A route of discovery among Apulia’s cities of art, from Lecce to Martina Franca, from Bari to Trani, among Romanesque and Baroque art and with a glance at the unique forms of spontaneous popular architecture, whitewashed or hewn in the rock.Day 1
The Baroque of Lecce
Arrival at Lecce and transfer to the hotel. Visit around the historic centre of the town: from the Norman period with the Church of Saints Nicolò and Cataldo, to the Baroque Basilica of Santa Croce, Piazza del Duomo, and Churches of Sant’Irene, Santa Chiara and San Matteo. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
2
The Ancient Area of Lecce and Baroque at Gallipoli
After breakfast, visit to the Castle and Roman amphitheatre. After lunch, transfer to Gallipoli and visit to the Angevin castle, Baroque cathedral, and Churches of San Domenico, San Francesco d’Assisi (Saint Francis of Assisi), and Del Crocefisso. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
3
From Brindisi to White Ostuni
Departure for Brindisi to visit the Aragonese castle, the two roman columns on Via Appia (the second has been moved to
Lecce), the Cathedral, the Hohenstaufen Castle, the Archaeological Museum and the Temple of San Giovanni at Sepolcro. After lunch, transfer to Ostuni and tour of the historic centre with its characteristic whitewashed buildings. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
4
Martina Franca and Massafra
After breakfast, departure for Martina Franca. Among mediaeval streets and Baroque buildings, the visitor cannot miss the Ducal Palace or the Churches of San Domenico, del Carmine and San Martino. After lunch, transfer to Massafra, set on the edge of a precipice. Many grottos have been hewn in the rock face, including the Shrine of the Madonna della Scala. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
5
On the Road to Bari
After breakfast, departure for Putignano and visit to the main churches, including San Pietro and Santa Maria la Greca. Continue
to Conversano to visit the Cathedral and the Churches of Saints Cosma and Damiano and San Benedetto. After lunch, transfer to Bari to visit the Cathedral, San Nicola, and the castle restored by Frederick II. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
6
Gravina, Trani and Barletta
After breakfast, transfer to Gravina, dug out of the limestone rock. Visit to the grotto-church of San Michele, that of Santa Maria degli Angeli, built on a precipice between the 8th and 9th century, like the nearby Madonna della Stella. Continue to Trani to visit the Romanesque Cathedral and Churches of San Domenico and San Francesco. Transfer to Barletta to visit the historic centre and famous Colossus, the 12th-century Cathedral, the Churches of the Purgatorio and San Ruggero, and last of all the Castle. Departure.
