BARI, ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE. Arrival in Bari and meeting with our Tour Leader. Visit to the historical centre of the beautiful Mediterranean city, dwelling in the fulcrum of its Romanesque-Norman architecture, the Basilica of San Nicola. You will admire its massive and sober appearance, the glorious chivalric scene of the Lions Portal and the column capitals of the crypt and the ciborium, the fresco of the Crucifixion, the Triptych and the Pala del Vivarini. An exceptional underground route will reveal you ancient secrets of the place between early Christian mosaics, tombs, ceramic and archaeological finds from the Roman age. Welcome cocktail and accommodation at hotel. Dinner and overnight.

THE TRULLI DI ALBEROBELLO AND THE GROTTE DI CASTELLANA. After breakfast and excursion to the historic settlement of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Our guide will lead you through strange circular buildings with conical roofs. You will discover the extraordinary construction technique of the "casedde", built with rough boulders assembled dry and without foundations to allowed inhabitants to dismantle them in a single night to avoid feudal tributes. Lunch with typical foods in the white-washed walls of a trullo restaurant and afternoon to explore a wine cellar in Locorotondo and the spectacular Castellana Caves. You will descend into their bowels where time has stopped fifty million years ago. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

LECCE, BAROQUE STYLE. Breakfast and visit of Lecce to discover the exuberant architecture of the Apulian Baroque. Walking with our guide through alleys and courtyards to admire the decorations of Santa Croce Basilica and reach the living room of the city, the spectacular Piazza del Duomo and the Church of Sant'Irene. We foresee a stop at the Libreria Liberrima which, among art books and local history, will welcome you with the good food of the place in its gastronomic space. For the sweet tooth we will reserve a visit to the Maglio Arte Dolciaria where to taste an excellent chocolate. While a next stop at the Literary Café will be mandatory for a full cultural immersion in the shadow of the Baroque style. Evening dinner in Galatina to taste Puglia's chief wines and discover the ancient ritual of taranta dance. Return to the hotel and overnight.

OTRANTO, DOOR OF THE ORIENT. Breakfast and excursion to Otranto, the easternmost point of Italy and Rome's leading port for Asia Minor trade. You will explore a coastline interspersed with ancient villages and pristine beaches. After a walk in the historic centre, you will discover the Aragonese castle with all its defensive system of towers and ditches and visit the Norman Cathedral with its large and original mosaic floor. Our guide will tell you about its war stories and Mediterranean legends. Lunch in a restaurant, where to taste fresh fish among arches and terraces overlooking the sea. Free time to browse through the craft shops and end of the excursion with a visit to the majestic Punta Palascia Lighthouse, recognized by the European Commission as one of the most important in the Mediterranean. Since it stands at the eastern point of Italy the dawn of the New Year can be seen before. Return to hotel, dinner and overnight.

SALENTO, FLAVORS OF GOOD CUISINE AND EXCELLENT WINES. Breakfast and visit to a Masseria where vineyards are mainly cultivated with native alberello trained vines, with three two-bud spurs. This pattern was invented by Roman military engineers who for a long time used the Latin square layout. An expert enogastronomist will describe you excellent full-bodied and rich wines. Lunch on the farm and transfer to Bari Airport.

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