Puglia and Matera: Mediaeval to Baroque Art and the Picturesque Scenery of the Salento Coast
The south of Italy is still largely, and unjustly, unknown. Come with us as we explore the sun-drenched region of Puglia, from Trani south into the Salento, the tip of the heel of the Italian boot, a land rich in history, full of treasures of art and architecture. Our journey will, in some senses, have a companion: Frederick II, king of Sicily and southern Italy as well as Holy Roman Emperor (1194-1250), who built many of the spectacular sites we will visit. Our first base will be Trani, where Frederick built the city's castle and prayed in its magnificent cathedral. From there we will make a visit to see Frederick's most magnificent castle and residence, Castel del Monte, one of the jewels of the thirteenth century. Our path next takes us out of Puglia and into neighbouring Basilicata, across the “murgia” or plain to Matera, one of the oldest cities in the western world, with continuous human habitation from the late Paleolithic era onward, with its fascinating “Sassi” or dwellings cut out of the rock of the ravine that defines one of the city's edges. Then we make a visit to Bari, capital of Puglia, with another castle built by Frederick, to pay our respects to St Nicholas in his great basilica before moving south to Lecce, our second base of exploration. We will begin with Lecce itself, with its astonishing Baroque decoration, but the Salento area has more to show us, from Otranto with its twelfth-century mosaic floor and its streets running down the hill to the sea, to the landscape of the interior, where Frederick II went hawking, and Gallipoli where we will walk along the edge of the Ionian Sea. Our visit ends with a trip to the Puglian town of Martina Franca with its characteristic trulli or conical domed buildings, and all through our journey we will be sampling the variety of food and wine that come from this most extraordinary and unexpected region.
Your Tour Includes
- Return flights from London to Brindisi
- Three nights bed and breakfast at the 4-star Hotel San Paolo al Convento
- Three nights bed and breakfast at the 4-star Grand Hotel di Lecce
- Private coach transfers and excursions
- Services of your expert lecturer and Tour Manager
- Detailed programme and study notes
- All entrance fees, taxes and gratuities for coach drivers and waiters
- Guided visits to sites listed in the programme
- Three dinners and one lunch
Nigel McGilchrist
Living and teaching in the Mediterranean area (Italy, Turkey and Greece) for over forty years, Art Historian Nigel McGilchrist began work with the Italian Ministry of Arts in the field of wall painting conservation. He has taught for universities both in the USA and in Italy, and now lectures independently for the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and for a number of other cultural organisations.. He has accompanied over eighty art and architecture tours in both Europe and Asia. With a particular interest in Buddhism and its art, and a family connection with Japan, he has taken groups to Bhutan, India, Cambodia, Thailand and Japan. He is the author of a 20-volume series of books on the art, history and architecture of the Greek Aegean Islands; and his most recently published book on Pythagoras (When the Dog speaks, the Philosopher listens) draws on the deep connections between Greek and Eastern philosophy.
Itinerary
Morning flight from London to Brindisi. Drive to Bitonto to visit one of the most striking cathedrals in the region modelled on the basilica of Saint Nicholas of Bari; its crypt dates from the pre-Romanesque period. Continue to Trani where the first of three nights will be spent.
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Trani is famous for its cathedral perched on the tip of a promontory, a jewel of the Pugliese/Romanesque style and for the dazzling whiteness of its historical centre, which stands out against the deep blue of the sea. The 12th-c. church of Ognissanti is a former Templar church that is still intact. Drive to Andria for lunch at an organic farm. Continue to Castel del Monte to visit Frederick II’s unique octagonal fortress from the 12th century situated on a hill top. The Castle has been a Unesco site since 1996.
Includes Breakfast
Included Highlights
A day excursion to Matera, the European Capital of Culture for 2019 and a Unesco site since 1993. Walk through the centre and “I Sassi” to visit the Romanesque Cathedral and the Crypt of the Original Sin, located in a rocky cavern on the edge of a ravine, painted inside with scenes from the Old and New Testaments, dating from the 9th century.
Includes Breakfast
Included Highlights
Bari is the principal city of Puglia and its capital. The old mediaeval city is situated on a walled peninsula stretching out into the sea. The Basilica of Saint Nicholas is the first and the most impressive Romanesque basilica of Puglia. Inside, the Cathedra and the Ciborium of Saint Eustace are superb works of mediaeval sculpture dating from the 11th c. Also visit the nearby 12th-c. Cathedral. Continue to Lecce where the last three nights will be spent.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Lecce lies in the easternmost part of the “heel of Italy” and it is renowned for its joyous and exuberant interpretation of the Baroque and Rococo styles, enhanced by the creamy-coloured stone of the facades of both churches and palazzi. The Cathedral and the Church of Santa Croce are the finest examples of the “Barocco Leccese”. In the main square of the city lie the remains of a Roman theatre.
Includes Breakfast
Included Highlights
Day excursion into the heart of the Salentine Peninsula, a “natural bridge” stretching towards the East, where various populations settled over the course of its history. The Byzantines, Normans and Aragonese have all left traces in the architecture, food and languages, which are still perceptible today. Otranto is the easternmost town in Italy. Enclosed within its Aragonese walls, it has a Norman cathedral with a remarkable 12th-c. mosaic floor. Galatina is a charming agricultural centre, where the church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria is decorated inside with 15th-c. frescoes of the school of Giotto. Continue to Gallipoli on the Ionian coast of the Peninsula.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
After breakfast check out of hotel and coach transfer to Brindisi airport for return flight to London.
Includes Breakfast
Please note that it is necessary to have a good level of
fitness as there will be at times extensive walking and inevitably some long
periods of standing.
Accommodation
You will stay for 3 nights at the 4-star Hotel San Paolo al Convento and 3 nights at the 4-star Grand Hotel di Lecce.
San Paolo Al Convento
Hotel San Paolo Al Convento is a charming boutique hotel located in the picturesque town of Trani, Italy. Housed in a beautifully restored 17th-century convent, the hotel offers a unique blend of historical charm and modern comfort. With elegantly decorated rooms, a rooftop terrace, and an on-site restaurant, guests can enjoy a delightful stay.
Hotel Facilities
Need further information? Fill in our enquiry form and we'll get back to you as soon as we can
General
- 4 Star
- Bar
- Lift
Room
- TV
- Hairdryer
- Safe Box
- Air Conditioning
- Fridge
- Free Wifi
Hotel
- Bar
- Lift
- WiFi Available
Grand Hotel Di Lecce
The Grand Hotel Di Lecce is a luxurious and elegant hotel in the historic city of Lecce, Italy. It offers beautifully appointed rooms, exquisite cuisine, a spa, and a prime location for exploring the city's attractions. With its impeccable service and attention to detail, the Grand Hotel Di Lecce provides a truly memorable and indulgent experience for guests.
Hotel Facilities
Need further information? Fill in our enquiry form and we'll get back to you as soon as we can
General
- Outdoor Swimming Pool
- 4 Star
- Bar
- Lift
Room
- TV
- Hairdryer
- Safe Box
- Air Conditioning
- Telephone
- Free Wifi
Hotel
- Swimming Pool
- Bar
- Lift
- WiFi Available
