7 Nights’ accommodation
Bari – Alberobello – Matera – Naples – Capri – Sorrento – Salerno – Mesina – Taormina – Caltagirone - Palermo
8 Days and 7 nights
Aug 24 to Oct 24
Welcome to your tour with Europamundo!Today we travel towards the Adriatic Sea, the landscapes of the Apennine Mountain range are magnificent. We make a stop to visit the ABBEY OF SAN GIOVANNI IN VENERE, a beautiful 11th-century abbey built on the ruins o fan ancient Roman temple. TERMOLI, a charming city by the sea whose beach is dominated by the walled old town and where its 13th century castle and Romanesque cathedral stand out. Time for lunch and a walk. We continue towards MONTE SANT´ANGELO, a world heritage site and a place of pilgrimage throughout history, its Romanesque sanctuary located in a cave guarding tombs since the 6th century. Have a walk through the medieval center of the town. We continue to TRANI, “the pearl of the Adriatic”, a magnificent city that embraces the sea and displays its pink Romanesque cathedral. Arrival in BARI and free time before going to the hotel for a walk through the important port, promenade and alleys of the old town.
After breakfast we have time for a walk through the old town of BARI, a port city inhabited since before Roman times. Its narrow streets, its churches, its lively life make it a very special city. We later continue to BRINDISI, a walled port city, where you can take a pleasant walk along the sea, admire the impressive Roman column and stroll through its old quarter. Our next stop is LECCE, a charming city known for its impressive baroque architecture, which has earned it the nickname “Florence of the South”. The historic center is filled with beautifully ornate baroque buildings and churches. Time for a walk and lunch. In the afternoon we visit TARANTO, a vibrant city, an image of southern Italy (in its customs, life, people, also in a certain abandonment), with its great Aragonese castle, its old quarter and its cathedral. We return to BRINDISI at the end of the day, accommodation.
Today we will visit two spectacular and authentic towns. ALBEROBELLO, charming town famous for its unique conical-shaped houses known as “trulli”. These unique structures, with their stacked stone roofs, are a World Heritage Site and are considered an outstanding example of Italian rural architecture. After that we continue to MATERA, located in the Basilicata region, known for its ancient historic center with its “Sassi di Matera”, a complex of ancient houses and buildings carved into the rock that date back thousands of years. It is a World Heritage Site and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited human settlements in the world. Time for a walk and lunch. In the afternoon we continue through Basilicata and Campania, admiring their beautiful mountain landscapes. NAPLES, arrival in the evening. Free time afterwards.
Free time to have a walk in NAPLES before boarding. Boat trip to the ISLAND OF CAPRI included. You may take a boat to the Blue Grotto or the cable car to Capri city. We will get on board again and continue to SORRENTO, a charming, touristic town at the base of a cliff. Free time to stroll around. We will continue to the Gulf of Salerno. Sojourn in SALERNO.
We travel to the south of ¨the boot¨. Attractive southern Italian scenery as we cross the Cilento National Park. We arrive in PAOLA, on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea, we visit the sanctuary of St Francis of Paola and we have free time for lunch in its pretty historic centre. We go on our way to VILLA SAN GIOVANNI where we take a short ferry crossing to the island of SICILY. Arrival in MESSINA where we will have time for a stroll and to visit the cathedral before continuing to TAORMINA.NB: Accommodation in the “region of Taormina”, the accommodation may sometimes be in Messina.
At the foot of the Etna volcano, the beautiful city of TAORMINA was defined by Churchill as the most beautiful place on earth. Time to stroll through the old town full of life, its Greek theater dominating unforgettable landscapes. After that we continue our route towards the center of the island. CALTAGIRONE, a city declared a World Heritage Site for its great Baroque legacy. We include a ride on a tourist train to listen to the explanations of the city and learn about its main points. The city is the center of ceramics in Sicily, as witnessed by its numerous shops and workshops and some of its emblematic places, the best known, the staircase of 142 steps, each decorated with different tiles. After lunch time we continue to the VILLA ROMANA DEL CASALE (admission included), a World Heritage Site. Villas, in the Roman Empire, were the symbol of agrarian exploitation. El Casale not only it has the architectural configuration of the 4th century been preserved, but, due to their abundance and quality, the mosaics that adorn almost all the rooms are the most beautiful in the Roman world. Crossing the mountainous center of the island we continue to PALERMO, arriving at the end of the day.
Today with a local guide we will have a city tour of Palermo. We will admire the cathedral with its mix of styles and its royal tombs inside (admission included); the Norman Palace (the former royal palace), its fountains, its markets and gardens. During the visit we will also go to MONREALE, its cathedral (admission included) has been declared a World Heritage Site for its impressive golden mosaics that cover the interior. Free time in the afternoon.Note: Sometimes, if the number of travelers is very limited, the visit may not be private but rather carried out with a regular excursion provided by local companies.
After breakfast, our journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful lasting memories.
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