| Starts | Rome, Italy |
|---|---|
| Ends | Bari, Italy |
| Region | Italy |
| Duration | 17 days |
| Tour Operator | Intrepid Travel |
Itinerary
Day 1 - Starting: Rome & Finishing: Rome
Buongiorno! Welcome to Italy. Crowded with ancient ruins and religious monuments, Rome still pulses to the beat of modern life and is packed with designer shops, restaurants, cafes and exciting nightlife. Your Italian adventure will begin with a welcome meeting at 6pm tonight – check with reception to confirm the time and place. We'll be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please have these on hand. If you're going to be late, please inform hotel reception. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). There are no activities planned before the meeting, so you can arrive any time before then. There are so many things to do in Rome – the Colosseum, the Forum, Piazza Navona, the Spanish Steps, Via Condotti, Piazza Venezia, the Vatican City and St Peter's Basilica – so arriving early is recommended. Don’t forget to do as the Romans do and sip an espresso at one of the tiny streetside cafes and sample the many flavours of gelato that colour the city. For those captivated by the 'Eternal City', throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain to ensure a return visit to Rome. Notes: Check the Vatican website (vatican.va) for updated information on when you can visit. Tickets for the Vatican Museum can be booked online at: biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do. Alternatively, the Galleria Borghese can be booked online at: galleriaborghese.it/borghese/en/einfo.htm. The Vatican Museum is closed on some days, including most Sundays. On the last Sunday of the month, it's open and free (but expect large crowds).
Day 2 - Starting: Naples / Pompeii & Finishing: Naples / Pompeii
Travel by train to Naples (approximately 3 hours), a raucous city that overflows with passion, tradition and gastronomy. Naples was carved out by many empires of the past and by merchants and pirates from across the world: Romans, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Venetians, Spaniards, Normans and Africans. Its evocative, historical old centre is a World Heritage-listed area and the famous Spanish Quarter is still one of the most densely populated residential areas in Europe. Naples is the birthplace of the pizza, so it's only appropriate to head to one of the many pizzerias and taste what's truly some of the best that Italy has to offer. Head off to the Archaeological Museum, one of the best in Europe, which houses all the original artefacts rescued from the Pompeii site. Later in the afternoon, board a train to the time capsule of Pompeii, in the shadow of Mt Vesuvius (approximately 1 hour). Your accommodation is perfectly located right near the entrance to the archaeological excavation site.
Day 3 - Starting: Pompeii & Finishing: Pompeii
The small picturesque town of 'modern' Pompeii has a wonderful old town square – the perfect place to while away some time with the locals, drinking true Italian coffee and watching the world go by. Most of today though will be spent exploring the ruins of ancient Pompeii on a guided tour. Until 26 August, 79 AD, Pompeii was a thriving Roman trading centre, where ordinary people went about their everyday business, but it was frozen in time when Mount Vesuvius erupted, killing 2,000 people and their homes under a layer of ash. The city was never rebuilt and largely disappeared from people’s minds until the 16th century, when the ruins were re-discovered. Now you can take an unparalleled look back into the lives of ancient Romans and discover how they lived, worked and interacted 2,000 years ago. The finely preserved ruins include villas, temples, theatres and bustling markets. Walk along the chariot-marked streets, visit the magnificent amphitheatre and the ‘Villa of Mysteries’. You can also visit the Roman Forum and basilica, temples, public baths, and the tiny Odeon created for music recitals. The rest of the day is free, but if the ruins piqued your interest, head to nearby Herculaneum, which also holds a wealth of fossilised archaeological finds.
Day 4 - Starting: Mt Vesuvius / Sorrento & Finishing: Mt Vesuvius / Sorrento
This morning take a bus up the mighty Mt Vesuvius, where you’ll meet a local volcanology guide. Ascend to the summit of Mt Vesuvius for staggering views over the Bay of Naples and into the steaming crater. Although Mt Vesuvius is still considered to be an active volcano, the last eruption was in 1944 and there's no sign of lava. See first-hand the awesome power of the volcano that engulfed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The final ascent of the volcano can only be done on foot, up a steep but well-made trail of volcanic ash and gravel. The ascent takes around 45 minutes. In the afternoon, travel by train to the picturesque resort town of Sorrento (approximately 1 hour). People have been coming to the peninsula and islands of the Sorrento region for at least 2,000 years, and set invitingly atop dramatic cliffs over sparkling, blue waters, it's easy to see why. There are many options in this small seaside town with its fine piazzas, maze of old streets, sidewalk cafes and glamorous shops. The area is also famous for its lemon and orange groves. End the day a very Italian way with some limoncello tasting (a popular lemon liqueur), and a demonstration of Gelato making.
Day 5 - Starting: Sorrento & Finishing: Sorrento
You have a free day to explore this delightful area. Explore the museums, galleries and piazzas of the town, or take to the coastal paths, along the old donkey trails that originally linked the villages of the peninsula, staggered hillside alleyways where homes are built on a steep incline. Perhaps stroll along the marina or cool off in the waters of the local small beaches. They’re not big on sandy beaches here, so swimming Sorrento-style is via wooden or stone bathing platforms beneath the cliffs. Taking a trip to Capri is also a great option, with a hydrofoil taking you across to the island that was once home to the magnificent holiday palaces of the Roman emperors. Capri’s dramatic rocky coastline is pierced by natural grottoes, while in the interior, narrow roads wind through fragrant citrus groves, past villages of flat-roofed white cubist-looking houses with flower-filled gardens, and manicured towns which offer swanky hotels and chic cafes. Here you can take a boat trip to the fairy-tale Blue Grotto (La Grotta Azzurra), where the water shines with an extraordinary blue translucence, a result of refraction of the sunlight outside. Your leader will be of assistance and will have plenty of suggestions of what to do and see today.
Day 6 - Starting: Amalfi & Finishing: Amalfi
Arrive on the Amalfi Coast after a short bus journey (approximately 2 hours). The Amalfi peninsula is a land of rocky coasts, cliff-top vistas, azure seas, tiered lemon groves, whitewashed villages clinging to steep cliffs, and bright blue skies. If you're after a relaxing walk with a few cultural highlights, stroll from one side of Amalfi town to the other within an hour and pay a visit to the Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea and the Chiostro del Paradiso. If you’re after something more active, perhaps embark on a walk up the Valley of Dragons to reach pretty Ravello. The French novelist André Gide once described this town as being ‘closer to the sky than the seashore’. For centuries, its lofty position and sunny, dry climate has made it an appealing place for writers, artists, musicians and travellers. Ravello also boasts two magnificent villas – the superb 11th Century Villa Rufolo which was once a papal residence and later the home of Wagner, and Villa Cimbrone, a sumptuous 19th Century mansion with fabulous gardens and unequalled views over the Gulf of Salerno. Otherwise just laze around on the beaches and in the piazza, gazing back up at the amazingly picturesque part of the world.
Day 7 - Starting: Amalfi & Finishing: Amalfi
Your leader will take you for a half-day walk along the narrow trail of the famous Sentiero Degli Dei (the Walk of the Gods) which, until quite recently, was followed by mules and donkeys as they traversed the dramatic landscape. This path winds its way through unique scenery and boasts unrivalled views along the coast. Walk through forests and fields of wildflowers, olive groves and vineyards, past ancient stone huts and beside sheer walls of granite. Glimpse local farmers tending their crops by hoe and elbow grease, herds of goats feeding beside the trail beside their shepherds, and teams of workmen commuting by mule. The trail ends in picturesque Positano where there will be ample time to explore and maybe take a dip in the sea. Please note that the trail is steep and has many stairs, and can be challenging for sufferers of vertigo. But the views are breath-taking and repay you for the effort! A certain level of fitness is required to complete this walk, especially in summer when there may not be much shade along the path. Your leader will be able to suggest alternative activities should you wish to opt out.
Day 8 - Starting: Amalfi & Finishing: Amalfi
A great way to see the beautiful Amalfi coastline and take in the sights is to board a boat – there are regular seasonal services between Amalfi, Positano and Capri. As this is a combination trip, your group leader and the composition of your group may change at this location. There will be a group meeting to discuss the next stage of your itinerary and you're welcome to attend, as this is a great chance to meet your new fellow travellers.
Day 9 - Starting: Amalfi & Finishing: Amalfi
Another day on the Amalfi Coast allows you explore further. It is highly recommended to walk down into the shaded Valle dei Mulini (Valley of the Watermills). Here you will find remnants of Europe’s earliest paper mills, strewn among thick foliage fed by the valley's streams. You may pass locals collecting wild mushrooms and stout men carrying half their body weight in lemons on their heads. The path takes you deep into the valley and the entrance to the nature reserve of ‘Valle delle Ferriere’ (Valley of Iron). This is one of the most interesting nature reserves of the area and an ideal place for lunch. Or perhaps visit neighbouring Atrani, the best-preserved town on the Amalfi Coast, with narrow little streets and a serene town square.
Day 10 - Starting: Trani & Finishing: Trani
Travel to the east coast via Naples (approximately 1.5 hours), homes to an evocative, historical World Heritage-listed old centre and the famous densely populated Spanish Quarter. Head for Trani, known as the 'Pearl of Puglia', and a beautiful town with a sophisticated feel (approximately 2.5 hours). Once an ancient trading hub, Trani is a delightfully eccentric port with a white cathedral perched on the seawall. The crescent-shaped marina is a great place to relax and watch the world go by. With the stunning seaside cathedral, medieval streets bathed in a rarefied light, and its own, sweet wine, Trani is truly like stepping back into a 1950s movie set. Explore historic centre and its medieval churches, which point to a time when this was a major point for merchants travelling to the Near East, or simply kick back on the waterfront and watch the sophisticates of Puglia clink glasses of Moscato di Trani in cosy bars.
Day 11 - Starting: Trani & Finishing: Trani
Today is a free day to explore all that Trani has to offer. You might like to visit the dramatic Catedrale di San Nicola Pellegrino, one of the most beautiful buildings in southern Italy. Begun in 1097, and taking over two centuries to finish, the soft white-pink limestone Norman cathedral is dedicated to the famously foolish St Nicholas the Pilgrim, whose bones lie in the crypt below the church. Inside, it is astonishingly bright and airy, and the simply furnished church is set off by the remains of a 12-century mosaic near the main altar. Outside, closer examination reveals lovely decorative details – look out for the elephant corbels. You can also head to the castle built by Frederick II, who was the king of Sicily, Italy, Germany, Jerusalem and the Holy Roman Emperor in the 13th century. Maybe explore the medieval Jewish quarter, built in all-white stone, stopping by two fine synagogues along the way: the Scola Nova and the Scola Grande. Fishermen sell the day’s catch right in the marina, so maybe taste the freshness by heading for dinner and a glass of wine harbourside.
Day 12 - Starting: Lecce & Finishing: Lecce
Head south to the small town of Polignano a Mare, set dramatically atop the impossibly blue Adriatic, and rising above the rocky cliffs and caves of the indented Puglia coastline (approximately 1 hour). Balconies jutting out over the crashing waves become crowded on the weekends, but there's also a wealth of sights here thanks to its ancient settlement and history of invasion. Until the 18th century, the town centre was accessible only by the medieval Porta Grande. Today, its drawbridge holes and openings for pouring out boiling oil are reminders of a gruesome past. For a more pleasant experience, stroll around Piazza San Benedetto and watch locals relaxing. Continuing on, delight in the baroque architecture and atmosphere of Lecce (approximately 1.5 hours). Lecce's baroque ornamentation is elevated to dizzying heights, presenting the casual viewer with a feast for the senses. Sumptuous palazzi (mansions), a defensive main square, Roman ruins and magnificent allegories dancing across ornate facades make Lecce a swoon-worthy sight for any traveller. The university gives the town a lively feel, and there are little boutique, antique shops and delicious delis to explore.
Day 13 - Starting: Lecce & Finishing: Lecce
Today, you'll step beneath the city and see the restored Roman amphitheatre excavated in the 1930s. Built in the 2nd century AD, the remarkably intact horseshoe-shaped theatre seated 15,000 people. Overlooking the amphitheatre is the Colonna di Sant'Oronzo, a statue of Lecce's patron saint mounted upon a Roman column. Presented to Lecce from Brindisi, this column once stood at the terminus of the Via Appia that ran from Rome to Brindisi. The fascinating Basilica Di Santa Croce inspires varied reactions – its heavily decorated façade of sheep, dodos, cherubs and monsters is a cacophony to some, while others are drawn to the lavish brilliance. Building began in the 14th century, but it wasn't until the 17th century that the façade was created by artists under Giuseppe Zimbalo. The Renaissance interior is a nice contrast. For another baroque experience head to the Piazza del Duomo. Used in the past as a defence against invaders, when residents would barricade the narrow entrances, the square's pleasant openness is bordered by a 12th-century cathedral, a 68 metre-high bell tower, a 15th-century Episcopal Palace and an 18th-century Seminario – sunglasses are essential on a sunny day to protect against the dazzle of the white stone. There are museums to browse, over 40 churches dotted around, and a castle to climb to look across the town.
Day 14 - Starting: Alberobello & Finishing: Alberobello
Travel by train to Alberobello (approximately 2.5 hours), a landscape of olive trees and low walls dotted with unique dwellings. People flock to Alberobello to marvel at the beehive-shaped trulli: small, dry-stone houses built from local limestone in the 14th century. The origins of the buildings are unclear, although its possible the mortar-less dwellings were created to be easily dismantled in a feudal tax-evasion scheme. Either way, the sight of the thick, gleaming walls capped with grey cones and topped with distinct, white, stubby spires is a unique and endearing Puglian experience. Wander the old town quarter of Rione Monti, where thousands of trulli (and souvenir shops) rise up over the hill, or head over to Rione Aia Piccola and see trulli that are still family dwellings. See religious and mystical symbols on the roofs, the differently shaped spires, and head to the Church de Sant’Antonio, built in the style of a huge trulli. You’ll spend the night in your own little bit of local history, staying in restored trulli that will make you feel like a true Alberobello resident.
Day 15 - Starting: Matera & Finishing: Matera
Transfer by private mini bus to Matera (approximately 1 hour). The extraordinary sight of Matera's old town gives a haunting, bittersweet insight into ancient life. One of the oldest cities in existence, Matera's otherworldly drawcard is the sassi – stone houses formed from natural grottoes and tufo cliffs overlooking a dramatic gorge. Its resemblance to Jerusalem has attracted film directors of biblical epics, but its dark interiors were the scene of shameful poverty in the mid-20th century. Duck down into the sassi through the knot of staircases and alleyways that snake their way through the limestone ravines, and take a guided tour to appreciate both its ancient and modern history. With over 3,000 habitable caves, some dating as far back as the 8th century BC, the sassi are filled with stunning frescoed rock church complexes, exhibits recreating inhabited caves, and even a contemporary sculpture museum. There is also an exhibit at the Casa-Grotta di Vico Solitario detailing the sassi's recent history as a place of gruelling poverty – when the city’s population expanded uncontrollably, previously unoccupied (and unsuitable) grottoes filled with the poorest citizens, packed with children with high mortality rates. In the late 1950s the Italian government intervened and 15,000 inhabitants were forcibly relocated. The sassi are undergoing extensive restoration, and it’s now the one place in the world where you can eat at a restaurant inside a 9,000 year-old dwelling! Tonight you’ll stay in accommodation with balconies overlooking the sassi.
Day 16 - Starting: Bari & Finishing: Bari
Today, you'll travel to Bari by local train (approximately 1 hour). Sitting on a small peninsula in the Adriatic Sea overlooking Greece, Bari is the prosperous capital of Puglia. The tangled streets of its old town, Bari Vecchia, conceal Romanesque churches, a riotous market, elegant medieval piazzas and a Swabian castle. Even Father Christmas can be found here – the Basilica di San Nicola was built to hold the relics of St Nicholas, which were stolen from Turkey by local Bari fishermen and have made the city a place of pilgrimage since 1087. The relics are also the mainstay of Bari's biggest annual celebration, the Festa di San Nicola. The stone walls are wonderful to walk around, with the sea lapping on one side and the medieval town on the other, while at the end of the Lungomare promenade is great beach to lounge as your Southern Italian adventure comes to an end. Bari is also the perfect place to see out your last night on this trip and have a group meal by the harbour, sampling local limoncello and some of the seafood that the city is famous for.
Day 17 - Starting: Bari & Finishing: Bari
Your journey will come to an end after breakfast today and you are free to depart at any time. If you would like to extend your stay here we can be of assistance with additional accommodation, subject to availability. Please enquire at the time of booking.
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