1st Day: Welcome to Puglia - Arrival in Bari
Arrival in Bari, greeted at the airport and transferred to the hotel. After check-in, free time to relax or explore the surroundings at your own pace. In the evening, a welcome dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.
2nd Day: Exploring Bari - Between History and the Sea
After a traditional Pugliese breakfast, set off to explore Bari, the capital of Puglia. Visit the Basilica of San Nicola, a pilgrimage site for Orthodox and Catholic believers and home to precious relics. Continue with the Norman-Swabian Castle, a majestic fortress narrating centuries of history. Stroll along the promenade, where the sea breeze mingles with the scents of local cuisine, and through the characteristic old town with its cobbled streets and white houses. In the afternoon, free time to discover hidden corners of the city or savor a Bari-style focaccia. Return to the hotel, dinner featuring local dishes, and overnight stay.
3rd Day: Alberobello and Lecce - Gems of Baroque
After breakfast, head to Alberobello, where the trulli, ancient conical stone buildings, create a unique landscape recognized as a UNESCO heritage site. Time to explore and immerse yourself in this fairy-tale atmosphere. Continue to Lecce, the jewel of Salentine baroque. In the historic center, admire churches and palaces adorned with elaborate stucco and sculptures, earning it the nickname "Florence of the South". Return to the hotel in Bari in the late afternoon for a flavorful dinner and overnight stay.
4th Day: Castel del Monte and Trani - Norman Past and Coastal Beauties
After breakfast, journey to Castel del Monte, an enigmatic octagonal construction commissioned by Frederick II and surrounded by legends and mysteries. Then, visit Trani, a coastal town known for its Romanesque Cathedral situated right by the sea, offering a unique panorama. In the afternoon, explore the port and the historic center, evoking ancient tales of sailors and merchants. Return to Bari for a relaxing dinner and overnight stay.
5th Day: Matera - The City of Stones
After breakfast, depart for Matera, an ancient city captivating with its Sassi, old neighborhoods carved into the rock. This incredible urban landscape, which has been the backdrop for numerous films, tells the story of communities that have lived there for millennia. Explore the rock-cut churches, testimonies of an ancient and deep faith, and walk through alleys and courtyards where time seems to have stopped. Dinner in one of the typical restaurants carved into the rock and overnight stay in Matera.
6th Day: Departure for Sicily - Arrival in Palermo
After breakfast, transfer to Bari airport and departure for Palermo. Welcome at Palermo airport and transfer to the hotel. After check-in, free time to relax or explore the surroundings at your own pace. In the evening, a welcome dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.
7th Day: The Magnificence of the Past - Palermo and Monreale
After breakfast, set off for a tour of Palermo and Monreale. In Palermo, the Cathedral stands with its mixture of architectural styles narrating centuries of history. The nearby Palatine Chapel is a jewel of Byzantine mosaics. Lunch break in a typical market, where you can taste Sicilian street food. The journey continues to Monreale, where the Cathedral, with its shimmering and intricate golden mosaics, provides a living testimony of medieval art and devotion. From the Cathedral's terrace, the view stretches over the Conca d'Oro and the blue sea. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon, dinner, and overnight stay.
8th Day: Echoes of History - Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples
After breakfast, depart for Agrigento. Arrival at the Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO archaeological site, where ancient Doric temples stand majestically among olive and almond trees, bearing witness to Sicily's glorious Greek past. Check-in at the hotel in the late afternoon, dinner, and overnight stay.
9th Day: Ancient Charm - Villa Romana del Casale, Siracusa, and Noto
After breakfast, head to Piazza Armerina, where the Villa Romana del Casale reveals its extraordinary Roman mosaics, offering a window into the daily life of the Roman era through vivid and detailed scenes. Continue to Siracusa, a city that once rivaled Athens in terms of power and beauty. Visit the Archaeological Park of Neapolis, where the Greek Theater and the Roman Amphitheater narrate stories of epic battles and theatrical performances. Continue to Ortigia, the beating heart of Siracusa, with its legendary Fonte Aretusa and the Cathedral built over a Greek temple. In the afternoon, transfer to Noto, a jewel of Sicilian baroque, where you can admire the artistic elegance of palaces and churches, such as the Noto Cathedral. Check-in at the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay.
10th Day: Toward the Volcano - Etna and Taormina
After breakfast, adventure to Mount Etna, Europe's highest active volcano. An expert guide will lead the group through lava paths, up to the Silvestri craters where the earth smokes, highlighting the volcanic power. Then, travel to Taormina, a city nestled on a rocky terrace with breathtaking views of the sea. Visit the Greek Theater, the second-largest theater in Sicily, with a panoramic view of the sea and Etna. Stroll along Corso Umberto, Taormina's main street, where you can discover artisan shops and taste local delights like the Sicilian cannolo. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon, dinner, and overnight stay.
11th Day: Exploring Catania - The Beauty of Baroque
After breakfast, depart for Catania. Visit the historic center with its baroque architecture, the Cathedral of Sant'Agata, and the Piazza del Duomo with the famous Elephant Fountain. Free time in the afternoon to further explore the city or relax. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon, dinner, and overnight stay.
12th Day: Goodbye Sicily
After breakfast, free time until the transfer to Catania airport.
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