The corbelled roofs of the trulli at Alberobello - a national monument, the largest concentration (more than 1000) of trulli in Apulia. The building technique can be traced back at least to the Greek Bronze Age
Romanesque capital in the Church of San Leonardo de Siponto, with angel turning aside Balam’s ass
Castel del Monte, high on the limestone plateau of the Murge, has an unusual octagonal plan.
The 13th century frescoes from the rock-cut Church of San Vito Vecchio at Gravina have become detached from the cave where they were becoming degraded and have been restored and re-erected
The cathedral at Trani, beautifully floodlit at night
The cathedral at Tranto

2013 Tour Details

Mon 27th May - Mon 3rd Jun 2013
with Professor Alastair Small

8 Days || £1995
(sgl supp £230)
without flights £1755

2014 Tour Details

Mon 15th - Mon 22nd September 2014
with Professor Alastair Small

NB - Planning for our 2014 Tours is still at quite an early stage and some details (sites, hotels, dates) may change. You can reserve a place on any 2014 tour with fixed, fully refundable deposit of £300 (no top-ups if you book before 31st May). Should you change your mind when the brochure (with finalised prices) is published in June/ July we will happily refund your deposit, or transfer you to another tour.

Tour Managers

Quotes

The variety of places visited and the amount of exploration we did in a relatively short time, but in a very relaxing way - most cleverly arranged!
I found the most interesting parts of the tour were the unplanned side trips, such as exploring Trani at night the evening we landed in Italy, or the coastal Iron Age ruins that we visited on whim after seeing Ontranto. These gave character to the trip, making it more than just a sightseeing tour.
The area is so unspoilt by tourism. Everywhere was so pleasantly unhurried and comfortable. The variety of landscapes and visits made for continued interest but also showed how everything fitted into the pattern of history of the place. Of course, the enthusiasm of the leader Alistair Small, was infectious.

Tour Type

Tour Codes

May 2013: APU13A
Sep 2014: APU14A

Italy - Apulia Caves, Castles & Cathedrals

Explore the beautiful ‘heel’ of Italy with its rugged ravines, vineyards and olive groves, and lovely old seaside towns.
Gateway between empires where cultures mingled, merged and (occasionally) came to blows.
Based in attractive, unusual hotels – including a stately 5* converted Palazzo.
Cannae: site of Hannibal's greatest victory over the Romans.
Guided by Professor Alastair Small, who has excavated extensively in this region

Located in the Southern ‘heel’ of Italy, Apulia is a fascinating area quite unlike the rest of the country, characterised by high plateaus, plains, coastal lagoons and lovely old seaside towns. This remarkable region has been home to many successive peoples and cultures – each leaving their own unique archaeological trace on the landscape.

This is a wonderful exploration of how this diverse and beautiful region has been forged by the great sweep of history. Apulia was a natural transit area between East and West, attracting new settlers whose influence is reflected in the archaeology and architecture.

Alastair Small has spent many years on excavation and fieldwork here, and has a close personal interest in the whole early history of this area. This is important because this journey does not concentrate on any one period, but seeks to bring you gradually to an understanding of the influences which have produced their unique characters.

From the Iron Age Daunian warrior stelae of Manfredonia to Hannibal’s battle tactics at Cannae, Byzantine wall-paintings to the Baroque ‘architectural embroidery’ of Lecce, you will find this an intriguing and diverse holiday in a beautiful part of Italy. We have chosen three interesting and very different hotels; the first an attractive former convent and the last a stately converted palazzo, a Sheridan hotel.

Itinerary

Day One
Arrive Bari, drive to the lovely harbour city of Trani.

Day Two
Drive north to the attractive Norman Church of San Leonardo di Siponto has some very fine Romanesque carving. The castle at Manfredonia, named after its 13th century Swabian founder, houses a remarkable collection of Daunian Iron Age stelae with sculptured images of warriors, women and ships. Monte Sant’Angelo, site of one of the most ancient Christian shrines in Italy, the cave sanctuary of the Archangel Michael, high on the Gargano plateau.

Day Three
The 13th century Castel del Monte, spectacular hunting lodge of the Emperor Frederick II; Canosa which, unlike most Apulian cities, remained loyal to Rome in the Hannibalic War. We see the tomb of the crusader Bohemond, a gem of Apulian romanesque. On to Cannae, scene of Hannibal’s victory over the Romans. Visit the medieval village on the hill above the battlefield and follow from this viewpoint the battle tactics recorded by Polybius and Livy.Return via Barletta to see the colossal statue of a late Roman Emperor, recovered from the sea in the late Middle Ages, the largest bronze statue to survive from the ancient world.

Day Four
Visit Trani’s magnificent Norman cathedral, thought by many to be the finest in Apulia. Building began in 1096, incorporating the previous Byzantine church as the crypt of the cathedral. Drive to Gravina, where Alastair Small has spent many years excavating the Roman and Iron Age settlement (not at present accessible to tourists). The name records the fact that the city grew up on the edge of a deep ravine. Visit the museum in the town to see some of the finds, and the frescoes in the Byzantine tradition from the rock-cut church ofSan Vito Vecchio. Visit the museum of Gioia del Colle en route to our next hotel near Martina Franca.

Day Five
To Alberobello, famous (and much-visited) for its trulli, pepper-pot houses with corbelled roofs the stones of which gradually taper inwards to a capstone. They are typical of the region, but Alberobello has the largest concentration - over 1000 houses, including a church. Visit Massafra to see two of the medieval rock-cut churches, decorated with frescoes in the Byzantine tradition, characteristic of this part of Italy. Continue to Taranto, to visit the superb museum, only recently re-opened after renovation.

Day Six
Whole day in Lecce, the best-preserved Baroque city in the Mediterranean, visiting churches, the museum and the amphitheatre of the Roman city of Lupiae. When Lecce became part of the Kingdom of Naples, it took on a new cultural identity as the ‘Apulian Athens’. Charles V gave Lecce a castle and massive circuit of walls to defend it against Turkish pirates. From the 16th to 18th centuries, this protection enabled the development of the ‘Lecce Baroque’, characterised by exuberant carving. On to our excellent hotel in Lecce.

Day Seven
On to the pretty seaside town of Otranto, to see the Byzantine church of San Pietro with fine frescoes of the 10th century, and the Norman cathedral with mosaic floor depicting biblical stories. The massive Aragonese castle was built as a bastion against the Turks, who had captured Otranto in 1480 and massacred many of its inhabitants. Return to Lecce for some free time in this beautiful Baroque town.

Day Eight
Return flight from Brindisi.

What's Included

Flights - Scheduled flights from London to Bari, Brindisi to London, both via Rome or Milan
Local Travel - Private a/c coach
Guide Lecturer - Professor Alastair Small. Not to be confused with "guest lecturers"! The guide lecturer will be with you from breakfast to supper, and probably even a drink in the bar afterwards. There is the occasional site where they may not be allowed to guide because of local regulations but otherwise the guides are just that. They will have been chosen because of specialist knowledge and their ability to communicate and interest you. After 29 years of making tours worldwide, we are highly appreciative of the attributes of a good guide, and intensely critical of people who do not possess them
Tour Manager - Lois Ferguson (May 13). We never know how best to call the very special people whom we choose to accompany you on your tour. They are usually employed in this capacity only by us, and have been trained to do things in the Andante way - unobtrusive, friendly and quietly efficient
Meals - All meals included (dinners with wine), except lunch Days 1 & 8
Entries & Tips - Entry to all sites in programme
Field Notes

Hotel

3 nights in a handsome former convent in Trani;
2 nights in a hotel near Martina Franca;
2 nights in a stately converted palazzo in baroque Lecce, now a prestigious 5* hotel.

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Mon 27th - Mon 3rd Jun 2013 with Professor Alastair Small	Singles: Last one	Twin/Doubles:Full

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