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	APULIA



	HIDDEN ITALY "The wines and history of Apulia"		SEVEN DAYS IN GARGANO NATIONAL PARK

	DAY 1 Evenìng Arrival (frora airport Naples, Bari or Pescara) in hotel situated in the Itrìa Valley, a limestone area of rolling hills dotted with conìcal-shaped dry stone houses called "Trulli", this area has been called "the Cotswolds of Southern Italy".		DAY 1 Arrival in Apulia. Six overnights in hotel 3*sup. in Vieste. Dinner and overnight stay.
	DAY 2 Breakfast in hotel. Excursion to Castellana Caves, some of the best in Europe, providing a spectacle of rare beauty with their network of tunnels, galleries and hundreds of stalagmìtes and stalactìtes. Transfer to the town of Alberobello. a UNESCO world heritage site, famous for its high concentration of trulli. Sampling of locai lìqueurs and biscuit in a trull. Free lunchhour. Afternoon visit to nearby Locorotondo, noted for its production of white an rosé wine. The well-preserved old town centre is dominated at its highest point by the St. George Parìsh Chuech. Wine tastìng in one of the town wineries. Views over the Itria Valley. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.		DAY 2 After breakfast, walk to the port, departure by ferry to the Tremiti Island. Visìt of San Nicola with ruins of abbey and Romanesque church of St. Maria a Mare. Walks on S. Nicola and S. Domino to observe the naturai beauty of the islands. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
	DAY 3 Breakfast in hotel. Excursion to UNESCO world heritage site, Matera, a town of cave dwellings and churches built into the rocks. Free lunchhour. Afternoon visit to coastal city of Tarante, whose picturesque old town is situated on an island which divides the enclosed Adriatic "Mare Piccolo" from the western open sea. Tarante, founded by the Greeks, became the richest and most important centre of the Magna Grecia. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.		DAY 3 Whole day Jeep Safari through the Gargano Natìona Park. The excursion goes through the mountains, pasture land, woods and forest of the National Park. Special Apulian Lunch in a typìcal farmhouse. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
	DAY 4 Breakfast in hotel. Excursion to Lecce, famous Baroque city known as "the Florence of Southern Italy". Walking tour of the old town centre whose monuments include a Roman Anphitheatre, the Cathedral, the Bishops Palace and the Church of Santa Croce. Free lunchhour. Afternoon transfer to Otranto, the most easterly town in Italy. Stroll trough the narrow windìng streets of the old centre, spectacular views of the Adriatic and visit to the Romanesque cathedral, whose recently restored floor mosaic dates back to the 12th century; and the Bizantine church of St. Peter an Castle. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
	DAY 5 Breakfast in hotel and departure. Excursion to Bari, the Apulia Regional Capital, famous for its annual trade faìr. Visit to Romanesque Saint Nicholas cathedral, in whose crypt are preserved the relics of Saint Nicholas. Visit to UNESCO heritage site, "Castel del Monte", octogonal castle buìlt by Emperor Frederick II in the 13th Century. Followed by light lunch of locai produce and wine tasting. Afternoon visit to Trani, another coastal town, with its Romanesque cathedral overlooking the sea and picturesque port. Evening Arrival in hotel situated in the Gargano National Park, dinner and overnight stay.		DAY 4 After breakfast, boat trip to marine grottoes with spectacular views of Gargano coastiine. Lunch with grilled fish on secluded beach. Afternoon: visit Vieste old town and Cathedral and shell museum. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
	DAY 6 Breakfast in hotel. Mornìng walking tour of Monte Sant'Angelo, a hìll-top town with views across the Umbra Forest, Gargano mountains and Gulf of Manfredonia. This town is an important medieval pilgrimage centre whose ancìent shrine, dedicated to Saint Michael, stili attracts pilgrims from ali over the world. Other interesting monuments include the Romanesque churches of St. Peters, St. Mary maggiore and the Tomb of Rotary. The old town facing the Adriatic Sea, whose streets weave steeply between whìte washed houses, is well preserved. Free lunchhour. Afternoon visit to the 20th Century Saint Padre Pio's cathedral, buìlt by Renzo Piano (archìtect of the Pompidou Centre) in San Giovanni Rotondo. Then finish the day with a trip to the fishing port of Manfredonia, with a visit to the castle, and stroll along the beach. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay		DAY 5 After breakfast, excursion along the coast to Manfredonia.Visìt to WWF-Reserve of Frattarolo: marshy landscape and its plants, birdlìfe and wild water buffaloes. Visit to the National Archeological Museum of Manfredonia in the Swabish Castle. In the afternoon proceed to Monte Sant'Angelo, a hill-top town with views across the Gargano mountains and Gulf of Manfredonia. This town ìs an important medieval pilgrimage centre whose ancient shrine, dedicated to Saint Michael stili attracts pilgrims from ali over the world. Other interesting monuments include the Romanesque church of St. Mary and the Tomb of Rotari, who was a Langobardian king. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
	DAY 7 Breakfast in hotel. Excursion through the Gargano National Park following the spectacular coast road stopping at viewpoìnts on route. Visit to Vieste, seaside town and famous summer resort. Stroll along sandy beach and through the picturesque old town centre. Visìt to the Romanesque cathedral. Freetime for lunch. Afternoon, proceed along coast road to Peschici, a fishing vìllage. Walking tour through old town centre and to the 16th Century Don Achille Palace. Visìt the locai artisan market. Return through the Foresta Umbra, ancient decìduous forest in the heart of the Gargano Naturai Park. Visìt naturai history museum, then return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay		DAY 6 After breakfast, excursion along the coast road to fishing"village of Peschici. Walking tour through old town centre. Then proceed to lagoon lake of Lesina with visit to "Water Zoo" museum and boardwalk through Mediterranean maquis nature reserve. Afternoon visit by boat to the mussel cultivation bank and tour around the Varano Lake. Return to the hotel for dinner an overnight stay.
	DAY 8 Breakfast in hotel and departure		DAY 7 After breakfast departure from Vieste. In the morning visit salt marshes and Lake Salso to see the flamingo colony. Proceed to Barletta and visit the Romanesque cathedral and the castle. Stop in a typical winery, information about wine-growìng, viticulture and wine tasting and light buffet lunch with typical apulian products. Afternoon visit to UNESCO heritage site, "Castel del Monte", octagonal castle built by the Emperor Frederick II in the 13th Century. Proceed to Barletta and visit the Romanesque cathedral and the castle. Dinner and overnight in 4* hotel near Barletta.
			DAY 8 Breakfast in the hotel, and departure.

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