A taste of Puglia (by air – 7 nights)
Led by Dr. Pamela Marshall
14th – 21st May 2011

Set at the very heel of Italy, the region of classical Apulia was a recipient of the rich and various cultures that criss-crossed the Mediterranean from ancient times, whether in pursuit of trade or conquest. Visits will sample art and architecture from the Classical Greek, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine world, as well as the rich heritage bequeathed by Norman adventurers who settled here from the 11th century. The itinerary is packed with stunning churches, frescoes, mosaics and magnificent castles but also samples traditional local skills in building and cooking.

Day 1 Saturday: Flights* will be either from Heathrow to Brindisi via Rome or from Stansted direct to Bari (in either case leaving afternoon), followed by transfer to the Trulli Residence in time for dinner.

Day 2 Sunday: To get to grips with the early history of the region, we drive through Locorotondo to Egnazia on the cast. The excavated remains of this ancient city, occupied from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages, include exceptional chambered tombs of the Messapian period (7th-4thc BC). An excellent museum houses finds and displays. On to the hill-top town of Ostuni (Cathedral & historic centre) with a short stop at Cisternino on the way home.

Day 3 Monday: Visit to the magnificent Romanesque Cathedral at Trani, a church built upon a series of crypts that take its history back to early Christian times; wonderful frescoes and mosaics. On to Castel del Monte, built c.1240 by the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II of Hohenstaufen. This edifice can justly claim to be one of the most remarkable buildings in the whole of medieval Europe. On to Barletta, famous launching port of the crusading era; Romanesque Cathedral and 4thC bronze Colossus.

Day 4 Tuesday: We visit Bitonto, a town that blossomed in the 4thCBC, was sacked by the Byzantines but enjoyed a renaissance from the 11thC. The medieval town centre has an Angevin Tower and noble houses from the 15thC to the Baroque period, but its cathedral is the greatest draw. One the most magnificent examples of Apulian Romanesque, it has a fine carved ambo and earlier frescoes & mosaics in the crypt; well-displayed excavated archaeological remains chart the development of the church.
On to the ancient port of Bari: old town with Romanesque Cathedral of San Sabino; Norman basilica of San Nicola; Castle (Norman to Aragonese).

Day 5 Wednesday: AM: A more leisurely morning in the countryside, with a guided walk in the hills surrounding the Trulli Residence. An English -speaking expert on the native flora & fauna will lead the walk.
PM: Excursion to the ‘trulli town’ of Alberobello & the fine Baroque town of Martina Franca.

Day 6 Thursday: To the opposite coast to Taranto, where we trace the ancient history of this bustling port, dominated by its castle: Old Town, with wonderful crumbling Renaissance and Baroque palazzos; fine Romanesque Cathedral with an exceptional Baroque chapel; stunning Hellenistic and Roman artefects in the fine, modern Archaeological Museum.

Day 7 Friday: We visit Fredierick II’s castle at Gioia del Colle, which has a remarkable audience hall, then on to see the rock-cut chapels in the canyon country around Mottola, with their stunning frescoes.

Day 8 Saturday: Flights* will be either from Brindisi to Heathrow via Rome or direct from Brindisi to Stansted, in either case leaving mid-morning to arrive mid-afternoon.

Accommodation will be in traditional trulli, the stone beehive-like houses that are such a feature of the vernacular architecture of the region. Set in the ancestral farmstead of the Maggi family in the hills near Locorotondo, surrounded by the olive groves, vineyards and vegetable patches that furnish the Maggi table each evening, the complex and is usually self-catering. However, our breakfast and dinner will be prepared according to the true and traditional cuisine of the region using locally-sourced food, much of which comes directly from the surrounding fields.

£1,475 sharing (full single supplement £150; part-single supplement - own bedroom with shared bathroom - £75 per person)

Early booking reductions: £35pp for each booking received by Nov 30th 2010; £25pp for each booking received by Jan 31st 2011.

* Please note that flights are subject to confirmation when 2011 timetables are published. Places on this tour will be limited in number.

Visit www.realmsofgold.co.uk for further details, or contact p.marshall752@btinternet.com, or ring 01522-792780 to request a brochure.