Southern Italy Escape
9 Days
Tour Description
Imagine spending time in Italy’s most beloved locations without the higher costs and bigger crowds associated with busy travel season. Join us on a cultural and culinary adventure of Southern Italy’s wonderful gems. Start with a city tour of Naples birthplace of Neapolitan pizza. A scenic drive brings you to the rocky outcrop of Matera—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn all about the Sassi houses, thought to be among the first human settlements in Italy. Next overnight in the town of Lecce. Admire its lacy stone buildings and baroque squares, and visit the Duomo and Santa Croce Basilica to understand why it is called the “Florence of the South.” In Alberobello, take a tour of the traditional Trullo houses—whitewashed, circular homes, with classic conical roofs. Marvel at the stunning 90-million-year-old caves of Castellana. Visit the Apulian capital of Bari on the heel of Italy’s “boot.” Join us in the off season and escape to Southern Italy’s off-the-beaten-path locales.
Traveller Notes
We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect holiday—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides (with headsets to hear every word), to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring in spacious comfort by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach. Free Wi-Fi is included on board your coach and in most hotel lobbies and common areas.
Traveller Notes
We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect holiday—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides (with headsets to hear every word), to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring in spacious comfort by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach. Free Wi-Fi is included on board your coach and in most hotel lobbies and common areas.
Priced From:
$ 2799pp *
Start Location: Naples, Italy
End Location: Alberobello, Italy
Major Destinations: Bari ,Lecce,Italy,Alberobello,Naples
Breakfast Meals Included:
8
Lunch Meals Included:
0
Dinner Meals Included:
3
Itinerary
Day
1
ARRIVE IN NAPLES, ITALY
Welcome to Naples! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travelling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
Day
2
NAPLES
A Slice of Life in Napoli
NAPLES Guided sightseeing includes Palazzo Reale. Enjoy free time this afternoon. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURE & TRADITION Naples delivers Old World charm in spades as one of Italy's oldest cities. From its regal Palazzo Reale to the 13th-century Duomo di San Gennaro's frescoed masterpieces to nearby Mount Vesuvius to the most famous pizza in the world served throughout the city in Neapolitan style. A stroll along the promenade beside the Bay of Naples reveals why locals and visitors choose this spot to soak in the sunset on the Mediterranean Sea.
Day
3
NAPLES- MATERA
Hidden Gem
MATERA Guided walking tour. (B,D) 155 mi / 250km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURE & TRADITION Matera is a city like no other, entirely carved out of the rocky slopes of a mountain in the Basilicata region and has been extended over millennia. Explore with a guide the secrets of this unique city that has been the setting for many famous films from Mel Gibson's "The Passion of Christ" to James Bond "No Time to Die"
Day
4
MATERA- MANDURIA- LECCE
Cultivating Culture
MANDURIA Globus Local Favourite Visit the Primitivo wine museum followed by tasting.
LECCE Guided walking tour includes Duomo and Santa Croce Basilica.
(B) 105 mi / 168km
LOCAL FAVOURITE
LOCAL TASTES Wine holds a significant cultural and historical importance in Italy, making it one of the world's leading wine-producing countries. The Italian wine culture is deeply intertwined with the country's regional diversity. The Primitivo grape is the primary grape variety cultivated in the Manduria region. This grape is known for producing robust and full-bodied red wines with rich fruit flavors and hold its name as this type of grape matures early.
Day
5
LECCE
Sweet Strolls in Apulia
LECCE Enjoy a day at leisure in the city known as the "Florence of the South". (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEM Stroll around Leece to take in the vibrant and bustling atmosphere. Wander the narrow streets of golden sandstone looking for hidden Piazzas or indulge in a wine bar with a glass of local rose and views of the carved baroque churches the city has to offer around each corner.
Day
6
LECCE-ALBEROBELLO AREA
Stone Houses
ALBEROBELLO Guided walking tour includes a visit to a Trullo (traditional conical-roof house). Free time this afternoon and evening. (B) 78 mi / 126km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ART & ARCHITECTURE The iconic round houses (Trulli) date back hundreds of years. These Trulli, constructed of dry stone and cone-shaped roofs include the oldest structures built in the 16th century and were used as grain storage or residences. Made without cement in the masonry techniques of the day, these whitewashed homes were easily disassembled to avoid property taxes when the collectors came calling! Today, you can stroll the streets lined with Trulli houses to see their conical rooftops decorated with symbols such as a cross, heart, astronomical symbol, or the evil eye.
Day
7
ALBEROBELLO AREA: EXCURSION TO CASTELLANA GROTTE
Stalactites & Stalagmites
CASTELLANA GROTTE Take a guided visit to the underground caves. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT The Grotte di Castellana is one of the largest cave systems in Italy stretching for over two miles. The underground tunnels are a natural marvel with stunning geological formations illuminated in a rainbow of hues as the sun moves through the sky.
Day
8
ALBEROBELLO AREA: EXCURSION TO BARI
Santa Claus Connections
BARI A guided walking tour includes the Old Town, San Nicola's Church. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D) 68 mi / 110km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURE & TRADITION Bari combines historical charm with modern amenities, culinary tradition with cultural attractions. The city's markets, such as the Mercato Coperto, offer a vibrant showcase of fresh local produce and culinary delights. A major point of interest is the Basilica di San Nicola that holds the relics of Saint Nicholas the inspiration for the modern Santa Claus.
Day
9
ALBEROBELLO AREA
Safe travels until we meet again!
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B) (Nearest airport is Bari)
Dates & prices
Dates
Prices
Status
Departure Date :
2025-03-14
Return Date :
2025-03-22
Triple :
3799 NZD
Twin :
3799 NZD
Sold Out
Departure Date :
2025-02-22
Return Date :
2025-03-02
Triple :
2969 NZD
Twin :
2969 NZD
Sold Out
Departure Date :
2025-02-15
Return Date :
2025-02-23
Triple :
2969 NZD
Twin :
2969 NZD
Sold Out
Departure Date :
2025-02-08
Return Date :
2025-02-16
Triple :
2969 NZD
Twin :
2969 NZD
Sold Out
Departure Date :
2025-02-01
Return Date :
2025-02-09
Triple :
2799 NZD
Twin :
2799 NZD
Sold Out