings in southern Italy. The Castel was accorded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1996 due largely to its unique blending of architectural elements from a variety of historical sources and the mathematical and astronomical precision of its layout. Returning to Trani, the evening is at leisure. Overnight Trani (B)

Our coach tour today takes us to the nearby towns of Bitonto and Bari. Though often overlooked by visitors to the region, the history of Bitonto dates back to ancient times and the town flourished through the Middle Ages. Our guided walking tour this morning includes the fine Romanesque cathedral, the magnificent 14th-century Angevin circular tower and the elegant renaissance palazzi in the historic town centre. We then rejoin our coach and head to Puglia’s capital, Bari, where we break for lunch on arrival. Reconvening, our guided walking tour of this charming port city takes us through the fascinating weave of streets in the old town and takes in the city’s most important building: the Basilica di San Nicola. Built at end of the 12th century to house the relics of San Nicola, the basilica offers a fine example of Romanesque architecture. Returning to Trani, there is a talk in the hotel before an evening at leisure. Overnight Trani (B)

Departing Trani this morning we travel west to Vietri sul Mare, gateway to the Amalfi Coast. En route we stop in the unassuming town of Venosa, once the thriving Roman colony of Venusia and today domincated by a massive 15th-century Aragonese castle. Here we visit the archaeological remains of the ancient colony before making our way to the ruins of the Benedictine Abbey complex of Santissima Trinità, which comprises the old church dating back to the 8th century, monastic buildings and a newer church, begun in the late 11th century but never completed. After a break for lunch in the historic town, we continue to Melfi to visit its National Archaeological Museum, which contains artefacts from all periods of settlement, including the Daunian, Samnite, Lucanian and Roman periods. Arriving in Vietri Sul Mare in the late afternoon, we check in to our hotel, meeting again this evening for dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight Vietri sul Mare (B, D)

After a background talk in our hotel we join our coach and make our way towards the region once known as Magna Graecia, a cluster of Greek cities along the coast of Southern Italy. En route we stop at Tenuta Vannulo, an organic farm producing the region’s famous handmade buffalo milk mozzarella. After a guided tour of the estate, we enjoy a light lunch and the chance to sample this local delicacy. In the early afternoon we continue to the archaeological site of Paestum, the best-preserved of the ancient Greek settlements in the region. Here we explore the three magnificent Doric temples on site, before visiting the excellent museum containing many important examples of pre-Roman culture, including the famed ‘Tomb of the Diver’, dating back to around 500 BCE. Returning to our hotel, the evening is at leisure. Overnight Vietri sul Mare (B, L)

Departing Vietri sul Mare this morning we travel to Naples, stopping en route at the site of Herculaneum, the wealthy Roman coastal ‘resort’ town whose large seafront houses, baths, shops and public buildings were buried under volcanic ash and pumice during the catastrophic eruption of Vesuvius in 79CE. Less well-known than the nearby town of Pompeii, it is a wonderfully well-preserved site, with mosaics, paintings and even wooden architecture and furniture still to be found in situ. In the afternoon we continue to Oplontis where we have a break for lunch before making our way to the archaeological site for a guided visit of the ‘Villa of Poppea’. Believed to have belonged to the Emperor Nero and used by his second wife Poppea Sabina, the luxurious and imposing villa was decorated with stunning frescoes, preserved by the volcanic ash which buried the villa during the eruption. Continuing on to Naples, we have time to check into our hotel and relax before strolling to a local restaurant for dinner. Overnight Naples (B, D)

The famous eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 79CE buried the flourishing market town of Pompeii under a thick carpet of volcanic ash. The speed at which the town was buried, and the fact that it lay largely undisturbed until excavations began in the mid-18th century, has meant that the site offers the visitor an exceptional array of structures, frescoes and artefacts. We spend the day exploring the site where Estelle has spent decades undertaking field work, followed by free time for individual exploration. We conclude our visit with the superb frescoes at the Villa of the Mysteries. Returning to the hotel the evening is at leisure. Overnight Naples (B)

After a talk in our hotel we meet our local guide and head out for a tour of archaeological Naples, exploring the complex layered history of this fascinating city. Our tour includes Napoli Sotteranea, an immersion into many thousands of years of local history through a network of underground tunnels taking us from the remains of an ancient Graeco- Roman aqueduct to WWII bomb shelters. After time for lunch we walk to the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, where our visit includes the outstanding collection of everyday objects from Pompeii, Herculaneum and the Bay of Naples
as well as the ‘Farnese collection’, a magnificent collection of Roman works assembled in the Renaissance by the aristocratic Farnese family. Evening at leisure. Overnight Naples (B)

On our final morning in Naples our walking tour takes us through central Naples then back down the Spaccanapoli following the decumani, one of the ancient Greco-Roman thoroughfares and one of the few straight streets in the historic centre. Passing piazzas, palazzi and churches we visit the Museo Cappella San Severo, home to the Veiled Christ, an extraordinary masterpiece of 18th-century sculpture by Neapolitan artist Giuseppe SanMartino. After a break for lunch we continue to the Pio Monte della Misericordia for Caravaggio’s compelling Seven Acts of Mercy, painted in 1607. Joining our coach we then travel to the hills above Naples to the grand Bourbon palace of Capodimonte, one of Italy’s largest museums whose extensive collection ranges from exquisite 12th-century altarpieces to works by Botticelli, Caravaggio, Titian, El Greco and others. Returning to our hotel we conclude our tour with a farewell meal at an excellent local restaurant. Overnight Naples (B, D)

The tour ends after breakfast this morning. There is a coach transfer to Rome’s Fiumicino airport for those on late afternoon flights. (B)

Hotels have been selected principally for their central location. All hotels are excellent four and five-star properties that are renovated palazzi.

• Lecce, Patria Palace Hotel (3 nights)

• Matera, Sextantio Le Grotte Della Civita (2 nights)

• Trani, Hotel San Paolo al Convento (4 nights)

• Vietri sul Mare, Lloyd's Baia Hotel (2 nights)

• Naples, Grand Hotel Saint Lucia (4 nights)