Puglia Discover The Heel of Italy

Day 1 London – Brindisi – Lecce
Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service® transports you from your front door to London Heathrow Airport for your scheduled Alitalia flight to Brindisi Airport via Rome or Milan. A complimentary drink and small snack will be provided during the flight from London to Rome or Milan. On arrival in Brindisi we board our coach to Lecce and to our hotel, the 4★ Hotel President with a welcome drink included on arrival.

Day 2 Lecce – Otranto
This morning we have included a guided tour of Lecce, a glorious city with its opulent and intricate Renaissance and Baroque churches and palazzi that exude a real charm. These wonderful buildings are enhanced by the warm yellow tones of the local masonry and, as the setting sun casts the last rays of the day, the sandstone turns to hues of soft pink.
This afternoon we make our way to the most eastern city in Italy, Otranto, where we have arranged a guided tour. We will see the magnificent Romanesque Cathedral that houses a vast mosaic floor dating back to 1166, depicting a multi-coloured ‘Tree of Life’ amongst other scenes of myths and legends. Otranto was home to early Greek settlements and later became a Byzantine stronghold.

Day 3 Lecce – Fasano – Ostuni – Martina Franca
This morning we briefly stop in the small town of Fasano before continuing to Ostuni, a city which has been occupied since the Stone Age and which has a vibrant olive and grape industry. Commonly known as “the white town”, Ostuni has a citadel, which is located on the top of a hill and surrounded by its white walls and white-painted architecture. The cathedral, dating back to the 15th century, is distinct, due to the green, yellow and white slate tiles, which encase it and the nearby buildings.
After time for free exploration, we travel onto Martina Franca, and to the beautiful 4★ Masseria Chiancone Torricella, which will be our base for our explorations for the next four nights and it benefits from a secluded, peaceful location. You will be greeted with a welcome drink.

Day 4 Matera
Today we travel to the distinctive and fascinating town of Matera, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, due to the unique cave dwellings that remain there. Monks created this maze of living spaces and churches as they sought refuge from infidels at the end of the first millennium and miraculously they are still largely intact. After our guided tour, which involves steps and walking on uneven ground, we return to our hotel, where the rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 5 Martina Franca
Today you are at leisure to enjoy the facilities that our hotel has to offer.

Day 6 Grottaglie – Valley d’Itria
A day full of highlights that starts with a visit to the town of Grottaglie, an area surrounded by limestone-enriched land. The town is known for its ceramic industry, which can be traced back to the Classical Ages. We also visit a winery for a tasting and in the afternoon, we enjoy a visit to a local olive oil estate, where the local produce can be sampled in much the same way as a wine tasting.
Finally we drive through the Valley d’Itria that extends as far as Locorotondo, like a fertile lawn laced with vineyards, olive groves and the characteristic trulli structures. This evening we have a sumptuous dinner at a local masseria where you can enjoy an array of the region’s specialties.

Day 7 Alberobello – Castellana Caves – Trani
Confined to this corner of Puglia and dominating the landscape are the typical trulli houses – circular, conical-roofed, white-washed houses, often adorned with various symbols and built without the use of mortar.
Their origin is still unknown but a high concentration of trulli can be found in and around the town of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 1,500 dotting the narrow streets.
Due to transport restrictions, there is a fifteen minute walk to the town from the coach where we have time to explore these unique constructions before moving onto the Castellana Caves, which are a series of limestone caves accidentally discovered in 1938 and are now one of Puglia’s main attractions. A guide will accompany you as you descend to the caves.
Following our visit, we travel onto Trani, and to the 4★ Hotel San Paolo Al Convento, which will be our base in this harbour town for the next two nights. You will be greeted with a welcome drink.

Day 8 Castel Del Monte – Ruvo di Puglia
This morning we depart for a guided tour of Castel Del Monte, built by Frederick II in the mid-13th century, most probably as a hunting lodge and located in a medieval hilltop village with the castle as its crown. We also visit the Ruvo Cathedral, a thirteenth century cathedral built in a late Romanesque style.

Day 9 Trani – Bari – London
Today we board our coach for the journey to Bari Airport and your scheduled Alitalia flight to London Heathrow via Rome or Milan where our staff will greet you and transfer you to Titan transport for your journey home to your own front door.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please Note:
Due to medieval layout of many towns and current transport regulations, access can be limited and pathways are uneven, particularly in Matera, and at the Castellana Caves.

Titan Travel have a reputation for innovative and enthralling escorted holiday itineraries, and through the guidance of their founding principles, “quality, service and value” which have remained unchanged since the 1970′s, their expertise and experience are second to none.

Titan Travel strive to ensure that aspect of their holidays whispers quality, before you fly, you get to appreciate a comfortable, chauffeur-driven transfer from your front door to the airport with our peerless VIP Home Departure Service, check-in assistance and complimentary porterage. All international flights are with world-renowned scheduled airlines and cruises with acclaimed operators. Touring holidays are expertly designed by the product team to present a comprehensive, imaginative introduction to the destination of choice yet still offer plenty of time for relaxation. The services of a tour manager or cruise manager are included throughout. When you return to the UK, you are met in the arrivals hall of the airport and shown to your VIP Home Departure Service vehicle, waiting to return you to your front door.

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