Overview
Itinerary
Welcome to Naples!
At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
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.
Medieval Marvel
CASTEL DEL MONTE: Take a guided visit the medieval castle.
BARI: Enjoy free time late afternoon and evening. (B) 174 mi / 280 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - HISTORIC SPOT: Built by Holy Roman emperor Frederick II, the 13th-century Castel del Monte remains one of the most revered cultural sites in Puglia. This spectacular octagonal fortress is listed by UNESCO World Heritage as a unique masterpiece of medieval military architecture from its rocky hilltop perch where it dominated the Kingdom of Sicily and thrills visitors today.
Breaking Bread
BARI A: guided walking tour includes the Old Town, San Nicola's Church, and local focaccia tasting.
OSTUNI: Free time to browse and for lunch.
LECCE: Free time late afternoon and evening. (B) 112 mi / 180 km
LOCAL FAVOURITE - LOCAL TASTES: The beauty of Italian culinary specialties is that no two regions approach recipes in the same way. Take the traditional Focaccia Barese (from Bari). The dough is made with the local staple of potatoes to create a bread that's not too tall but perfectly soft in the middle. Between the crunchy edges of baked mashed potato are ripe tomatoes, oregano, olive oil, and olives for the perfect palate-pleasing experience.
Sweet Strolls in Apulia
LECCE A: Guided walking tour includes the Duomo and Santa Croce Basilica. Taste a local pasticciotto (filled pastry) and almond coffee.
OTRANTO: Orientation and free time to browse before returning to Lecce. (B/D) 62 mi / 100 km
LOCAL FAVOURITE - CULTURE & TRADITIONS: Traditional pasticciotto is the beloved cream-filled pastry of Lecce, which graces the shelves of Apulia's bakeries and restaurants. Legend has it that this ubiquitous confection was invented by happy accident when chef Andrea Ascalone made too much cake batter, using the excess ingredients to mix up the original pasticcio (meaning mishap or mess in Italian) - a smaller cake with a creamy filling. Sink your teeth into this heavenly pastry with an almond iced coffee to complete the experience.
Stone Houses
ALBEROBELLO A: guided walking tour includes a visit to a Trullo (traditional stone conical-roof hut).
CASTELLANA GROTTE: Take a guided visit to the underground caves. Enjoy a wine and olive oil tasting followed by dinner at local masseria (local farmhouse). (B/D) 81 mi / 130 km
LOCAL FAVOURITE - HISTORIC SPOT: The Grotte du 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.
Grecian Treasures
PAESTUM: Take a guided visit to the archaeological site en route to Sorrento. (B) 224 mi / 360 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - ARCHITECTURE & ARCHAEOLOGY: Go off the beaten path to the stunning archaeological site of Greek and Roman architecture. Just an hour south of Salerno, Paestum is home to three Greek temples and fascinating burial paintings from the 5th-century BC. Marvel at this UNESCO of World Heritage Site considered one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in Italy.
Amore, Sorrento
SORRENTO: Orientation walk in the old town. Free time late morning and afternoon. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B/D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - CULTURAL GEMS: Just as the sirens of Greek mythology lured sailors to the rocky shores of Sorrento, we are drawn to its alluring panoramas, sun-washed beaches, bistros, and boutiques. Take a seat in a sidewalk cafe to peruse the picturesque panoramas on the Bay of Naples.
Safe travels until we meet again!
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. The nearest airport is Naples. (B)
Trip Inclusions
- 8 Breakfasts
- 4 Dinners
- Napoli Starhotel Terminus (First-Class)
- Bari Grande Albergo Delle Nazioni (Superior First-Class)
- Lecce Hilton Garden Inn Lecce (Superior First-Class)
- Castellana Grotte Semiramide Palace (First-Class)
- Sorrento Grand Hotel Vesuvio (First-Class)
- Airport transfers at your arrival and departure destination are not included in the price of the tour.
- Itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and specified internal flights. International flights not included.
Don't waste your precious time qeuing up, skip the lines with special VIP access at the must-see sites. Read more
Travel with expert Tour Directors and Local Guides who share their vast knowledge of the destination. Read more
Globus has the recipe for a great holiday. Savour the flavours of Europe through its regional cuisine. Read more
Globus picks hotels picked on their centralised location, so you'll stay right in the heart of the destination. Read more
Globus' coaches offer one of the most comfortable, stress-free and eco-friendly ways to travel. Read more
Do as the locals do and enjoy unique experiences that you wouldn't find touring on your own. Read more
Trip Reviews (1) Most Recent 'Hidden Treasures of Southern Italy' Reviews
The accommodation were unfortunately hit and miss. ...read more The hotels at Naples and Bari were great (with Naples having a wonderful location and Bari a very stylish modern hotel), but the rest left a lot to be desired. Sorrento was the last stop on the tour and was our favourite place we visited, but the hotel was too far from the centre of town, requiring a shuttle bus there and back, unless one was willing to walk on the narrow road with no footpath.
Two other hotels we stayed at (Cellino San Marco and Castellano Grotte) were terrible, with many on the tour complaining about their remoteness and lack of basic and functional amenities (no in-room wi-fi, no in-room telephones, etc.).
We were always led to believe that Globus tours had better and more centrally-located accommodation than the more budget-friendly Cosmos tours, but on this tour that did not seem to be the case apart from the aforementioned hotels at Naples and Bari. Most people were disappointed in this aspect.
Aside from the accommodation, the tour itself was very enjoyable, with plenty of interesting places to see and much to do. This part of Italy is a wonderful sight to behold.
Brochure
Globus Worldwide (2023-24)
Availability
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Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Globus. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Globus. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
