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Italy

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

Program No. 20221RJ
Discover the “sole” of Southern Italy as you journey along the Italian “boot,” learning about diverse architecture, medieval villages and the vibrant culture of this ancient land.

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Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Filling Fast!
Feb 5 - Feb 21, 2024
Starting at
4,499
Mar 18 - Apr 3, 2024
Starting at
5,099
Mar 29 - Apr 14, 2024
Starting at
5,099
Filling Fast!
Apr 8 - Apr 24, 2024
Starting at
5,099
Filling Fast!
Apr 19 - May 5, 2024
Starting at
5,099
May 3 - May 19, 2024
Starting at
5,099
May 13 - May 29, 2024
Starting at
5,099
Sep 6 - Sep 22, 2024
Starting at
5,099
Sep 13 - Sep 29, 2024
Starting at
5,099
Sep 23 - Oct 9, 2024
Starting at
5,099
Oct 4 - Oct 20, 2024
Starting at
5,099
Oct 14 - Oct 30, 2024
Starting at
5,099
Oct 25 - Nov 10, 2024
Starting at
5,099
Oct 28 - Nov 13, 2024
Starting at
5,099
Jan 6 - Jan 22, 2025
Starting at
4,899
Feb 10 - Feb 26, 2025
Starting at
4,899
Mar 3 - Mar 19, 2025
Starting at
5,449
Mar 17 - Apr 2, 2025
Starting at
5,449
Apr 21 - May 7, 2025
Starting at
5,449
May 5 - May 21, 2025
Starting at
5,449
May 12 - May 28, 2025
Starting at
5,449
Sep 1 - Sep 17, 2025
Starting at
5,449
Sep 12 - Sep 28, 2025
Starting at
5,449
Sep 29 - Oct 15, 2025
Starting at
5,449
Oct 3 - Oct 19, 2025
Starting at
5,449
Oct 13 - Oct 29, 2025
Starting at
5,449
Oct 20 - Nov 5, 2025
Starting at
5,449
Oct 27 - Nov 12, 2025
Starting at
5,449
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Filling Fast!
Feb 5 - Feb 21, 2024
Starting at
5,289
Mar 18 - Apr 3, 2024
Starting at
5,989
Mar 29 - Apr 14, 2024
Starting at
5,989
Filling Fast!
Apr 8 - Apr 24, 2024
Starting at
5,989
Filling Fast!
Apr 19 - May 5, 2024
Starting at
5,989
Filling Fast!
May 3 - May 19, 2024
Starting at
5,989
May 13 - May 29, 2024
Starting at
5,989
Sep 6 - Sep 22, 2024
Starting at
5,989
Sep 13 - Sep 29, 2024
Starting at
5,989
Sep 23 - Oct 9, 2024
Starting at
5,989
Oct 4 - Oct 20, 2024
Starting at
5,989
Oct 14 - Oct 30, 2024
Starting at
5,989
Oct 25 - Nov 10, 2024
Starting at
5,989
Oct 28 - Nov 13, 2024
Starting at
5,989
Jan 6 - Jan 22, 2025
Starting at
5,759
Feb 10 - Feb 26, 2025
Starting at
5,759
Mar 3 - Mar 19, 2025
Starting at
6,399
Mar 17 - Apr 2, 2025
Starting at
6,399
Apr 21 - May 7, 2025
Starting at
6,399
May 5 - May 21, 2025
Starting at
6,399
May 12 - May 28, 2025
Starting at
6,399
Sep 1 - Sep 17, 2025
Starting at
6,399
Sep 12 - Sep 28, 2025
Starting at
6,399
Sep 29 - Oct 15, 2025
Starting at
6,399
Oct 3 - Oct 19, 2025
Starting at
6,399
Oct 13 - Oct 29, 2025
Starting at
6,399
Oct 20 - Nov 5, 2025
Starting at
6,399
Oct 27 - Nov 12, 2025
Starting at
6,399

At a Glance

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 the scenic coastline, medieval villages, and Greek and Roman archaeology of Calabria “the toe” and Puglia “the heel” of the Italian “boot.”
Activity Level
Let's Go!
Walking and standing on paved and cobblestone sidewalks for up to four miles per day. Field trips involve walking on uneven ground and some stairs without railings.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • View the famed bronzes housed at the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia, exploring 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.
  • Discover Romanesque and Baroque cathedrals and monuments in the shade of majestic castles and noble palaces.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Gianluca Tonti
Gianluca Tonti studied Middle Age history at the Università Statale di Milano with a thesis about taxation and politics during the 15th century. After graduating, he attended the Archivio di Stato in Milan. Upon returning to Apulia, he worked with historical researchers in the local archives and teaches local history. Gianluca began working as a travel leader in Puglia in 2009 and became certified in 2012. He currently works with English-speaking groups in Apulia, Basilicata, and Sicily.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Emanuela D'Andria
Emanuela D'Andria View biography
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 leading Road Scholar programs since 2006.
Profile Image of Gianluca Tonti
Gianluca Tonti View biography
Gianluca Tonti studied Middle Age history at the Università Statale di Milano with a thesis about taxation and politics during the 15th century. After graduating, he attended the Archivio di Stato in Milan. Upon returning to Apulia, he worked with historical researchers in the local archives and teaches local history. Gianluca began working as a travel leader in Puglia in 2009 and became certified in 2012. He currently works with English-speaking groups in Apulia, Basilicata, and Sicily.
Profile Image of Gianluca De Francesco
Gianluca De Francesco View biography
Gianluca De Francesco is a licensed Italian professional guide with twenty years of experience, including leading hiking groups in the Calabrian mountains, working at ski resorts in the Alps and Finland, and leading cultural explorations in south Italy. He has a passion for history, archeology, and geology, which he studied at the University of Bologna. Gianluca’s true love is his Calabrian homeland, which he enthusiastically shares with visitors to his region.
Profile Image of Paolo Maragliulo
Paolo Maragliulo View biography
Paolo Maragliulo has been an exploration leader since 2000. He studied preservation of the cultural heritage, specializing in art and history from the beginning of the XI century to the end of the XVIII century. He now works for travel and bike exploration companies. Tall and theatrical, he is passionate about his region and loves cycling and bikepacking. After so many years of exploration and experiential study, he knows a lot about historical, cultural, and agricultural aspects of southern Italian everyday life.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Puglia: A Culinary Memoir (Italy's Food Culture)
by Maria Pignatelli Ferrante, Natalie Danford translator, Polly Franchini and Maria Galetta consultant
Romanesque Churches of Puglia (Italy)
by Approach Guides, David Raezer and Jennifer Raezer
Travellers Calabria (Travellers - Thomas Cook)
by Lara Dunston and Terry Carter
Venturing in Italy: Travels in Puglia, Land between Two Seas
by Connie Burke and Barbara J. Euser
Before the Normans: Southern Italy in the Ninth and Tenth Centuries (The Middle Ages Series) 1996
by Barbara M. Kreutz
Christ stopped at Eboli
by Carlo Levi
Lonely Planet Puglia & Basilicata (Regional Travel Guide)
by Paula Hardy, Abigail Hole, Olivia Pozzan
Masserie: The Italian Farmhouses of Puglia, 2011
by Mark Roskams and Diane Lewis
Pan' E Pomodor - My Passage To Puglia 2011
by Ian R. McEwan





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.