Apulia is one of the most beautiful regions of Italy,an impressive historical patrimony,kilometers of splendid
beaches as the Gargano,Salento,Bari and Brindisi coast,a land linked for centuries to Megae Hellas the ancient Magna Grecia had in Taranto one of its most important centre in the Italian Peninsula,,cities as Bari,Lecce,Brindisi rich in history,culture and relevant monuments,Apulia is also the region to discover architectonic masterpieces as the famous Trulli of Alberobello,those very particular and charming houses declared UNESCO PATRIMONY SITES ,today the Incoming Tourism Industry of this region offer you the the opportunity to enjoy a stay in this charming kind of accomodation..Apulia is also a mecca for gastronomy,with a rich Mediterranean cuisine and further more a big variety of folklore events and festivals.Here a fly & drive to discover this beautiful region,Apulia,a destination,a dream,a great choice for a holiday all year.
DAY 1: BARI
Welcome in Bari ! After your rent a car depending on the time of arrival,have a first contact with the city,famous for its medieval centre with many buildings in Romanesque style and 19th century palaces of great interest.Take a look to the majestic Swabian Castle and enjoy a beautiful walk on "lungomare Imperatore Augusto"with an enchanting view of Mediterranean sea.Have your dinner with the typical "Orecchiette alle cima di rapa"(typical pasta from Bari accompanied by a fine wine "Rosato del Salento" an a "frittura mista di pesce"a delicious mixed fried fish " Overnight in Bari.
DAY 2: BARI
Breakfast at the hotel and "Buongiorno Bari". Visit the old town of Bari a gem of art and architecture Apulia's capital has with a strong mercantile tradition,Bari has always been the nerve centre of trade and in political and cultural contacts with Eastern Europe and the Middle East.The city is the most universally known for being the place where lie the relics of St. Nicholas.This privilege has made Bari and its Basilica of the most famous one from the Orthodox Church in Western Europe.Visit of St. Nicholas Cathedral, symbol of the city, the 19th district Murat ordinate grid pattern and the square towers of the castle of Frederick II.Do not miss a visit to the Cathedral of San Sabino an architectonic masterpiece and the beautiful squares "Piazza Mercantile" and "Piazza Ferrarese"
Lunch in a restaurant,try the famous "Cavatelli pomodoro and basil with pecorino"and the typical "bombette"beef rolls stuffed with cheese and ham usually,and try a divine fine wine "Squinzano"
a vigourous red wine from Salento the Southern part of Apulia.in the afternoon continue to visit the historical centre, the old port,Teatro Petruzzelli and the long Bari seafront.Dinner in a local restaurant,try this time,"Riso al forno alla Barese"a local speciality similar to a Spanish Paella.The ingredients are rice,potatoes and mussels with little pieces of "pomodorini pachini" a kind of cherry tomatoes.Overnight in the capital of Apulia.
DAY 3: BARI -ALBEROBELLO- GROTTE DI CASTELLANA -BARI
Breakfast at hotel and departure for the visit of Alberobello, the capital of the famous "Trulli"authentic iconic symbol of the region of Apulia "Trulli" are round houses made of stone circles overlapping with self-supporting dome roof, often embellished with decorative pinnacles, whose shape is inspired by symbolic, mystical and religious.Visit Rione Monti, with the UNESCO World Heritage Church "Trullo Siamese",you can visit different "Trulli"of different size also at the interior to learn about this kind of buildings,(discovering inside the typical apulian furnitures) and other charming glimpses of this unique city.Lunch in a typical restaurant,try here in Alberobello,the "brasciole" slices wrapped meat stuffed with cheese, garlic,onion and parsley and the "cucuzze a furne"a pie of rice,zucchini,potatoes and baked mussels and enjoy a bottle of a "Rosso Barletta" a great fine wine of the province.
In the afternoon continuation to "Grotte di Castellana".The Caves of Castellana represent the largest unexplored caves in Italy.The complete itinerary is developed for 3 miles between caves and chasms by mythological or fantastic names.From Grave to the Black Cave, after passing the Cave of the Owl, crossed the corridor of the Snake, the Cave of the Precipice and Little Paradise,you will reach the White Cave,defined as the most beautiful cave in the world, shining and bright. The karst complex houses works of art result of the slow flow of water in the depths of the earth, stalactites and stalagmites, colourful, fluorescent alabaster, a world of imagination that only nature could create.Return back to to Bari,enjoying once again this beautiful city at night and have a great dinner in a typical restaurant in the area of the "lungomare" and try the "Calzone alla Barese"it is similar a closed focaccia with oil that wraps around a filling of noodles or capellini,filled of,onion, anchovies,capers and olives and as wine try a famous and fine "Primitivo di Manduria" a classical apulian wine really excellent.Overnight in Bari.
DAY 4: BARI- LECCE - OTRANTO-LECCE
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Lecce, visiting the old town, known as the "Florence of the South" for the cultural and historical richness that characterises it. Visit the most significant monuments of Lecce,such as the Baroque square of Sant 'Oronzo with the adjacent amphitheater and the column end of the ancient Roman Via Appia "Appian Way", "Piazza Duomo" and the Cathedral, one of Italy's most beautiful churches and the Basilica of Santa Croce, a symbolic monument of the Baroque Lecce full of statues and decorations.You can dedicate a visit to Celestini Palace, once the site of the Celestine monastery, with its delicate ornamental designs, however, is an example of the baroque sober, very rare to see in other places.Lunch in a typical restaurant in Lecce.Try here the typical "Penne alla Locanda"pasta with onion,olive oil,bacon, pecorino cheese,salt and pepper and the "Turcinieddi"a typical speciality of local cuisine consisting in interior lamb,potatoes,garlic,parsley,pecorino cheese,breadcrumbs and pepper
and try and enjoy a fine,dry, harmonious "Matino Rosso".
After your lunch departure for Otranto and visit of this beautiful maritime location of the Salento. Otranto is the eastern most city in Italy, center of Messapian and Roman civilizations then Byzantine and later Aragonese,spread around the imposing Castle and the Cathedral Of great interest is the Chapel of 800 martyrs and the crypt with the larger mosaic of the Byzantine world,a work by Pantaleone. In addition, you can admire the area of the "Bastioni", a complex of defensive towers built in the 16th century by Charles V to defend the territory against Saracens attacks, with the chapel of St. Peter, a rich testimony of Byzantine rule in the land of Otranto. It is one of the most representative buildings of the South medieval building in this region and remains the highest and most vivid expression of Byzantine art in Apulia. In the evening return to Lecce for dinner and try tonight another speciality,the "Scapece" fried fish and stored in large wooden troughs, between layers of bread crumbs soaked in vinegar and sprinkled with saffron,they are excellent with a great wine "Salice Salentino Piunot Bianco"a dry and distinctive local wine.Overnight in Lecce.
DAY 5: LECCE-TRANI-CASTEL DEL MONTE-MANFREDONIA
Breakfast and departure to Trani,beautiful seaside town, amous town of art for the artistic and architectural treasures that recall a glorious past.During the visit of this town,you can admire the Cathedral,a great example of Apulian Romanesque architecture, and the castle built by Frederick II of Swabia in defense of the port often stayed and where the son of Frederick Manfred lived for many years.Lunch in a restaurant in the town.Try the famous "Mpepata de cozze"peppered cooked mussels with olive oil,pepper sprinkled with chopped parsley and served with lemon wedges or in alternative "Riso e carciofi alla Tranese"a kind of risotto with artichokes,smoked cheese,parsley,chilli pepper,garlic and mozzarella.About wine,a suggestion a fine "Gioa del Colle Primitivo Riserva"is an excellent choice.
Continuation later in direction of the Gargano promontory with a stop at Castel del Monte to admire its magnificent castle, a XIII century building fortress constructed by the Emperor Frederick II in Apulia, UNESCO Heritage World Heritage Site, with its unique plant-based octagonal towers.Departure for Manfredonia, beautiful city situated on the Adriatic sea and center of considerable importance in the Gargano area.For dinner this is a typical area of fish and seafood,octopus,sea bass,mullet,squid, cuttlefish,sea bream,sole,mackerel,all prepared grilled or fried and typcal pastas "Maccheroni pomodoro e peperoni fritti (pasta with tomato,basil,garlic,onion and fried pepperoni all that with an excellent wine San Severo typical wine of this area.Overnight in Manfredonia.
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DAY 6: MANFREDONIA-SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO--MONTE S.ANGELO-MANFREDONIA
Breakfast and departure to San Giovanni Rotondo, known around the world to house the remains of "Padre Pio of Pietrelcina", who lived for several years in this small town.Visit of Padre Pio complex with the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the new Sanctuary built by the architect Renzo Piano worthily to hold thousands of pilgrims who come to honor the memory of "Padre Pio", the ancient monastery that housed Church St. Camillus de Lellis, and the church where the saint was praying. Lunch near the Sanctuary.Very typical local dish is the "Pancotto"Bread soup, a dish of the ancient tradition of the Gargano.The recipe calls for cooking the pieces of bread hardened along with herbs and aromatic elements, with potatoes, garlic, parsley, onions and mixed vegetables and about wine,try a wonderful "Rosso di Cerignola"a great red wine of Gatgano.In the afternoon continuation with destination Monte Sant'Angelo, one of the most visited villages by Christian pilgrims. Visit the old town and the Grotto of the Archangel, formerly a place of pilgrims during the Crusades. Return to Manfredonia for dinner.Enjoy a typical plate of the Gargano Area,"troccoli al sugo di seppie ripiene di polipi"a kind of homemade pasta with sauce stuffed cuttlefish and octopus.Overnight in Manfredonia.
DAY 7: MANFREDONIA-BARI-YOUR COUNTRY
Breakfast at hotel and departure to Bari Airport by motorway with destination your country.Goodbye and...see you next time sunny and beautiful Apulia.
Francesco Mari
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www.viaggiareinpuglia.it
www.regione.puglia.it
www.apulia.worldweb.com
www.lifeinitaly.com
www.apuliais.com
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