Puglia, Basilicata & Calabria: Southern Italy From “Heel” to “Toe”

An excellent to visit and learn about a part of Italy that is still largely untouched by modern tourism. It's not hugely popular yet ... if you're interested in learning about this area, go now before the Sheratons, Marriotts, and Hyatts arrive.

I was impressed by the quality of the program to the point where I would consider taking another Road Scholar trip so I consider that my highest praise.

Wonderful opportunity to explore Puglia and Calabria. Just enough free time. Activity level was good.

I highly recommend this travel to Southern Italy. The landscape is beautiful and includes witnessing fascinating architectural monuments and learning about a rich historical heritage. A gastronomic delight as well for those who enjoy being wined and dined.

This is an amazing trip which I highly recommend. Our guide Gianluca Tonti is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge. He could easily be the chair of any history department. He is enthusiastic and truly cares about making this a trip of a lifetime for each guest. Just understand the physical demands of this trip! If you are not capable of meeting the physical challenges this is not a trip for you. There are no ADA accommodations in this part of Italy.

I loved this part of Italy! There are many historic ruins & treasures here and many enchanting small towns. The food choices were out standing. I would do the trip again.

A most interesting trip seeing the southern regions of Italy. Well planned out as to the daily activities and adequately described as to the level of activity. Did not care for the Lecce location. Could only get into the city during free time with shuttle which made it somewhat inconvenient. Also, nothing in the area of hotel - no coffee shops, wine bar, no small convenience store - nothing! Not the type of Road Scholar hotel I am accustomed to. And I see next year Brindisi is being replaced with Ostuni - wish it had been this year. Emanuela, the leader in Puglia, was a gem. On a scale of 1-5, I’d rate her a 10! Knowledgeable, personable, accessible, easy to understand. Gianluca in Basilicata/Calabria had a hard act to follow. He was also difficult to understand at times but I thought he did a reasonable job. I’ve been to Italy many times but enjoyed seeing these regions that were new to me. Definitely a trip to consider.

This was my first trip with Road Scholar and it was an excellent experience. Our guides were very knowledgeable, gracious, well-prepared, witty, and just fun to be with. I enjoyed their formal and informal lectures and the handouts they prepared. They worked hard to make certain the transportation, local guides, and venues were ready for us. The trip ran like clockwork. The hotels and food were varied and all were good. The sites were visited were very diverse, scenic, and interesting. The demonstrations and workshops were informative and fun. All participants were engaged and were a good group to travel with. I came as a single person and made new friends. I saw, experienced, and learned so much my head is still spinning, but I have hundreds of pictures and notes to remind me of a wonderful trip. All aspects of the trip exceeded my expectations. I'm sold on Road Scholar, and have already signed up for two more adventures with Road Scholar.

Fascinating trip to a lesser known region of Italy, with a rich history going back millenia, charming towns off the beaten track with wonderful food and wine.

This was my second trip with Road Scholar and it exceeded my expectations. I had not been to any of the towns we visited so was a blank slate upon arrival. I learned so much about the history of southern Italy; things of which I had no previous knowledge. I am now reading more about places we visited and reliving our travel experiences. Our tour guide, Paolo, was extraordinary in his knowledge and availability to us. Thank you, Road Scholar!

Though Italy was wonderful - this road scholar trip was a bit disappointing. First of all - there was way too much wasted time on this tour. Though the sites visited were interesting - they could have easily been compressed. We spent a lot of time doing nothing - starting at 9:30 - ending at 4 with a 2 hour or more sit down lunch was a waste of time in my opinion. Second issue is that there were no lectures . The guides attempted some form of lecture while on the bus but they were far from professional. The tour guides were switched out half way through the program - which also was distracting. But the guide we were provided (substitute because the guide we were suppose to have had a family emergency)- could not speak english very well and his attempts at providing the marketed lectures was nerve wrecking since he was not understandable. Third issue - way too much time was spent on sit down meals. breakfast - plus 2 - 4 course meals in a day is too much time spent in restaurants and too much food, At least one meal a day should be optional so people can eat what they want; when they want; and as much as they want. In summary - it takes a lot to ruin beautiful Italy and indeed Italy was wonderful but if I have another tour like this - I'll stop traveling with Road Scholar.

If you enjoy learning about ancient life, seeing beautiful sites, learning from locals, eating fish and pasta plus drinking wine, then this program could work well for you. It includes walking through slightly hilly, sometimes cobblestoned, lesser visited but spectacularly beautiful locations.

Our Southern Italy tour From "Heel" to "Toe" was fabulous. I do not think we could have seen so many places without the expert planning of Road Scholar. This was my first Road Scholar experience, and I fell in love with so many places and treasures including Lecce, Otranto, Matera, Alberobello, Polignano a Mare, Castelmezzano, the excavations in Egnazia, i bronzi di Riace, and the Codex Purpureus Rossanensis. We saw so many other gems that were brought to life in the context of such extraordinary history. No wonder so many groups - Mesapians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines - chose to settle southern Italy. Our guide Paolo Maragliulo was exceptional as he led us from paese to paese; I listened and learned in wonderment.

One thing we noted during the course of the trip was that, although the program description adequately describes the overall level of physical activity, which is strenuous, potential participants need to understand that it involves a substantial amount of climbing.

Fantastic trip and specially want to call out paolo matugliolo our tour guide. He had us entertained every minute- while traveling to our destinations as well as during our walks. Absolutely wonderful

This region of Italy is less touristy than those further north. The region is surprising, interesting and educational. You will learn and see things about the Italian history and culture that you did not know. And the tour guide is exceptional.

This was our first Road Scholar trip and exceed our expectations as compared to other travel programs we used previously. We are certain to used them again when we plan our next travel experience.

The scope of this program and the quality of its on-site presentation was outstanding. The expertise of the trip leaders were of the highest capability, professionalism and helpfulness. The overall quality and value of the tour itinerary, accommodations and visited venues was very high. As an experienced traveler, I would highly recommend this trip to others interested in visiting southern Italy.

A fun, interesting, and enlightening trip. A nice combination of good sites, informative lectures, attractive architecture, and great food. Some of the highlights include: Lecce walking tour, Otranto mosaics, Egnazia archeological site tour, Alberobello trullo, Grottaglie ceramics factory tour, Manduria winery tour, Matera's Sassi, Castelmezzano walking tour, Reggio Calabria bronzes, and Pizzo Calabro's tartufo demo and tasting.

I just returned from Puglia, Basilicata & Calabria: Southern Italy from "Heel" to "Toe" and what a wonderful experience it was. This is a place full of history and hidden gems. Arborobello with its "trulli" is amazing And the Sassi of Matera, especially at night, breathtaking.

This program opens one's eyes to an overlooked and perhaps misunderstood area of Italy that is rich in culture, history and life.

I loved being in Southern Italy and learning about the people and their culture. The historic sites, along with our guide's lectures, were fascinating. Lovely accommodations within convenient locations made it easy to explore and enjoy.

THE BEAUTY OF THIS PART OF ITALY WAS MADE SO COGENT AND INTERESTING BY GIANLUCA TONTI, OUR GUIDE. HE MADE THIS TRIP EXTRAORDINARY AND EVEN THOUGHTHE BEAUTY OF THE REGION MAKE THE TRIP WONDERFUL BY ITSELF, THE KNOWLEDGE OF HISTORY HE TRANSMITS , TRANSFORMSTHE BEAUTY INTO LIVING HISTORY!!

We've been on a dozen RS trips and this now our favorite. The food experience is remarkable as local restaurants prepared items unique to their region. The small cities and local residents are truly remarkable. They welcomed us with open arms. Our local guides, Emanuela and Granluca, are without equal and the shared stories of their years growing up here added greatly to the flavor of the experience. This area may not be high on the list for Americans - but it should be! We've been to Rome, Florence and Venice (all great) - but Puglia, Basilicata, and Calabria will be the area we plan to return to again.

History came to life on this trip. Beautiful locations! Fantastic food. What a grand adventure!

Southern Italy, from the Heal to the Toe, was an excellent program and introduced me to parts of Italy I had not explored before and was an education.

This is an interesting program to an area of Italy I knew little about. There were cities I had always wanted to see - Lecce, Alberobello and Matera - and there were surprise stops for cities that I loved - Reggio Calabria, Scilla, Rossano. For many stops, we were the only tourists around: like the codex in Rossano and the bronze statutes in Reggio Calabria - both spectacular! But I think this program needs reworking. I believe Road Scholar has already made some changes for 2023, however, I’m still not certain the footprint of the trip is the best possible plan. The last big touring day is still at least two hours each way to see a museum in Reggio Calabria. If the museum is so important then perhaps a stay near Reggio Calabria might be better - instead of the final stop of Catanzaro, which has a nice hotel but nothing else there. My biggest concern was the hotels. The Lecce and Catanzaro hotels were fine - comfortable rooms, nice atmosphere. The Matera hotel was well-located but the rooms were exceptionally small and had no air flow. They felt like tiny dorm rooms and were charmless. There were plenty of lovely hotels around Matera to use. For Martina Franca, the hotel was equally poor. The rooms were threadbare with peeling paint and filthy carpeting. My other main hesitation with this tour is that there are two guides. They are both very good guides, but it does change the flow and feel of the tour to have someone new take over and have to re-learn names and quirks, special needs etc. I will say that both guides won me over in the end - they both love their regions and their local history very much. Overall, I think this is a good tour - but it needs some oversight to make it a great tour. The itinerary is full of fun stops and we learned a lot about southern Italian history and culture but to make it an awesome trip, Road Scholar needs to upgrade the hotels and make sure that the city stays are in the best possible cities for the sites.

This trip lived up to my expectations - great history, first-class hotels, knowledgeable guides. It will take you to places you'd probably never find on your own, in security and comfort. Wonderful food and wine, and a nice variety of activities. Be advised, there is a lot of walking on very old streets and sidewalks, so it really is one of RS's more active programs. Also, if you are planning your own transportation, the airport-hotel transfers can cost around $70 each since both the first and last hotel are about 25 miles from airports.

The tour guides were amazing. The sites were amazing. The bus transportation was very comfortable. The hotels at Martina Franca and Cosenza were terrible. We requested queen beds and never got them. If you want further details, feel free to contact me. Kathy Hewitt 918-360-7613

Loved the people, places, and food we experienced on this trip! Lovely part of Italy with so much to see. If you want to feel welcomed into an area that is not heavily traveled, this is the tour for you. So much history, good food and wine, and great weather on our trip.

This was my first trip with Road Scholar and it was excellent. The program, the lectures and talks, the sites visited, the food and a great group made this a trip to remember,

very interesting history of this region, Iwas unfamiiar with it.

An active trip with excellent instructors, lectures, and field trips. The value was also excellent. I believe that I was able to visit unusual sites that I would never have gotten to on my own in a 17-day period!

This is a great trip to a part of Italy many of us never visit. The rock dwellings of Matera are unforgettable and a true highlight, and I enjoyed the opportunity to see archaeological sites representing Messapian, Greek and Roman civilizations. Tour leaders are knowledgeable and helpful. The only caveat I have is that the distances between destinations are considerable and you will spend a LOT of time on the bus (6 hours one day) with your fellow participants. The scenery along the way is stunning, so the drives are pleasant, but be aware that some of the participants will opt not to wear a mask on a bus with rather poor ventilation. A BAD cough/cold ran through the April group; the bus sounded like a TB ward on wheels at times! Luckily, no Covid - but if you are Covid-cautious, it might be better to postpone booking this trip and opt for one with less time in a confined space with limited seating options...

The Southern Italy From "Heel" to "Toe" program exceeded expectations. The guides are fabulous! The culture, history and archeological findings are interesting and surprising. The landscape - layers and layers of beauty. It has everything - agriculture; mountains; woodlands; seas on all sides, each port quite different from the next. It feels like a humble place, yet proud. Locals are friendly and helpful. Loved it!

An amazing journey in Southern Italy! After you spend time in the north, head south to Puglia, Basilicata, and Calabria. So many hidden gems and surprises around every corner. This area had great wealth in the 15th/16th centuries, and the architecture and art certainly shows that. Two very knowledgeable group leaders - one dedicated to Puglia, and one to Basilicata/Calabria. They do a hand-off in Martina Franca. Changed the group dynamics a bit to change group leaders partway through, but we had the benefit of their relative expertise. Nice balance of planned activities and free time, and delicious food and wine everywhere! Definitely a 5-star trip overall. Only slight downside was hotel sites in Cosenza and Catanzaro. Seems like we could have stayed in one of those places rather than changing hotels (2 nights each). Seems like we were backtracking those 4 days, and not that much to do in either city. Hotel in Cosenza was actually kind of creepy and didn’t feel clean. Seems like it would be better to use Reggio as Calabria base, and stay there for all four nights.

This was a wonderful trip away from the tourist crowded areas of Venice, Tuscany, Rome, and Naples although, because of the great beaches the area can be congested in summer by European tourists, I understand. our guides were very educated in their regions (Puglia and Calabria), which have histories that are very different from northern Italy. I will never forget the unique Trulli archetecture of Alberobello, the scale of the Sassi in Matera, or the village of Castelmezzano which seems to cling at an unlikely angle off a steep mountain. All of this beauty was accompanied by local food prepared by truly gifted chefs, two of whom are internationally known, and wonderful copious local wine. My new favorite wine is now Southern Italy's Primativo. It is easy to see why this area was coveted and settled by the Messapia, the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, and modern day Italians.

This was a truly wonderful trip and I would highly recommend this. We have been to Italy many times but had never been to the southern regions. It was such an experience! Loved every minute of this trip!

Great food, surprising sites, beautiful landscape, wonderful people: They're all here in Italy's heel, instep, and toe.

The beautiful parts of Italy that the tourists have not found.

I highly recommend the Heel to Toe of Italy program itinerary of Road Scholar.All areas covered are hidden treasures of Italy.

Wonderful trip. Southern Italy should be on your list of places too visit. It's not Florence or Venice, but that's what makes it special. It feels real, it feels Italian. The food was great. Who knew they ate so many potatoes in Italy. The scenery was varied and the coastal lines beautiful. The people of southern Italy were warm and welcoming. A special thanks to the two tour leaders, Emanuela and Gianluca, who were so passionate about the their native regions, Puglia and Calabria respectively. With the added issues of Covid and internal travel problems, their patience was commendable. I wish the tour included more of Calabria, more time in Reggio, and an extension to Sicily. Before the tour started, it was cut short by one day by RS because Alatalia, the Italian airline, was going out of business on the scheduled last day of the tour. This led to further issues during the tour including lost luggage and canceled flights. And cancelled flights led to some tour members to having to depart early and missing the new last day of the tour. This proved disruptive for everyone. RS should have bit the bullet and rebooked affected passengers on other airlines before they even left the US. On the negative side, the hotel in Cosenza needs to be changed. The plumbing in my room made so much noise.

Our small group benefited greatly from having excellent, knowledgeable leaders who were sensitive to our needs. Much of the scenery was beautiful, the sights were interesting, the accommodations gwere ood and well-located, and the group meals were plentiful and tasty. I heartily recommend the trip itself. I cannot, however, recommend using RS's travel services, as we did. We encountered various issues (canceled flights, lost luggage) that the travel service washed its hands of, leaving it up to the group leaders to find solutions. Moreover, the travel service is available only a few hours each day, and given the time zone difference, reaching a travel service rep can pose real problems.

Great trip and wonderful and helpful guides.

A great opportunity to visit wonderful, off-the-beaten-path historic sites with well-informed experts who are passionate about their regions' cultural treasures! Recommendations for free time exploration enhanced our guided experiences. Dining was faithful to local products, portions were abundant, service was cheerful and quality was excellent.

This is a wonderful trip with new discoveries every day. However, I suggest you do it earlier in the year than November because dark falls at 4:45

I thought I should see & learn a bit about southern Italy. Is the landscape, the history, the food much different from Umbria, Tuscany, the Veneto? Oh, yes, and am I pleased I chose this program to learn some of the many differences. Also learned why so much of what we Americans think of as “Italian” is really “southern Italian”. Great insights. Great teachers. Great fun.

Puglia, Basilicata & Calabria was an amazing, wonderful, and fun trip. These are beautiful and interesting regions of Italy. The field trips were very informative and enjoyable covering a wide range of topics from Roman amphitheaters and Baroque architecture to beautiful seaside towns and wineries. The meals were outstanding--delicious food representing the regional cuisine. This is a well-organized and led tour. If you want an in-depth experience of southern Italy, especially if your family came from these regions, I highly recommend this trip.

This is an in-depth exploration of Southern Italy, especially enjoyed by folks who have family members from the region! Food, customs, agricultural practices and family life were introduced as we experienced gorgeous mountain drives, charming fishing villages and and mysterious ancient cultures.

This trip took us to many places that were "off the beaten path."

If you want to eat like a king this is the trip for you!

I would highly recommend Road Scholar! My recent trip to Puglia, Basilicata, and Calabria fulfilled everything I had hoped for in a group tour! I hope to participate in many more!

Italy, Heel to Toe was a wonderful program with excellent guides, Emanuela and Gianluca. We went in March/April and the weather was perfect. The scenery was beautiful and the food was delicious. The accommodations were great. We enjoyed the pace of the program and all the learning experiences. We highly recommend this program.

Outstanding program in a little-known and less-touristed area of Italy. Particularly good for those interested in history (from pre-Greek civilizations to the present), art, architecture and culture. So much diversity in the three regions. Exceptional program leaders and tour guides. Oh yes, great food and wine too!