Day-by-Day Itinerary
May 3 CORATO
Thursday LUCERA
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Arriving in Bari
This tour dovetails perfectly with our Precious Stones of Puglia tour, April 25 - May 3. See separate brochure.
If you would like, we will be happy to assist with airfare departing from the U.S. Wednesday, May 2 to arrive Thursday, May 3. If you arrive in the morning, you will be ready to begin the tour May 3 in Corato.
You may prefer to arrive a day early and overnight in Corato.
If you will be in Bari arriving by train or plane, please provide your schedule. We can arrange hotels and transfers if you wish. Like the airfare, what’s best for you is best for us.
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Welcome to Puglia, Italy! This region is also called Apulia and the name is used interchangeably in this brochure. Our happy group gathers this morning at the Hotel Nicotel Corato or similar, (about 35 minutes from the Bari airport) for this exciting journey. The delightful and charming Lucia will be our guide. She will greet us today with our driver and private motorcoach.
If continuing from the Precious Stones tour begin the day with breakfast at the Hotel Nicotel in Corato (or similar).
Those who arrive early enough will visit the Jatta Museum. The Archaeological Museum in Ruvo di Puglia is housed in Palazzo Jatta. Here you can see some of the best known and valuable artworks by Puglian and Greek ceramic artists and painters. One area has displays of terra-cotta pieces, Daunian jars and black vases with painted decorations. Another hall contains masks depicting the myth of Niobedes’ death. The museum’s most important piece is an Attic vase with red figures by Talos, which dates back to the 5th Century BC.
In Lucera we’ll settle in to our accommodations at Palace Lucera, 10 miles from Roseto. (D)
****Palace Lucera
May 4 ROSETO VALFORTORE
Friday
After a hearty breakfast at our hotel, drive to Roseto Valfortore. With happy hearts and great excitement we begin our journey to Roseto Valfortore, the Valley of the Roses. Located in the province of Foggia, Roseto Valfortore is probably named after the nearby Fortore River and the dog rose, a wild flower abundant in this territory. The roses, besides being represented in the coat of arms of the town are also cultivated along the main road.
There’s time to stroll the narrow old streets and learn about the old buildings that we pass. Some of the 1,350 Rosetani will join us along the way and regale us with tales of the Roseto of long ago. Our friends are invited to dine with us this evening. The Rosetani (as locals are known) will share the town’s history and philosophy of life while we are together. Overnight in Lucera. (B-D)
****Palace Lucera
May 5 ROSETO VALFORTORE
Saturday
There will be free time today for relaxing in this delightful town. You might enjoy a walk through the historic center on your own. Did you know that only about 590 families comprise the town’s population? The plaza is the town “living room”. Is your family name among them? (B-D)
****Palace Lucera
May 6 ROSETO VALFORTORE
Sunday LUCERA - SAN
GIOVANNI ROTONDO
Those who wish can return to Roseto this morning to research their family roots or attend services at the local church.
OPTIONAL EXCURSION TO
TROIA
You may join us for an optional excursion to the nearby town of Troia.
Return to Lucera to pick up our travelers who stayed behind. After lunch in a local restaurant, we’ll explore this fascinating town.
Lucera hosts several important monuments from several ages. We’ll visit the Amphitheater Romano Augusto and the Fortress, Svevo Angioina. The Fortress, located strategically on a hillside, is famous for it’s 24 towers and it’s pentagon shape. It was built by King Frederick II who had many titles. He was also known as the Holy Roman Emperor, the German King, King of Sicily, and Last of the Great Hohenstaufen Rulers. Frederick II once claimed the Kingdom of Jerusalem for himself through the marriage of Isabella. His noble battles and numerous triumphs gained him power, respect and nobility. On March 18, 1229 his entry into Jerusalem was compared with that of Christ on Palm Sunday, and indeed, in a manifesto the emperor, too, compared himself to Christ. At times, acting against papal authority and the pope, he strongly believed in the Roman Church. In addition to erecting a chain of castles, he established a navy and a chain of merchant vessels to bring trade and state control of manufactured products for a monopoly to the state. Finally, he created a civil service for which candidates were trained at the first European state university, in Naples, which he himself founded in 1224.
In the Thirteenth century Lucera was called “Lucaera Saracenorum,” because it represented the last stronghold of Islamic presence in Italy. After Frederick II was crowned king of Italy around year 1220, he forced the deportation of the Muslims who had been living in Sicily since the ninth century to Lucera and its surrounding region. Scholars in the fields of medicine, commerce and crafts as well as warriors made up a population of 20,000 inhabitants that thrived here for the next 80 years. Muslim Lucera was destroyed and its entire population massacred in the summer of the year 1300, by mobs and mercenaries led by local Christian nobility, claiming to purify Christian soil as a way of celebrating the first Jubilaeum proclaimed by the Pope that same year.
You will see the Church of Saint Francesco and the Cathedral, built in the year 1300 on the grounds of the last standing mosque in Italy, destroyed the same year. Continue to San Giovanni Rotondo in the evening, and stay at the Best Western delle Piane. (B-L-D)
***Best Western delle Piane
May 7 SAN GIOVANNI
Monday ROTONDO - MONTE
SANT’ ANGELO
GARGANO
After breakfast, we will visit the places where Padre Pio lived and made famous throughout the world events which became attached to him. On September 20, 1918, Padre Pio had his first occurrence of stigmata, a phenomenon present for the rest of his life. He acquired fame as a miracle worker and was purported to have the gift of reading souls. He is alleged by believers to have been able to bilocate.
Padre Pio was assigned most of his life to the friary of San Giovanni Rotondo. We will see the Sanctuary, the old church of “Santa Maria della Grazie,” the chapel “Madonna di Loreto” and walk in the footsteps of this peaceful man. In 1940, Padre Pio began plans to open a hospital in San Giovanni Rotondo, to be named the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza or “Home to Relieve Suffering.” The hospital opened in 1956, and is today considered one of the greatest hospitals in Europe indeed the world. Padre Pio died in 1968 in San Giovanni Rotondo and we will pay our respects at his tomb.
We will also visit the dazzling new Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church. Dedicated in 2004, it can accommodate 6,500 people seated at worship, with standing room for 30,000 people outside. The church was designed by architect Renzo Piano and stands in front of the hospital.
After lunch in a local restaurant, we’ll depart for Monte Sant’Angelo; Monte Sant’ Angelo is the site of the oldest shrine in Western Europe dedicated to the archangel Michael. According to the local legend, Michael appeared at this site three times. Pope Gelasius I directed that a basilica be erected enclosing the sacred grotto. Built in 600 AD, this is one of Italy’s oldest sacred spots. Atop a hill overlooking the sea, the Santuario di San Michele was the last stop for crusaders for hundreds of years before they set off for the Holy Land and other parts unknown. Pilgrims still visit the monastery by the thousands each year, gleaning a taste of the first days of Christianity.
We will also visit the nearby ruins of a Norman Aragonese castle enroute to the coast. The white-washed village of Rodi Garganico is perched on a green hill right on the sea. Rodi is well-known for the sweet scent from the surrounding orange and lemon groves which intersect the traditional plantations of centuries old olive trees. Traditional southern hospitality and a relaxed atmosphere characterize the area. (B-L-D)
PietreNere Hotel
May 8 VIESTE - GARGANO
Tuesday
After breakfast we depart for Vieste. The Gargano Peninsula has some of Puglia’s best beaches, especially the ones by its medieval capital, Vieste, overlooking the rock monolith, Scoglio di Pizzomunno. This narrow “boot heel” is rich in white- and golden-sand called spiaggia.
Today (weather permitting), we’ll tour the coast by boat. From this vantage point, we can admire the wonderful Gargano’s coast with its white rocks and sheer cliffs. We’ll see San Felice Bay and the famous “Architiello,” Campi Bay, Zagare Bay, Porto Greco, Vignanotica and Pugnochiuso. Along the coast there are the famous “Grotte Marine” Sea caves, which offer visitors a show of lights and colors with a breathtaking beauty.
In the afternoon, we turn inland for a stop at the famous park “Foresta Umbra,” the largest natural forest of Italy, this 62,000-acre park is inhabited by legions of animal species such as roe deer, wildcats, fox, wild boar, fallow deer, goshawks and eagle owls. (B-L-D)
PietreNere Hotel
May 9 GARGANO
Wednesday SIPONTO – BARI
Today we’ll make our way back to Bari traveling along the beautiful Puglian coastline. Sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery. We’ll make a stop in the town of Siponto for a visit to the cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore. During the Middle Ages it was the most important port of northern Puglia and the embarkation point for the crusaders who were bound for the Holy Land.
We will then pass by some wetlands, among which are the salt-pans of Margherita di Sovoia. We arrive at Bari with time to freshen up before our farewell dinner this evening. Tonight we say goodbye to Lucia and the new friends we’ve made. Don’t forget to exchange e-mail addresses. (B-L-D)
****Hotel Nicotel Biscaeglie
May 10 BARI
Thursday
Arrivederci Puglia! An early morning departure transfer will be provided to the Bari Airport. Have a very pleasant flight. Welcome home. (B)
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
Foundation
