Eat! Play! Live!
The Heel of the Boot
Puglia, Basilicata, Italy
November 5-14, 2008
$3495.00
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Bari, Italy
Wednesday, November 5
Arriving in Bari by air or train on Wednesday, November 5, our small group
of travelers is met by Linda Alper and Imagine Adventures staff who escort
all to our lodging. After getting settled, we gather for an orientation,
our first language lesson and a personal introduction to the exquisite
cuisine of southern Italy. Imagine Adventures provides our first of two
group dinners – our hosts’ selection of fresh fish, local cheeses, homemade
orchiette pasta (we will see women making this pasta along the sidewalks
of Bari), wild greens and local red wine. Those who arrive early enough
will enjoy a walking tour through Bari’s centro storico, including visits
to the Basilica of San Nicola and Castello Svevo.
Days 2 and 3: Matera
Thursday and Friday, November 6 and 7
After a leisurely breakfast, we journey in navetta, private vans, past
sweeping vineyards and groves of knarled olive trees. Our destination,
about 2 hours away, is the beautiful and evocative town of Matera in
the nearby province of Basilicata. Matera is a UNESCO world heritage
site and home of"I Sassi", two ancient hillside towns carved
out of limestone calcarenite. I Sassi features stone edifices renovated
into hotels, restaurants and upscale businesses, many known for their
unique architectural innovations.
Our hotel is among these renovated buildings, so we may easily wander and explore (even after dark) the fascinating maze of ancient walkways through, over, under and around I Sassi. From the hotel and café terraces we may enjoy a glass of delicious local wine while gazing over an otherworldly place. There has been human habitation here for over nine thousand years. Unlike northern Italy destinations, Matera is far from crowded. Our experience includes the solitude and space to roam peacefully, enjoy the company of our companions, find pleasure in this unique place and even spy rare birds.
The area of"I Sassi" houses about 150 churches, many with Byzantine frescos. A walking tour in English gives us our bearings and an opportunity to learn the rich history of this singular town. Our late afternoon excursion to the"new town" of Matera, provides our first taste of the evening passagiata, the traditional pre- supper ritual where a whole town gathers to shop, flirt, stroll and gossip. We may also enjoy a concert since the newer area of Matera houses a top classical music conservatory.
Linda, our tour leader, offers exceptional culinary experience and her advice enhances our dining experiences. She is happy to arrange dining experiences from an array including obvious choices, restaurants popular with locals, or official Slow Food restaurants -- establishments that work to preserve cultural cuisine, leisurely dining and local, traditional ingredients. Linda may also suggestsecluded family-run eateries where menus don’t exist but delicious food does. Seek Linda’s assistance with reservations, menu translation or the communication of special dietary needs, but mostly for advice for a memorable dining experience. Southern Italian cuisine relies heavily upon fresh, healthy and satisfying ingredients such as vegetables, legumes and whole grains. Vegetarians will be happy!
Days 4, 5 and 6: Alberobello and Surrounding Towns
Saturday, Sunday and Monday, November 8, 9 and 10
Our private van service picks us up at our hotel in Matera or as close
as possible (no cars or paved roads exist inside I Sassi). We venture
back, through vineyards and olive groves dotted with castles and Greek
ruins, to the Puglia region and another UNESCO world heritage site, the
town of Alberobello."I Trulli", the curious white conical structures
associated in Italian folklore with magic and mystery have brought fame
to Alberbello. After settling into trulli renovated into guest accommodations,
we take a walking tour and explore this village like none other in the
world.
During the next two days our small group makes excursions from Alberobello. Traveling by private car or minibus, our first destination is the Itria Valley featuring the gorgeous surrounding towns of Martina Franca, Cisternino and Ostuni. Martina Franca is famous for its Italianate Baroque architecture and artisan food shops. Cisternino is a lovely hillside town and Ostuni, is an ethereal white-walled town, a fairy tale village of serpentine streets and dreamy architecture.
The following day, again in private car or mini bus, we visit nearby Grottaglie, breathtaking natural grottos famed for their impressive size and beauty. The"Grotta Bianca" is considered the most beautiful cavern in the world. From there we travel to local ceramics works, where we watch the creative work of local artisans. After meeting artisans and shopping, we return to Alberobello for a relaxing passagiata and an evening on our own.
Days 7, 8 and 9: Lecce
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, November 11, 12 and 13
A trip on the Trenitalia (train) takes us south through Puglia to Lecce,
the refined small city referred to as"The Florence of the South." Elegant
and very friendly, Lecce brims with breathtaking piazzas and Baroque
architecture. Even ordinary buildings are decorated with exuberant carvings
– demons, animals, flowers and fruit. Posh cafes and shops abound in
Lecce as does a bit of sophisticated city buzz.
Our lodging is the Centro Storico B&B composed of two side-by-side 16th century palazzi owned by the gracious Mauro Bianco. Elegantly furnished and centrally located, with a roof terrace that overlooks a charming, narrow street, this is a lovely place to stay. Mauro guides his guests to the best restaurants and to any festivals, markets, art shows or other special activities occurring during their visit. After relaxing and settling in, we are free to explore this enormously appealing town, hoping we have enough room in our stomachs to taste all the local delicacies!
The next morning we head out for an excursion to Gallopoli and Galatina. The famous Basilica of San Caterina and the pure blue water along the coast of Gallipoli await. Our afternoon is free for us to lunch on fresh fish, explore the center of Gallipoli and seek a final caffe and sweet treat before returning to Lecce for our own evening suppers.
Our final day, spent within Lecce, features a cooking lesson and tastings of local olive oils (November is the month of the olive harvest!) and the new wines. Abundant free time allows our small group to wander, explore, shop and people watch. Finally we all have the pleasure of a final group dinner provided by Imagine Adventures at Alle Due Corti, where we will be in the expert hands of Roselba De Carlo. This master of Puglian food runs a charming and unpretentious restaurant, about a five-minute walk from Mauro’s palazzo.
Day 10: Lecce and Departure for Home
Friday, November 14
A leisurely breakfast precedes cab rides to the train station, where trenitalia
transport us back to Bari. Additional cabs return travelers to the Bari
airport. Imagine Adventures assists travelers with connections for their
return flights. Linda is available to assist those travelers planning
to stay in Italy or travel to other European destinations by train, and
may help make arrangements and connections directly from Lecce if such
is most convenient. We finish our unique adventure in Italy’s"heel
of the boot" with new friendships and special memories.
Note About Booking Airline Travel:
Many travelers prefer to book their own airline travel or use frequent
flyer miles. Our trips, therefore, are priced not including your air
travel to and from Italy. However, if you wish Imagine Adventures to
assist you with ticketing, we can do so. There is a $75 fee for this
ticketing service. We strongly recommend that you schedule travel to
arrive in Bari, Italy on the morning of November 5.
