Your trip starts today with your arrival in Amalfi. The Amalfi peninsula is a land of rocky coasts, cliff-top vistas, azure seas, tiered lemon groves, whitewashed villages clinging to steep cliffs, and bright blue skies. The closest international airport is Naples, which is a major international air gateway approximately 70 kilometres away. There are twice daily bus services between Naples and Amalfi on line 5020. Alternatively, one of the main train stations serving the Amalfi Coast is Salerno, which has frequent connections to Naples and Rome. However, a great way to see the beautiful Amalfi coastline and take in the sights is to arrive by boat – there are regular seasonal services between Amalfi, Positano, Salerno, Capri, Naples and Sorrento. No activities are planned so you may arrive at any time. Please make your own way ...

You'll have a free day to explore this picturesque town and the surrounding area. If you're after a relaxing walk with a few cultural highlights, stroll from one side of Amalfi town to the other within an hour and pay a visit to the Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea and the Chiostro del Paradiso. If you’re after something more active, perhaps embark on a walk up the Valley of Dragons to reach pretty Ravello – for centuries, its lofty position and sunny, dry climate has made it an appealing place for writers, artists, musicians and travellers. Ravello also boasts two magnificent villas – the superb 11th Century Villa Rufolo which was once a papal residence and later the home of Wagner, and Villa Cimbrone, a sumptuous 19th Century mansion with fabulous gardens and unequalled views over the Gulf of Salerno. You could also take a half-d...

Travel to the east coast via Naples (approximately 1.5 hours), homes to an evocative, historical World Heritage-listed old centre and the famous densely populated Spanish Quarter. Head for Trani, known as the 'Pearl of Puglia', and a beautiful town with a sophisticated feel (approximately 2.5 hours). Once an ancient trading hub, Trani is a delightfully eccentric port with a white cathedral perched on the seawall. The crescent-shaped marina is a great place to relax and watch the world go by. With the stunning seaside cathedral, medieval streets bathed in a rarefied light, and its own, sweet wine, Trani is truly like stepping back into a 1950s movie set. Explore historic centre and its medieval churches, which point to a time when this was a major point for merchants travelling to the Near East, or simply kick back on the waterf...

Today is a free day to explore all that Trani has to offer. You might like to visit the dramatic Catedrale di San Nicola Pellegrino, one of the most beautiful buildings in southern Italy. Begun in 1097, and taking over two centuries to finish, the soft white-pink limestone Norman cathedral is dedicated to the famously foolish St Nicholas the Pilgrim, whose bones lie in the crypt below the church. Inside, it is astonishingly bright and airy, and the simply furnished church is set off by the remains of a 12-century mosaic near the main altar. Outside, closer examination reveals lovely decorative details – look out for the elephant corbels. You can also head to the castle built by Frederick II, who was the king of Sicily, Italy, Germany, Jerusalem and the Holy Roman Emperor in the 13th century. Maybe explore the medieval Jewish q...

Head south to the small town of Polignano a Mare, set dramatically atop the impossibly blue Adriatic, and rising above the rocky cliffs and caves of the indented Puglia coastline (approximately 1 hour). Balconies jutting out over the crashing waves become crowded on the weekends, but there's also a wealth of sights here thanks to its ancient settlement and history of invasion. Until the 18th century, the town centre was accessible only by the medieval Porta Grande. Today, its drawbridge holes and openings for pouring out boiling oil are reminders of a gruesome past. For a more pleasant experience, stroll around Piazza San Benedetto and watch locals relaxing. Continuing on, delight in the baroque architecture and atmosphere of Lecce (approximately 1.5 hours). Lecce's baroque ornamentation is elevated to dizzying heights, present...

Today, you'll step beneath the city and see the restored Roman amphitheatre excavated in the 1930s. Built in the 2nd century AD, the remarkably intact horseshoe-shaped theatre seated 15,000 people. Overlooking the amphitheatre is the Colonna di Sant'Oronzo, a statue of Lecce's patron saint mounted upon a Roman column. Presented to Lecce from Brindisi, this column once stood at the terminus of the Via Appia that ran from Rome to Brindisi. The fascinating Basilica Di Santa Croce inspires varied reactions – its heavily decorated façade of sheep, dodos, cherubs and monsters is a cacophony to some, while others are drawn to the lavish brilliance. Building began in the 14th century, but it wasn't until the 17th century that the façade was created by artists under Giuseppe Zimbalo. The Renaissance interior is a nice contrast. For a...

Travel by train to Alberobello (approximately 2.5 hours), a landscape of olive trees and low walls dotted with unique dwellings. People flock to Alberobello to marvel at the beehive-shaped trulli: small, dry-stone houses built from local limestone in the 14th century. The origins of the buildings are unclear, although its possible the mortar-less dwellings were created to be easily dismantled in a feudal tax-evasion scheme. Either way, the sight of the thick, gleaming walls capped with grey cones and topped with distinct, white, stubby spires is a unique and endearing Puglian experience. Wander the old town quarter of Rione Monti, where thousands of trulli (and souvenir shops) rise up over the hill, or head over to Rione Aia Piccola and see trulli that are still family dwellings. See religious and mystical symbols on the roofs,...

Transfer by private mini bus to Matera (approximately 1 hour). The extraordinary sight of Matera's old town gives a haunting, bittersweet insight into ancient life. One of the oldest cities in existence, Matera's otherworldly drawcard is the sassi – stone houses formed from natural grottoes and tufo cliffs overlooking a dramatic gorge. Its resemblance to Jerusalem has attracted film directors of biblical epics, but its dark interiors were the scene of shameful poverty in the mid-20th century. Duck down into the sassi through the knot of staircases and alleyways that snake their way through the limestone ravines, and take a guided tour to appreciate both its ancient and modern history. With over 3,000 habitable caves, some dating as far back as the 8th century BC, the sassi are filled with stunning frescoed rock church complexe...

Today, you'll travel to Bari by local train (approximately 1 hour). Sitting on a small peninsula in the Adriatic Sea overlooking Greece, Bari is the prosperous capital of Puglia. The tangled streets of its old town, Bari Vecchia, conceal Romanesque churches, a riotous market, elegant medieval piazzas and a Swabian castle. Even Father Christmas can be found here – the Basilica di San Nicola was built to hold the relics of St Nicholas, which were stolen from Turkey by local Bari fishermen and have made the city a place of pilgrimage since 1087. The relics are also the mainstay of Bari's biggest annual celebration, the Festa di San Nicola. The stone walls are wonderful to walk around, with the sea lapping on one side and the medieval town on the other, while at the end of the Lungomare promenade is great beach to lounge as your S...

Your journey will come to an end after breakfast today and you are free to depart at any time. If you would like to extend your stay here we can be of assistance with additional accommodation, subject to availability. Please enquire at the time of booking.