Road Scholar : Home
Puglia & Calabria: Southern Italy from “Heel” to “Toe”

Program Number: 20221RJ
Start and End Dates:
10/5/2012 - 10/20/2012; 9/22/2013 - 10/7/2013; 10/27/2013 - 11/11/2013; 3/15/2014 - 3/31/2014; 3/31/2014 - 4/16/2014; 5/8/2014 - 5/24/2014; 9/9/2014 - 9/25/2014; 9/24/2014 - 10/10/2014; 10/31/2014 - 11/16/2014;
Duration: 15 nights
Location: Italy
Price starting at: $3,995.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type:
Meals: 38; 13 Breakfasts, 1 Brunch, 11 Lunches, 13 Dinners    

Journey into the heart of Southern Italy to experience the quaint villages and vibrant cultures whose traditions and landscapes can be traced to ancient times. Investigate scenic coastline, medieval villages, Greek and Roman archeology of Calabria “the toe” and Puglia “the heel” of the Italian “boot.”




Highlights

• View the famed "Riace Bronzes," housed at the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia and explore the museum’s prehistoric Graeco-Roman and medieval antiquities.
• Explore the unique trulli constructions of Alberobello and the troglodyte dwellings of Sassi di Matera, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• Learn about regional cheeses, breads and fish during field trips to local farms.



Activity Particulars

Walking and standing on paved and cobblestone sidewalks for up to one mile per day. Field trips involve walking on uneven ground and some stairs without railings.




Date Specific Information

3-15-2014, 3-31-2014, 5-8-2014, 9-9-2014, 9-24-2014, 10-31-2014

Itinerary Summary Arrival Lecce, 3 nights; coach to Conversano, 4 nights; coach to Rende (Cosenza), 5 nights; coach to Reggio Calabria, 3 nights; departure.



Itinerary Summary

Arrival Lecce, 2 nights; coach to Conversano, 4 nights; coach to Amantea, 6 nights; coach to Reggio Calabria, 2 nights; departure.



Overnight flight from the U.S.A.
1 night
Arrival Lecce
2 nights

Explore the historic city of Lecce and take in a lecture on Lecce Baroque with a local expert. On a field trip to Galatina, visit the late Romanesque Church of Saint Caterina with its frescoes by Francesco d'Arezzo. Spend an afternoon in the small seaside town of Otranto and enjoy its harbor views.



Coach to Conversano
4 nights

Stroll along the streets of Conversano, a city once known as Norba by the Romans. Taste local wines at the Rivera Winery, and explore the octagonal towers of Castel del Monte. A morning in Bari allows for a visit to the Basilica of San Nicola and Swabian Castle. Visit unique trulli constructions of Alberobello, an UNESCO World Heritage Site.



Coach to Rende
6 nights

Explore the Sassi, the incredible cave dwellings of Matera and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Admire works by Bernini and Cagini at the Convent of San Bernardino, and learn about cheese making and fish preserving at local farms. Learn about Byzantine history during a field trip to Rossano and learn about the fifth-century city of Sibari during a field trip to the Archaeological Museum. Delve into Roman history in the town of Santa Severina, and enjoy an excursion to the medieval village of Fiumefreddo.



Coach to Reggio Calabria
2 nights
Departure

Immerse yourself in medieval history during a morning in the Norman town of Gerace and examine the excavations of Locri Epizephiri. At the archaeological site of Bova Marina, visit the second most antique synagogue in Italy. Home to the famed "Riace Bronzes," the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia houses an extraordinary collection of prehistoric Graeco-Roman and medieval antiquities waiting to be perused.




Italy

“Dolce far niente,” the “sweetness of doing nothing.” This ode to leisure is a distinctly Italian phrase, and yet the expression does not do justice to the hard-work ethos of the nation’s inhabitants. The monuments, art and civilization bequeathed to the people of modern Italy are a testament to the industry of their forebears, and the legacy lives on in today’s Italians, who work hard to better enjoy the sweetness of repose.
Accommodations
Lecce: Four-star hotel a few steps from the town center. Conversano: Four-star hotel surrounded by beautiful park and near the town’s historical center. Amantea: Four-star hotel. Reggio Calabria: Three-star hotel in the heart of the historic center of town.

Road Scholar Instructors
These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur.
Awdie Coppola
Dr. Awdie Coppola was born in Lecce to an Anglo-Italian family. Today, he speaks five languages and is a freelance translator, interpreter, lecturer, as well as teacher of English and Spanish. After graduating in translation at the University of Trieste, he specialized in economics, history and travel. As a freelance interpreter, he has been involved in translating international events such as the Mediterranean Peace Forum and the G8 Finance Ministers meeting.
 
Emanuela D'Andria
Dr. Emanuela D’Andria graduated with a degree in interpreting (French and English) from the Higher School of Modern Languages for Interpreters and Translators at the University of Trieste. She has been creating and leading educational explorations throughout Italy and abroad since 1998, including programs in the U.S., Canada, U.K., France, Germany and Holland. Emanuela has enjoyed lecturing for Road Scholar programs since 2006.
 
Meals and Lodgings
   Hotel President
  Lecce, Italy 2 nights
   Grand Hotel D'Aragona
  Conversano, Italy 4 nights
   Hotel Mercure
  Cosenza, Italy 5 nights
   Ehotel
  ReggioCalabria, Italy 3 nights
 Hotel President
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: The hotel is situated at the centre of Lecce and at a few steps from the old town centre. It is a structure of high level, respecting the traditional local culture for hospitality. It was created to host the guests with exclusiveness and warmth. A modern complex that conjugates elegance and tradition, comfort and efficiency of the services.
  Contact info: Via Salandra
Lecce,  73100 Italy
phone: +39 -0832-456111
web: www.hotelpresidentlecce.it
  Room amenities: The Hotel has 150 rooms. Every room is furnished with the most exclusive comforts: air-conditioning, cable and SAT TV, pay TV, WI-FI internet, safety-boxes, mini bar, clock radio, radio, hair-dryer, courtesy-set.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: € 190,00 DBL, € 135,00 SGL B/B Advanced reservation are required and depending upon availability. Please also check the hotel website for special offers

 Grand Hotel D'Aragona
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: The Grand Hotel d'Aragona, surrounded by a beautiful park, is located 600 meters from the historical center of Conversano, today recognized as "città d'arte" and located on a wide area of great tourist interest
  Contact info: Strada Provinciale per cozze
Conversano, Bari,  70014 Italy
phone: +39 080 495 2344
web: www.grandhoteldaragona.it
  Room amenities: The rooms are well furnished and provided with every kind of comfort: air conditioning, television, telephone, cocktail cabinet and refrigerator.
  Facility amenities: The hotel has a large hall that can hold more than 1000 people, a restaurant with regional, national and international cuisine, a relaxation room, a game room, and an American bar. It also has a swimming pool for adults and children and a luxurious garden surrounding the majestic amphitheatre conceived for great events.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes

 Hotel Mercure
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: This Mercure Hotel is close to the North Cosenza exit off highway A3 and offers a swimming pool, free parking lot, and modern guest rooms with free Wi-Fi access
  Contact info: Via Guglielmo Marconi 59
Cosenza,  87036 Italy
phone: +39 0984 401010
web: www.mercure.com
  Room amenities: Your room features satellite TV, air conditioning, and a bathroom with a bathtub
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes

 Ehotel
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: The unique hotel overviewing the sea in the centre of Reggio Calabria city, èhotel challenges the traditional idea of hotellerie and offers a brand new hospitality concept. The luxury of every detail, the spectacular view of Messina’s strait, the silence of its open spaces, offer its guests a sensation of well being and relax. The décor of the Hotel has been interpreted with a contemporary touch and a modern sense of style. E’ Hotel joins an aesthetical pleasure to a refined functionallity.
  Contact info: Via Giunchi 6
Reggio Calabria,  89121 Italy
phone: +39 0965 89300
web: www.ehotelreggiocalabria.it
  Room amenities: 52 rooms feature refined furnishings and all amenities, including plasma flat screen TV, pay-tv, 2 direct dial phones, high-speed internet access, safety deposit box, mini-bar. Bathrooms have Jacuzzi or shower
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights after: 150 E in sgl, 320 E in Dbl B/B Additional nights can be booked in advance with the program coordinator
  Check out time: 11:00 AM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Start Time: Hotel check in time 3:00 pm or 4:00 pm Program begins at 6:00 pm in the hotel lobby. You will be staying at Hotel President that night.
  End of Program:
End Time: 6:00 am in the lobby of the hotel. For later departures check out is at 11:00 or 12:00pm You will be staying at Ehotel the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required. Passports are needed; no visa required for US citizens in Italy.
  Parking availability:
Parking is free for the length of the program at the Hotel.
Transportation (For Independent Travelers)
  Train or bus availability: No trains or buses available, only taxis.
To Start of Program
  Location:  Lecce
  Nearest city or town:  Otranto
  Nearest highway: Autostrada del Sole
  Nearest airport:  Brindisi
  Transportation to site: There will be a shuttle bus available to participants (with included air from Road Scholar) from the airport to the Hotel.
  From End of Program
  Location:  ReggioCalabria
  Nearest city or town:  Vibo Valentia
  Nearest highway: A3 Highway
  Transportation from site: There will be a shuttle bus available to participants (with included air from Road Scholar) from the Hotel to the airport.
Elevation Note: No elevation above 3000 feet

Equipment Requirements: No equipment is required.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: In Flight
(Friday, October 5)
   
 In Transit: Overnight in transit

Day 2: Arrival in Brindisi and check in at Hotel President in Lecce. Visit of Lecce, lecture
(Saturday, October 6)
   
 Afternoon: Arrival at Brindisi airport. Check-in at the hotel President in Lecce. Light snack. Guided visit of Lecce with on-site lecture on Lecce Baroque by Dr. Emanuela D'Andria.
 Dinner: Dinner at the Hotel.
   
Accommodations: Hotel President
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 3: Lecture. Galatina, Otranto
(Sunday, October 7)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the Hotel.
 Morning: Lecture on "the medieval Salento between East and West" held by Professor Paul Arthur. Field trip to Galatina. Visit of the Church of Saint Caterina. The late Romanesque church of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, built in 1390 by Raimondello del Balzo Orsini, count of Soleto, with a fine portal and rose-window. The interior contains frescoes by Francesco d'Arezzo (1435). The apse contains the fine mausoleum of the son of the founder, a canopy supported by four columns, with his statue beneath it
 Lunch: Lunch at the local restaurant
 Afternoon: Visit of Otranto. Otranto is a town and commune in the province of Lecce (Apulia, Italy), in a fertile region, and once famous for its breed of horses. Otranto is situated on the east coast of the Salento peninsula. The Strait of Otranto connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea. The harbour is small and has little trade. With some stroll along the waterfront before returning to hotel.
 Dinner: Dinner on your own
   
Accommodations: Hotel President
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Departure to Conversano, check in at the Grand Hotel D'Aragona, Conversano, lecture.
(Monday, October 8)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the Hotel
 Morning: Departure to Conversano. Check in at Grand Hotel D'Aragona.
 Lunch: Lunch at the Hotel
 Afternoon: Visit of Conversano. The City was known as Norba by the Romans and was founded during the Iron Age by the Lapigi (8th Century BC), an Illyrian people. Lecture on: “Castel del Monte: History and Mystery” held by Dr. Awdie Coppola
 Dinner: Dinner at the Hotel
   
Accommodations: Grand Hotel D'Aragona
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Rivera winery, Castel del Monte, Lecture
(Tuesday, October 9)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the Hotel
 Morning: An excursion to the Rivera winery, the wine growing traditions of the region with a visit of the cellars, followed by wine tasting.
 Lunch: Light lunch enriched by local products.
 Afternoon: Transfer to Castel del Monte. The castle was built directly on a rocky bank, in some places cropping out, and is well known for its octagonal shape. Eight octagonal towers are inserted on each of the eight corners. The wall curtains, built in the local calcareous stone, are marked by a string-course moulding. Eight windows with one light open on the lower floor, seven mullioned windows and only one three mullioned window, facing the city of Andria, on the upper one. Visit of the castle Return to hotel .
 Dinner: Dinner at the Hotel
 Evening: Lecture on: “Medieval Bari. From Byzantine period to Federico II” by Dr. Awdie Coppola.
   
Accommodations: Grand Hotel D'Aragona
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Bari, Poligano al Mare
(Wednesday, October 10)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the Hotel
 Morning: Excursion to Bari. The Basilica of San Nicola, erected to house the Saint's mortal remains, stolen from Myra and triumphantly escorted to the city, was built between 1087and 1197. The building was inspired by a model essentially alien to local tradition, based on the abbey church of Montecassino and the earliest Norman tribune constructions. The central portal is framed by a portico, made in the second half of the 12th century under the guidance of an unknown master, certainly aware of the most recent developments in European Romanesque style: the side columns are supported by nomumental figures of oxen. The Swabian Castle is a Swabian construction, insisting on previous artifacts, erected by Frederick II between 1233 and 1240. Become the seat of the Sforzas in the 16th century, it was surrounded by a mighty curtain of walls with pentagonal-plan towers at the corners and the inner courtyard was given Reinassance forms: it houses a plaster-cast gallery containing numerous plaster moulds, copies of sculptures and architectural and decorative fragments of Roman monuments, a 13th century wooden crucifix and a triptych by the Vivarini brothers. Sightseeing of Bari. St.Nicholas’Basilica. The Swebian Castle. The ancient city walls.
 Lunch: Lunch at the local restaurant in Mola di Bari
 Afternoon: Departure to the small village of Poligano a Mare Visit the old part of the village and a stroll along the waterfront. Return to the hotel
 Dinner: Dinner at the Hotel
   
Accommodations: Grand Hotel D'Aragona
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Lecture, Alberobello, cooking demonstration
(Thursday, October 11)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the Hotel.
 Morning: Lecture on “the Trulli Architecture of Puglia” held by Dr. Emanuela D'Andria. Departure to Alberobello – UNESCO World Heritage Site Alberobello is situated on the second step of Le Murge, south of the Canale di Pirro, and is best-known centre in the region. It was born as a farming village near an oak-wood and this is the reason for its name, originally silva arboris belli. All around Alberobello the rolling countryside is planted with vines, olives and almond trees and dotted everywhere by clusters of Trulli. Isolated or in groups, the Trulli make up the urban fabric of the monumental area of the world famous Alberobello. The Trulli take their name from the Greek tholos (cupola) and give the whole area a social characteristic that is unique in Italy: born following the division of landed property, they constitute the so-called phenomenon of scattered population. Each family group lives on its own land without forming urban centers; these microcosms are based on an average estate two hectares in size, all farmed, with a Trullo standing in at the centre and dominating the land. Visit of the town
 Lunch: Lunch at the local restaurant
 Afternoon: Free time in Alberobello. Return to the Hotel Cooking demonstration.
 Dinner: Dinner at the Hotel.
   
Accommodations: Grand Hotel D'Aragona
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Matera, Lecture, the Sassi, Departure to Cosenza and check in at the Hotel Mercure
(Friday, October 12)
   
 Breakfast: Breafkast at the Hotel.
 Morning: Departure to Matera, On isite, lecture on Matera "What the Stones know: from traditional lifeway in Matera's Sassi to the process of urban renewal" by Prof. Dorothy Louise Zinn. Matera is one of the most extraordinary spots on earth for its outstanding example of a troglodyte settlement (cave dwellings) in the Mediterranean Region. For its resemblance to the Jerusalem of 2000 years ago, Matera is a perfect venue for producers to shot their works, among these Mel Gibson with his “The Passion of the Christ”. Visit of "The Sassi". In this strange valley dwellings, churches and frescoed chapels, some of which are built, but most of which are carved out of the rock itself, are to be found. The Sassi are under the protection of UNESCO. Some of the rock chapels are Santa Maria d'Idris and Santa Lucia, both of which contain 13C wall paintings, the latter having a particularly fine fresco of St. Michael and architectural devices carved on the rough stone pillar. Of the churches constructed in a more convetional way the most interesting are those of San Pietro Caveoso and San Pietro Barisano, identifiable by their campanili.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Departure to Cosenza. Check in at the Mercure Hotel
 Dinner: Dinner at the Hotel.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Mercure
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Lecture, Cosenza, Free time
(Saturday, October 13)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
 Morning: Lecture on: "History of Calabria today" Visit to Cosenza town, Teatro Rendano, Palazzo Arnone
 Lunch: Lunch at the local restaurant
 Afternoon: Free Time
 Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Mercure
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Lecture, Rossano, Sibari, lecture.
(Sunday, October 14)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the Hotel
 Morning: Lecture “The Byzantines in Calabria” Field trip to Rossano to admire the “Codex Purpureus Rossanensis” Rossano, home to the Byzantines for five long centuries. They were the heirs of Rome, the Empire of the Caesars, and the idea of the unity of the world that represented the great illusion of the Middle Ages. When at the end of the Classic World, Italy and Western Europe stepped into the Dark Ages the Empire survived and Rossano was an outpost in the West.
 Lunch: Lunch at the local restaurant
 Afternoon: Transfer to Sibari. Visit to the Archeological Museum of Sibari Sibari, a 5th century city, a city desired by Pericles, which in the mind of the statesman was an idea and almost an inspiration. Pericles really invented a place impossible to find in Greece, a place where the Greek, without arguing, could give the best of themselves that is the best of the world; On site lecture: Pericle's Political project"
 Dinner: Dinner at the hotel
   
Accommodations: Hotel Mercure
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Lecture, Santa Severina.
(Monday, October 15)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
 Morning: Lecture on Santa Severina Field trip to Santa Severina Santa Severina, a town with a long and rich history: a real history not a legend or a tale, an history supported by thousands of documents, Papal bulls, reports of military campaigns. The town was either under the Byzantines and the Normans and represented a very important center of the Oriental Roman World
 Lunch: Lunch at the local restaurant
 Afternoon: Visit to the Battistero Bizantino and the Museo Diocesano
 Dinner: Dinner at the hotel
   
Accommodations: Hotel Mercure
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Fiumefreddo, free time
(Tuesday, October 16)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
 Morning: Excursion to the medieval village of Fiumefreddo Visit to the historical center Fiumefreddo takes its name after Flumen frigidum, which means river with potable water, called also as frigidum (cold) due to its fresh waters that stream from the rocks a few kilometers away from the sea.
 Brunch: Transfer to a small farmhouse to view the rite of home making bread which will be tasted hot off the oven with home made specialties
 Afternoon: Return to the hotel and Free time
 Dinner: Dinner at the hotel
   
Accommodations: Hotel Mercure
Meals Included: Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner

Day 13: Palmi, Scilla check in at the Hotel Ehotel in Reggio Calabria
(Wednesday, October 17)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the Hotel
 Morning: Palmi, Visit to the Casa della Cultura, Pinacoteca Arte Moderna (masterpieces by Tintoretto , Guercino) Transfer to Scilla
 Lunch: Lunch at the local restaurant
 Afternoon: Visit to the fishing village of Scilla and the old district of Chianalea Departure to Reggio Calabria Check in at the Ehotel
 Dinner: Dinner at the hotel
   
Accommodations: Ehotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14: Gerace, free time
(Thursday, October 18)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the Hotel.
 Morning: Escursion to Gerace Visit of the town and Paolo Orsi Museum
 Lunch: Lunch at Valle incantata restaurant
 Afternoon: Return to Reggio Calabria and free time
 Dinner: Farewell dinner at the Hotel.
   
Accommodations: Ehotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 15: Reggio Calabria, Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia, Free time
(Friday, October 19)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
 Morning: Guided visit to the National Museum. Guided tour of the National Museum of Reggio including "I Bronzi di Riace". Reggio Calabria is the regional capital of Calabria. The city stands at the foot of the Aspromonte, a wild mountainous region, for centuries isolated from the rest of the world. In some villages, the dialect spoken is still based on ancient Greek. It is known above all for its Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia, home to the famed "Riace Bronzes." The Museum houses an extraordinary collection of prehistoric Graeco-Roman and medieval antiquities, including beautiful terracottas, marbles and small bronzes of fine workmanship, form Sibari, Locri, Medma and other sites throughout Calabria. The main hall of the Museum is dominated by the celebrated heroic nude statues discovered off Riace, the so called Bronzi di Riace. The Bronzes are among the very few surviving examples of Classic Greek bronze statuary. (subject to availability due to National Museum 2010-2012 restoration program) The History and Myth of Reggio Calabria. We will talk about Aschenez, great grandson of Noah, who founded Reggio, and Ulysses and his voyages in the west among sea monsters and fears of unconscious.
 Lunch: Lunch on your own
 Afternoon: Free Time
 Dinner: Dinner at the Hotel
   
Accommodations: Ehotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 16: Departures
(Saturday, October 20)
   
 Morning: Morning departure from Reggio Calabria airport based on flight schedule time.
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


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