The Treasures of Southern Italy - Departure Date: October 1, 2009

Itinerary

Day 1 - October 1 - Fly from the US to Italy, Naples

Day 2 - October 2 - Naples
Upon arrival in Naples, you will be transferred to your hotel where you will have time to rest up from your flight before meeting your guide and fellow travelers for a welcome prosecco and a feast of local specialties. Sleep in Naples

Day 3 - October 3 - Naples
Enjoy a walking tour along the greatest avenues of Naples with an experienced and entertaining local guide. The grandiosity of this city's countless royal buildings and grand churches is a great surprise to the first-time visitor. We will also venture deep into the underside of Naples, visiting local markets and ancient neighborhoods. Sleep in Naples

Day 4 - October 4 - Naples
Today we will offer a tour of the archaeological museum of Naples, one of the world's best. Ancient objects from Pompeii, Ercolano, and other ancient Mediterranean centers will give you a unique insight into the ancient Greek and Roman cultures. Later in the day you will have free time to visit other museums or follow your guide down narrow streets to our favorite Neapolitan gelato and pastry shops. Sleep in Naples

Day 5 - October 5 - Amalfi Coast
Enjoy a scenic drive along the famed Amalfi coast. The city of Amalfi was once an important Mediterranean "Maritime Republic" and it is still bursting with history today. If weather permits you can cruise the harbor of Amalfi to gain perspective into the city's maritime past. Later, you will pass through Maiori, an Amalfi resort town which was popular in Roman times for its long, unbroken beach. You will end the day in Paestrum, where you can unpack your bags for a two-night stay. Sleep in Paestum

Day 6 - October 6 - Paestum
After breakfast you will enjoy a tour of the Greek-Roman city of Paestum. The ancient temple of Hera was built in 550 BC and has been painstakingly preserved many times through the ages. In the Paestrum museum you will behold unique frescoes that once decorated local tombs. This afternoon you will find yourself in a countryside estate learning how to cook famous southern Italian dishes (while holding a glass of fine Italian wine). Buon appetito! Sleep in Paestum

Day 7 - October 7 - Matera
Today you will leave Campania for the unforgettable region of Basilicata and the amazing city of Matera. Here you may feel a sense of déjà vu because the area's Middle Eastern appearance has served as the setting for the most famous biblical movies. Pasolini, Rosi, Tornatore, the Taviani brothers, Bruce Beresfort, Catherine Hardwick and Mel Gibson all chose Matera for its "Sassi" feel. Your adventure will start in the small abandoned village of Craco before reaching the epicenter of Matera in the afternoon. Sleep in Matera

Day 8 - October 8 - Matera
This day is dedicated to the discovery of Matera's "sassi" or "stone" neighborhoods. You will have plenty of time to penetrate deep into Matera's most impressive buildings, churches and tiny alleyways. We will stop to spend time with the locals and enjoy the mystical energy of this special city with a local meal right in its sassi heart. Sleep in Matera

Day 9 - October 9 - Gravina in Puglia, Altamura, Crypt of the Original Sin
This morning you will pay a visit to two small but impressive cities: Altamura, famous for its beautiful cathedral, and Gravina, a Pugliese city rich with buildings excavated out of tufa rock. In the afternoon you will behold the incredible Crypt of the Original Sin, a frescoed cycle that was painted with unbelievable colors and technique around 1,300 years ago in a remote countryside location. Sleep in Matera

Day 10 - October 10 - Alberobello and Locorotondo
Your first stop today will be the charming village of Alberobello where you will be exposed to hundreds of Trulli, the traditional homes of Apulia. These buildings feature circular, whitewashed walls and cone-shaped roofs that the locals constructed without mortar (in order to evade an ancient luxury tax!). A closer look at these "beehives" reveals Paleo-Christian good-luck symbols painted on the roofs. Continuing through the countryside we will make our way to the lovely Pugliese city of Locorotondo for a two-night stay. Sleep in Locorotondo

Day 11 - October 11 - Ostuni, Cisternino, the countryside
The beautiful white painted cities of Ostuni and Cisternino will serve as today's main attractions. The pleasant and vivacious atmosphere these small Apulian towns will give you profound exposure to the big heart of Southern Italy. We will make a point of stopping to meet our friends in these villages and learn more about their lives. Sleep in Locorotondo

Day 12 - October 12 - Gallipoli and Lecce
Today you will make your way to Gallipoli, the Pearl of the Ionian Sea. Here you can stroll through one of Apulia's finest seaside destinations before making your way to the great baroque city of Lecce - a fitting finale for your epic journey through Southern Italy. Sleep in Lecce

Day 13 - October 13 - Lecce
Today you will have plenty of time to explore Lecce, the Florence of the south. We will start with a tour of the world famous Church of the Holy Cross and then continue to visit the monuments and buildings that make Lecce one of the most appealing cities in Italy. Tonight you will say a fond farewell to your fellow travelers while drinking fine Primitivo and feasting sumptuously on delicious local specialties. Sleep in Lecce

Day 14 - October 14 - Transfer to the airport
This morning after breakfast you will be transferred to the Brindisi airport for your flight out to the US.

Please provide M&G Expeditions with your departure information as soon as you have made your airfare arrangements so that your transfer may be arranged in advance of the tour. There will be two morning departures from the hotel to the airport - one very early, around 4 am, and another one around 7:30 am. These early flights will allow you to connect through Rome for your flight back to the USA on the same day. If you want to extend your travels in the Apulia region we can make arrangements for a private transfer for your later departure.

Montgomery & Gardino Expeditions, LLC
Italy: Belvedere Montaldo 1/12A Genova Tel. + 39 010 5701111 Fax. + 39 010 5701150
USA: PO Box 82181 Portland, OR 97202 Tel. + 503 715 5583 or toll free: 866 322 8958

Trip Details

3 nights in Naples
2 nights in Paestum
3 nights in Matera
2 nights in Locorotondo
2 nights in Lecce

Price:
3,950 USD per person, double occupancy
680 USD single supplement

Deposit: 500 USD is required to hold space
Reservation deadline: April 29, 2009
Final Payment: due by June 29, 2009

What's included in the trip

All accommodation in very nice hotels and country inns, all breakfasts, either lunch or dinner every day, all sightseeing and guided tours as per the itinerary, a cooking class, dinner in a local home with homemade specialties, all transportation in a deluxe bus with air conditioning, professional tour leader and local guides.

What's not included in the trip:
International air-fare to and from Italy, personal expenses, tips for guides and drivers.
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