Day 1 – Rome - Arrival in Rome. Transfer to Hotel Pineta Palace 4 stars
Accommodation in the rooms. Rest of the afternoon free
Day 2 – Rome - Breakfast. Guided tour of Christian Rome – Vatican museums and Saint Peter's Basilica. Visit to one of the world's most important art collections that of the Popes. Treasures preserved in frescoed palaces by the best artists in history. The tour includes the visit of the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo's masterpiece. Guided groups are allowed to access, directly from the Sistine Chapel without queuing to Saint Peter's basilica which, according to tradition, was constructed above the grave of Saint Peter the Apostle.
Lunch in a typical restaurant. Afternoon dedicated to the visit of the Roman Forum – Colosseum. The tour starts from the Valley of the Colosseum, the symbol of Rome, in front of which one cannot be enchanted. It continues with the Arch of Constantine and from there walk to the entrance of the world’s largest archaeological area, the Forum and the Palatine Hill. The tour ends at Capitol Hill square. The Capitol Hill is the smallest of the seven, most important center for political and religious life of ancient Rome. Visit to Michelangelo’s square with the famous monument of Marcus Aurelius.
Transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3 - Rome - Breakfast. Guided tour of Villa dei Quintili and Tomb of Cecilia Metella (The Appian way from the 3rd to the 5th mile)
The tour includes a visit to the site of the Quintili’s Villa, rich patrician residence of Imperial age. The villa has a sumptuous area for guests of rank: spas, dining rooms, gardens and fountains, the ruins of which are still majestic and characterize the landscape of the southern suburbs of Rome. The rich marble decorations are among the most beautiful of the Empire and attest to the degree of refinement reached in the 2nd century AD.
After visiting the site you will continue partly on foot along the Appian way, between the villa and the area called capo di Bove, near the tomb of Cecilia Metella, late Republican grand sepulcher, transformed into a fortress in the middle ages and stronghold of the powerful family of Caetani, the family of Boniface VIII. The fourth and fifth mile of the Appia is characterized by the presence, along the roadside, still well preserved, of several graves from different periods, among them, just opposite the entrance to the Quintili’s Villa on the Appian way, the mounds that traditionally are attributed to Orazi e Curiazi, protagonists of the myths of origins of Rome.
Possibility to make a half day tour (3:00) as follow:
The tour includes a visit from Tuesday to Sunday at the site of the Quintili’s Villa, and the various buildings that make up the site tomb of Cecilia Metella and a walk along the stretch of the via Appia between the Villa and Capo di Bove (Cecilia Metella), corresponding to the 3rd, 4th and 5th mile of the road. The tour will end at the Appia Antica Café where you can the load bus.
Or with calm, including lunch at restaurant for a maximum duration of 6 hrs.
Transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 4 – Rome/San Giovanni Rotondo - Breakfast in the hotel. Departure in the early towards San Giovanni Rotondo, close to Foggia. Arrival and accommodation in the Hhotel at San Giovanni Rotondo. Free lunch. In the afternoon visit to the shrine of St. Pio, where pilgrims from all over the world to pay homage and pray the Santodi Pietralcina. Visit of the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie and the new church designed by architect Renzo Piano. Dinner and overnight in 3 stars Hotel.
Day 5 - S. Giovanni Rotondo/Alberobello & Ostuni/S. Maria di Leuca - Breakfast in the hotel. Departure to Alberobello, a pleasant through the famous country heritage. We will visit the most characteristic streets and Trulli including also the Sant'Antonio Church (sole church in the shape of a trullo). Lunch in a restaurant.
Continue to visit the White City of Ostuni and its typical oil mill spaces carved into the rock with extra virgin olive oil tasting and products of Puglia.
The journey continues towards Gallipoli or Santa Maria di Leuca, 3 star hotel accommodation, dinner and overnight.
Day 6 - S. Maria di Leuca and Gallipoli/Otranto - Breakfast in the hotel. Guided visit of Otranto with the ancient Norman Cathedral, the Castello Aragonese (outside) the Byzantine Church of St Peter, etc. Free lunch. Return to Santa Maria di Leuca. Visit of the Papal Basilica minor of Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae (one of Europe's oldest shrines), the ancient coastal observation tower dell'omo Morto. Cooking class and tasting liqueurs and ratafia in the stable of the nineteenth-century Villa Meridiana. Return to Hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 7 – S. Maria di Leuca o Gallipoli/Lecce/Gallipoli - Breakfast in the hotel. Guided tour of Lecce and its beautiful architecture of the Baroque period: piazza Duomo, the Basilica of Santa Croce, piazza Sant'Oronzo and the ancient Roman Amphitheatre (entrance fee not included). Stop at one of the cafes of downtown to enjoy a "espresso (espressino)" or a " pastry (pasticciotto)" or a delicious "rustic". During the return route to the South, visit to one of the wineries in the area of Copertino , wine tasting and local delicacies. In the afternoon visit to Gallipoli with the Interior of the Cathedral, the oil mill of Palazzo Granafei (entrance fee not included), the fish market. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 8 – S. Maria di Leuca o Gallipoli/Galatina/S. Maria di Leuca - Breakfast in the hotel. Guided tour of Galatina and the Basilica of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, the only evidence the region's late Gothic. Visit to the House-Museum of Tarantism in order to understand the phenomenon of "stings" that gave life to the famous dance of the "Pizzica". Return to the Hotel. Free lunch. Boat excursion (weather permitting) along the coast of Santa Maria di Leuca or alternatively visit Museum of Ugento. Return to the hotel for the farewell dinner accompanied by the concert of tarantella, pizziche, and traditional salentini songs.
Day 9 - Return to Rome - Breakfast in the hotel. After the breakfast departure towards the area of Arneo land, stop at Leverano, one of our partner Wineries Leven, visit and tasting local products and wine. Proceed to Rome, possibility of two-hours visit to Bari before returning to Rome.