STARS OF SOUTHERN ITALY: From the Adriatic to the Tyrrhenian Seas

Tour start date(s):	13-05-2025, 06-10-2025
Duration:	9 Days / 8 Nights
Location:	Here's the tra **Rome (Arrival, 1 night) - Caserta - Naples (3 nights) - Sorrento - Capri Island - Amalfi - Bari (3 nights) - Matera - Alberobello - Lecce - Ostuni - Castel del Monte - Trani - Rome (1 night)**
Price (including tax):	double $2,260 USD, single $3,160 USD/Without flights

This tour is designed for true Italy enthusiasts who love to travel and discover new places in Italy. Our program is a mosaic of the BEST that Southern Italy has to offer.

In this tour, we will do a lot of walking, as it's the only way to truly discover Italy in all its diversity. This tour is suitable for people in good physical condition. Please bring comfortable shoes with low heels.

WE WILL VISIT:

• You will travel in a small group
• Transfers on arrival and departure are included
• Twelve excursions and visits during the tour
• On arrival, a welcome dinner by the Colosseum
• We visit the island of sirens and emperors – CAPRI
• Swimming in the millionaire city of Positano, which we will reach by boat, and romantically visiting SORRENTO
• We will see the city with thousands of small TRULLI, the fairytale ALBEROBELLO (UNESCO), and the cave-like, mysterious city of MATERA, carved into the rocks (UNESCO)
• The most mysterious medieval castle in Europe – CASTEL DEL MONTE
• We will stroll through ROME in the evening and have dinner near the Colosseum
• We will visit the ITALIAN VERSAILLES – the Royal Palace in Caserta
• We will visit the city of LECCE – the queen of Italian Baroque and the most beautiful city in southern Italy
• We will stay in Bari, the capital of the Apulia region, known for its excellent cuisine and wine
• This tour is a delight for foodies. We will try cheeses, olive oils, unusual types of pastries, desserts, and wines. Forget about your diets for a while and experience the Dolce Vita!

Day 1: Evening Rome

Arrival in Rome. Meet our driver for any flight arriving between 8 am and 2 pm. Transfer to the hotel in Rome (28 km) and check-in. After resting at the hotel, at 4 pm, meet with the tour leader in the hotel lobby and depart for an evening tour of Rome. We will walk with the guide to the Colosseum, pass through Piazza del Popolo, see Piazza Navona, and the Trevi Fountain. Welcome dinner in Rome by the Colosseum. Overnight in Rome.

Day 2: Italian Versailles - The Royal Palace in Caserta

After breakfast, check out from the hotel with luggage. Travel to Caserta (200 km). Visit the grand countryside palace of the Neapolitan kings, Reggia di Caserta, designed by Dutch architect Luigi Vanvitelli. The palace was modeled after the French Versailles and the royal palace in Madrid. We will learn about the history of the palace and the political intrigues and love stories of its past. Admiral Nelson waltzed here, Goethe was inspired here, and kings and dukes decided the fate of Europe. After the palace tour, we will stroll through the magnificent park with sculptures and fountains, as the local aristocracy did. Travel to Naples and take a tour of this vibrant, colorful city, which is listed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage. We will visit Piazza and the Church of Gesù Nuovo, explore the Church of the Jesuits, and walk the Spaccanapoli street with its numerous shops. We will see the Castel Nuovo, the symbol of Naples. Transfer to Naples, check-in at the hotel. Overnight in Naples.

Day 3: Luxurious Capri - The Island of Sirens and Emperors

After breakfast, we depart for the port of Naples and take a fast boat to the most picturesque island in Italy – Capri. The boat ride offers views of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the dormant Vesuvius. According to Greek mythology, it was in these waters that the luxurious sirens lured Odysseus with their divine voices. Odysseus resisted, but Roman emperors Augustus and Tiberius enjoyed the island’s beauty, surrounded by villas of high-ranking patricians. Like the emperors, we will admire the island's iconic Faraglioni rock formations. We will spend the whole day in Capri with a guide, enjoy lunch with typical ravioli and Capri cake, have coffee in the cozy main square, buy beautiful ceramics painted with lemons, and, of course, learn all about limoncello, the famous lemon liquor that originated in Capri. Return by boat in the evening. Overnight in Naples.

Day 4: Amalfi and Romantic Sorrento

After breakfast, we take a boat to Amalfi. The city, nestled in the cliffs and bathed by the shimmering Tyrrhenian Sea, looks like it’s come straight out of a postcard. Amalfi is one of the four historical maritime republics of Italy, alongside Venice, Pisa, and Genoa. Thousands of years ago, it was a bustling trading center connected with the East, and its “sea soul” still lives on today. In the heart of Amalfi stands the majestic Cathedral of Saint Andrew, with an exquisite façade in the Arab-Norman style and a unique baroque bell tower. After enjoying Amalfi, we will sail to Sorrento, a city so famous it needs no introduction. Poets have sung its praises, and myths and legends have been created around it. During our stroll through the center of Sorrento, we will understand why it is one of the most romantic cities in Europe, just like Verona. Overnight in Naples.

Day 5: Bari (Capital of Apulia)

After breakfast, transfer to Bari (290 km). Along the way, we will stop for lunch and coffee. Arrival in Bari, check-in at the hotel. After a short rest, we will take an evening tour of Bari. Bari is the capital of the Apulia region and the second-largest city in southern Italy. The relics of St. Nicholas, one of the most revered saints in the Christian world, are kept here. We will walk through the narrow streets of the old town, learn about the 30 years of Arab rule and their influence on Bari, the construction of the Apulian aqueduct, and why the Teatro Margherita is built on water. Your guide will recommend a cozy restaurant for dinner. Overnight in Bari.

Day 6: Queen of Baroque - Lecce and the White City - Ostuni

After breakfast, we head to Lecce, famous for its ornate and grand baroque architecture. The entire city center is made of local limestone, allowing artisans to create intricate lacework, bas-reliefs, and patterns on the façades. We will stroll through the city center, visit a church with no façade, the cathedral, and the Basilica, and explore hidden courtyards with stunning decorations. Your guide will introduce you to pasticciotto, a beloved local pastry, and you’ll have time to try it with an espresso.

Then we proceed to Ostuni, the "White City," where almost all the buildings are painted white. Against the backdrop of the southern blue sky, the city looks like a wonderful lily on a field of olive groves. We will learn why the residents painted the houses white in the 17th century to protect themselves from the plague and whether this helped them survive. Overnight in Bari.

Day 7: Alberobello – The Trulli Capital and Matera – The Cave City

After breakfast, we head to Alberobello, the most "fairytale-like" city of the 15th century, not only in Italy but in the world. The city is famous for its unique Trulli buildings, which have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996. These cone-shaped structures were built using dry masonry. We will learn why it was so important to build these domes and why they were often destroyed. Walking through Alberobello is like entering a Disney movie about gnomes. The thousands of tiny white houses and churches, narrow cobblestone streets, and colorful flowers make it a feast for the eyes. It’s the perfect place to take beautiful photos.

Then we travel to Matera, a UNESCO city famous for its dwellings and churches carved into the soft tuff rocks. Since the 8th century, pilgrims and monks considered the valley of Matera a safe place to live in caves. Remarkably, people lived here until the beginning of this century, until the Italian government ordered their relocation to modern apartments. Matera’s unique look has made it a filming location for biblical stories, such as "Christ Stopped at Eboli" and Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ." We will visit the panoramic viewpoint, the Sasso Caveoso and Il Piano neighborhoods, and the Cathedral. We’ll learn about the unusual dessert "Monk's Breast" or "Sighs," and have a chance to try it in a local bar. In the evening, we’ll explore the historical center of Bari and enjoy dinner. Don’t forget to leave room for the most delicious gelato in the city! Overnight in Bari.

Day 8: Olive Oil Secrets – Castel Del Monte

After breakfast, we visit an olive oil farm to learn about the process of olive harvesting and taste oils of different ages and flavors. We will enjoy a snack of crispy taralli with a glass of wine. Then, we head to Castel del Monte, the famous "castle on the mountain," known for its unusual octagonal shape. Its purpose remains a mystery—was it built as a fortress, a hunting lodge, an astronomical observatory, or a site for mystical ceremonies? We’ll explore the castle and decide which theory resonates with us. Lunch and transfer to the Rome airport zone by bus, arriving around 10 pm. Overnight in a hotel near Rome Airport.

Day 9: Departure from Italy

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for any flight or continue your stay in Italy.

Additional Nights (on request):

In ROME before the tour, at a hotel about 4 km from the historical center:
½ DBL $125.00, city tax to be paid on-site.
Single supplement $230.00, city tax to be paid on-site.

Hotels in the Tour:

Hotel Pacific in Rome www.hotelpacificroma.com or similar
Hotel Paradiso, BW Signature Collection in Naples www.hotelparadisonapoli.it/en or similar
Hotel Boston Bari in Bari www.hihotelbari.com or similar
B&B hotel Roma Fiumicino Aeroporto near Rome Airport or similar

Tour Inclusions:

• Accommodation for 8 nights (1 night in Rome, 3 nights in Naples, 3 nights in Bari, 1 night near Rome Airport)
• Breakfast at hotels
• Welcome dinner by the Colosseum in Rome
• Transfers to and from the airport (until 2 pm)
• Transfers for night flights (between 8 pm and 8 am) at an additional $30 per person
• Comfort bus transfers throughout the program
• Licensed Russian-speaking guide for the entire tour
• Boat for Capri day trip and bus on Capri island
• Boat for excursion to Positano
• Guided excursions to Sorrento, Capri, Amalfi, Bari, Matera, Alberobello, Lecce, Ostuni, Castel Del Monte
• Olive oil tasting with wine in Apulia
• Limoncello tasting in Sorrento
• Entrance to the Royal Palace in Caserta
• Entrance to Matera Cathedral
• Entrance to Castel Del Monte
• Headsets for the entire tour

Not Included:

• Lunches and dinners
• City taxes in hotels (3 to 7.50 euros per person per day)
• Insurance
• Tips for the driver and guides