PUGLIA AND BASILICA - Keyrow Tours...BARI, MATERA, CRACO, OSTUNI, OTRANTO, LECCE AND ALBERBELLO A...

PUGLIA AND BASILICA

“HEAD OVER HEAL” IN LOVE WITH ITALY…

POLIGNANO AL MARE, MONOPOLI, BARI, MATERA, CRACO, OSTUNI,

OTRANTO, LECCE AND ALBERBELLO

A Twelve-Day Adventure

June 6th – June 17th, 2022

KEYROWTOURS 60 Georgia Road - Trumansburg, NY - 14886 Tel: 315.491.3711 www.keyrowtours.com

Day#1: “Head Over Heel in Love with Italy” Monday: June 6th, 2022 In conjunction with AAA Travel (Ithaca, NY), Keyrow Tours is pleased to make all flight arrangements, including primary flights originating from anywhere in the United States. We will depart from a major airport on the East Coast of the United States, and fly into Bari with one connection along the way. Transportation to and from your primary airport of departure is each person’s responsibility. Important: Please plan on sleeping on the plane as much as possible. This will help avoid jet lag, and enable us to “hit Italy running” on our first day… Buon viaggio!

“You may have the universe, if I may have Italy.”

~ Giuseppe Verdi

KEYROWTOURS

60 Georgia Road - Trumansburg, NY - 14886 Tel: 315.491.3711 www.keyrowtours.com

Day #2: “Polignano al Mare”

Tuesday: June 7th, 2022 Early afternoon arrival at Bari Airport After passport control and collecting our luggage, private minivans will carry us to Polignano al Mare, just 40 minutes away from the airport…

Check-in at our accommodations Time to shower and unpack Orientation with a brief walking tour of the village Overlooking the azure waters of the Adriatic Sea, Polignano al Mare is home to some of Puglia’s loveliest natural breathtaking vistas. Ringed by dramatic cliffs, the Lama Monachile Beach—also known as Cala Porte—is one of the most coveted and photographed beaches in the region.

Being a seaside town, the village naturally focuses on agriculture and fishing. Lovely sights await you in this sleepy fishing town of Polignano a Mare.

The Abbazia di San Vito This Benedictine church was designed in the 10th century and used to be the home of the minor monasteries of the Holy Apostles, in 1785. The church is unique in that it has an irregular quadrangular plant, a huge porch on the main facade and is surmounted by a small circular dome. Statue of Domenico Modugno The pride and joy of Polignano, Domenico Modugno was a famous Italian singer, songwriter, actor, guitarist, and even a member of the Italian Parliament, and was, of course, born in Polignano. Maybe, if you strain your ears, you can almost make out the familiar tunes of his 1958 international hit song, “Nel blu dipinto di blu” (otherwise know as “Volare”). Back to hotel Day’s recap Cena! (dinner)

“I think a dream like this never comes back…I painted my hands and my face blue… Then, suddenly, I was kidnapped by the wind … and I began to fly in the infinite sky.”

~ Domenico Modugno


Day #3 “Monopoli” Wednesday: June 8th, 2022

Italian breakfast

A.) Morning departure for Monopoli The white-washed old town of Monopoli has been inhabited since 500 BC, and takes its name from its early Greek origins: “Monos Polis” means a “singularly unique city”… and that is truly the case! The city still has that special, hard-to-find feeling that has faded from other big tourist destinations. Monopoli is a port city and like many of the towns in this part of Puglia, the historic center is dotted with white-washed buildings, contrasting perfectly with the bright blue Puglia skies.

1. The 16th-century Castle of Charles V. Built on a promontory that juts out into the sea, the Castle of Charles V was built in 1525 as part of the fortifications around Monopoli. The landmark is such a part of the landscape that no trip to the city is complete without stopping to admire the fortress walls.

2. The Porta Vecchia. The traditional blue-and-red boats used in this part of Puglia are known as gozzo. The boats traditionally had oars and were used for fishing along the coast. You can still find the traditional gozzi bobbing in porta vecchia, the scenic old harbor in Monopoli. Today the boats are used by fishermen in the shallow waters nearby to catch octopus and other local fish.

3. The Cathedral. Construction of the cathedral in Monopoli began in 1107 but legend has it that they had to stop building the church after running out of roof beams. Miraculously, a raft carrying an image of the Virgin Mary drifted into the harbor and the boards from the raft were used to finish the roof. You can still find a piece of wood from the miraculous raft in the front of the church…

B.) Private charted boat ride for three hours with lunch C.) Late afternoon return to Polignano al Mare Day’s Recap

Cena! (Dinner)


Day#4: “From Castles to Bellissima Bari” Thursday: June 9th, 2022

European breakfast Morning departure for Castel del Monte The medieval castle "Castel del Monte" (Italian for 'Castle of the Mount') proudly overlooks the comune of Andria. Built by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in the 13th century, the castle is built in an octagonal shape, with each of the eight corners sporting an octagonal tower. This important castle was declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1996, and it is one of the best preserved medieval castles in Southern Italy.

Bari This is the second largest city of Southern Italy, and the capital of the Apulia (or Puglia) region, on the Adriatic Sea. Together we will explore: Castello Svevo This imposing structure, originally built by the Norman King Ruggero II in the 12th century. In the 16th century, during the height of Bari’s glory, Castello Svevo served as a Renaissance residence for Isabella of Aragon and her daughter Bona Sforza—and became a playground for the artists, writers and powerful dignitaries that the two would host. Cathedral of San Sabino While less well-known than Basilica di San Nicola, the Cathedral of San Sabino is Bari’s main church. Originally built in the Byzantine style in the 11th century, it was destroyed in 1156 and rebuilt again in 1170; its Romanesque style makes it one of the best examples of the period’s architecture in all of Puglia. Basilica of San Nicola Commissioned in 1089 to house the stolen relics of St. Nicholas of Myra, this stunning, white-limestone church might just be the symbol of Bari. Its crypt today still contains the remains of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors, travelers and children. Yep, he’s the original Santa Claus!...making it an important destination for pilgrims. Bari Vecchia The “old town” of Bari is a must-see in itself! With its narrow, winding alleyways, Bari Vecchia feels like a step back in time. In fact, don’t be surprised if you come across women expertly making orecchiette, like their mothers and grandmothers before them, right on the street… Time to shop and explore Pranzo! (Lunch) Return to Polignano al Mare Day’s recap Magnificent Dinner in the famous “Grotta Palazzese” cave restaurant

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Day#5: “Matera” Friday: June 10th, 2022 European breakfast Morning departure for Matera

A.) The Murgia National Park Parco della Murgia Materana stretches out across 8000 hectares and it’s located partly on a rocky plateau and partly on one side of the canyon created by the Gravina stream. Because of the breathtaking view it offers, the Murgia National Park is listed as a UNESCO World heritage site. Over one hundred cave churches dot the cultural landscape of the park. They all have different characteristics: Some are hidden by dense vegetation, whilst others are difficult to access as they’re dug in the steep banks of the ravines. These churches are often embellished with frescoes that testify to the local people’s everlasting devotion.

B.) Pranzo! (Lunch) C.) Arrival in Matera and check-in at accommodations

D.) Tour of the first “Sasso”

The Sassi di Matera are two districts (Sasso Caveoso and the Sasso Barisano) of the Italian city of Matera, located in the region of Basilicata. They are well-known for their ancient cave dwellings inhabited since the Paleolithic period. The "Sassi" are certainly one of the most unique landscapes in Europe. And were awarded World Heritage Site status in 1993. Matera itself was part of the film set Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”, and more recently the James Bond film, “No Time to Die” released in 2019.

Return to hotel Enjoy the spa and pool Day’s recap Cena!

“ForustogotoItalyandtopenetrateintoItalyislikeamostfascinatingactofself-discovery–back,backdowntheoldwaysoftime.Strangeandwonderfulchordsawake

inus,andvibrateagainaftermanyhundredsofyearsofcompleteforgetfulness.”~D.H.Lawrence

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Day #6: Matera Saturday: June 11th, 2022 European breakfast Morning tour of Matera’s second sasso Cave house tour Cave church tour Bread Baking Class with light lunch Free time Enjoy the spa and pool Day’s recap Cena! (Dinner)

“You may have the universe, if I may have Italy.” Giuseppe Verde


Day #7: “Abandoned Spaces”

Sunday: June 12th, 2022

European Breakfast The Crypt of Original Sin This cave adorned with thousand-year-old Biblical frescoes existed in obscurity until fairly recently. Known as the “Sistine Chapel” of rock-hewn churches, given the theological and artistic value of its wall paintings, the Crypt of the Original Sin is one of Matera’s most interesting rock churches. In the 9th century, this particular cavern was converted into a cave-church by Benedictine monks. You will be amazed by the extraordinary cycle of frescoes, depicting the biblical story of the first chapters of the Genesis, and illustrations of the Apostles (Peter, Andrew and John), the Archangels (Michael, Gabriel and Raphael) and the veneration of the Virgin. The Abandoned City of Craco Craco is a ghost town in the province of Matera. The old town was abandoned towards the end of the 20th century due to natural disasters. The abandonment has made Craco a ghostly attraction and a popular filming location. The town was built on a very steep summit for defensive reasons, giving it a stark and striking appearance. Originally settled in the 10th century BC, the ancient inhabitants survived malaria outbreaks, volcanic eruptions, centuries of war, and the Bubonic Plague. In the 1960s, a series of events triggered by landslides, floods, earthquakes and poor infrastructure gradually forced everyone to migrate out to a neighboring town. Today Italians return to Craco for summer religious festivals and the beauty of the landscape. Return to Matera Enjoy the spa and pool Day’s recap Cena! (Dinner)


Day #8: Lecce

Monday: June 13th, 2022 European breakfast Morning Departure “The White City” of Ostuni

Ostuni is one of Puglia’s most beautiful cities, a smattering of white-washed buildings perched high above a hill overlooking olive trees and the Adriatic Sea. The medieval walled city was built without a plan, and it shows! The web of streets is confusing, a maze of alleyways, staircases and arches with glimpses of the sapphire sea in the distance.

Pranzo! (lunch in castle with wine tasting) Departure for the city of Lecce Hotel Check-in Late afternoon tour of Lecce Lecce is a beautiful baroque city. We have discovered that it is less of a “doing” kind of place and more of a city for experiencing – for wandering, for finding hidden piazzas, for wine bars (try the local rose) and viewing carved baroque churches. Piazza del Duomo The Basilica of Santa Croce The church of Saints Niccolo and Cataldo Day’s recap Cena! (Dinner!) “Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to

go. But no matter, the road is life.” ~ Jack Kerouac

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Day#9: “Otranto and the Torre Dell’ Orso Beach” Tuesday: June 14th, 2022 European Breakfast

A.) Morning departure for Otranto with 1.5 hour tour

Pranzo! (Lunch)

B.) Return to Lecce or enjoy the Torre Dell’ Orso Beach

Day’s recap Cena! (Dinner)

“Travel does what good novelists also do to the life of the everyday, placing it like a picture in a frame or a gem in its setting, so that the intrinsic qualities are made more clear. Travel does this with the very stuff that everyday life is made

of, giving to it the sharp contour and meaning of art.” ~ Freya Stark


Day #10: “Alberobello” Wednesday: June 15th, 2022

European breakfast

Morning departure for Alberobello

Check-in to our Trulli

Tour of the Trulli neighborhoods Alberbello is a unique, picturesque destination that is famous for its unusual disctricts of trulli or its white-washed conical-roofed houses. The trulli are small dwellings built from local limestone, and these are traditional and simple types of structures dot the landscape around this part of Puglia. The story behind Alberobello is a typically Italian one: its design was to fiddle taxes and fool the authorities. A local feudal lord moved his peasant workers here to clear a beautiful woodland and cultivate the land. In fact, the name Alberobello means “beautiful trees”. So, in order to wriggle around laws and taxes, it was important that Alberobello didn't achieve the class of being an inhabited settlement. So until 1797, when Alberobello was finally given a 'town' status, the people had to live in trulli, which could be dismantled in a hurry when the tax man came for inspection… Olive oil and wine tasting Free time Day’s recap Cena! (Group)

“Sail away from the safe harbor: Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

~ Mark Twain

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Day#11: “Alberobello” Thursday: June 16th, 2022

European breakfast Free time in the morning Mozzarella and Burrata cheese production with a light lunch Free time in the afternoon Cena! Cooking Class with dinner

"Life for the Italians was what it was, no more and no less, an interlude between meals."

~ Abraham Verghese in "Cutting for Stone"


Day#12: “Departure for USA” Friday: June 17th, 2022

European Breakfast Morning departure for Brindisi Airport in Bari

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PUGLIA AND BASILICA - Keyrow Tours...BARI, MATERA, CRACO, OSTUNI, OTRANTO, LECCE AND ALBERBELLO A...

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