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.
Participant Reviews
Based on 65 Reviews
SHOWING
The Puglia area is beautiful. Guiseppe was a terrific guide. His english was understandable and he would ask us how to say things in English, great exchange and lots of laughs. he is truly a knowledgeable young man on history of art .
The Best Western was not a good choice for accommodations. It was not close to the main town and required shuttle service to and from for shopping or dinner on your own. The hotel did have a good breakfast.
Three nights was a bit too long. On other RS trips entrance to churches was included. Lunches were very good as well. Dinners not so great, pizza and salad.
We had a full bus which was okay when the bus was LARGE, but it changed to smaller bus the last 9 days.
Laura was also a good guide, knowlwedable about areas in Reggio Calabria.
She was always prepared, schedule appeared each night on Whats App.
The trip is definitely very rigorous, so folks with knee issues or balance problems might want to give the itinery serious thought.
The travel department fell short on air changes, hotel bookings and transportation. Paying for the insurance of over $800.00 did not provide any assistance.
Overall the area is beautiful, could be condensed to 14 days and eliminate some 2 hr bus rides. This is my 5th trip, but I will consider other tour groups.
— Review left November 8, 2025
Superb. Excellent itinerary and outstanding trip leaders.
— Review left November 6, 2025
This was a delightful experience in which I was so glad to have participated.
— Review left November 3, 2025
It was educational learning experience, but this program can be altered to be better. The tour leaders ‘ English should be better; a couple local experts who came to explain, their English were a lot better. A few itineraries can be organized in a way better efficient way of traveling, not circling back again to visit. Lecture on Italian gestures was a joke, please skip it; can be explained during the bus ride, don’t need a separate hour to talk about it. It’s perfectly fine to have a sandwich, a simple lunch to make this program running efficiently and smoothly. I suggest to reduce this program into 2 weeks program. Please select a better hotel.
I will think twice before booking another road scholar program in the future. Thanks for listening.
— Review left October 25, 2025
What a wonderful introduction to an area of Italy that is not well known to most people from North America! It covers both the beauty and the culture extremely well and enjoyably.
— Review left October 16, 2025
Hi! I have just arrived in the U.S. After my R S tour i went to Taormina ,Sicily for 4 nights and then to Paris for 6 nights.
I thoroughly enjoyed the RS tour. Accomodations were excellent and the food was quite good.
We visited lovely towns, cities and villages through out the south of Italy.
The guides on both segments of the trip were excellent -Daniella and Laura, great personalities and they went out of their way to accomdate guests. In fact i just heard from a woman i met on the tour that Laura went to the Reggio airport to help her find her luggage! Way above and beyond!
The only visit i wasn'thappy with with were Roman ruins -Reggio area. It was a ride out to see them and they ony had a small portion excavated and avail for display. I have been to Greece Egypt and Rome and other archeological sites and felt this was not worth the time. However, perhaps others were pleased as it was their first exposure. Just a thought, i felt it was a stretch . Ok but not great.
I would certainly recommend the tour and Road Scholar. Oh! and most importantly I chose this tour as 4 nights in most hotels! I dislike packing and unpacking-it was great!
Thanks for a wonderful trip.
gg
— Review left October 13, 2025
For those interested in the path less traveled.
— Review left June 1, 2025
My first trip with Road Scholar was terrific. From top to bottom, it was everything that I hoped it would be.
Both guides were excellent, and I learned so much from them. That was the whole reason that I signed up with Road Scholar.
The diversity of places and people we met along the trip was extraordinary.
Our lodgings, meals, and transportation were very well put together. Our small group of 14 was a pleasure to be in, and all of them were seasoned Road Scholar travelers.
I want to emphasize that our guides, GianLuca Tonti and Laura Pomara, were exceptional.
GianLuca is a national treasure for his deep knowledge of art history. He brought it to life with a wry humor and beautifully crafted lectures. He gave me the skills to understand more about the cathedrals and churches I will visit in the future.
Laura was a whirlwind of information about her native home and region. Her energy and humor were delightful, and she kept us moving and engaged all day long. She went the extra mile for us at all times and cared for all of us as if we were her family. As a former teacher, she educated us every day on various topics.
Thank you, Road Scholar, and the staff, that was always patient with my questions. Now I'm ready for the next trip!
— Review left March 27, 2025
***** 5 stars
I'm delighted that I took this trip to Southern Italy. I like trips a little off the beaten track and this was quite different from my visits to other parts of Italy. It exceeded my expectations. Our guides Gianluca and Laura added immensely to the trip. They exposed us to musicians, dancers, artisans and historical sites I wouldn't have seen on my own. I wondered about going in February but it turned out that the weather was fine and our group participants were almost the only tourists at this time of year. We had private showings at many sites.
— Review left March 12, 2025
A wonderful trip, plain and simple, with phenomenal leaders and experts. The usual REALLY HIGH quality Road Scholar journey.
— Review left March 8, 2025
We had an excellent experience digging into the vast history, art, culture, and architecture of the Puglia, Basilicata, and Calabria regions in Southern Italy. I was amazed at the number of cultures that have lived there from pre-history until current times, a true blending of Greek, Byzantine, Roman, and Norman cultures as well as pre-historic cave dwellers. Our tour guides, Laura and Gianluca were excellent and from the areas that they led which brought a deeper experience when touring.
— Review left March 7, 2025
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.
— Review left December 8, 2024
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.
— Review left October 20, 2024
Wonderful opportunity to explore Puglia and Calabria. Just enough free time. Activity level was good.
— Review left October 19, 2024
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.
— Review left September 27, 2024
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.
— Review left September 23, 2024
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.
— Review left June 15, 2024
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.
— Review left June 2, 2024
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.
— Review left May 23, 2024
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.
— Review left January 27, 2024
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!
— Review left November 13, 2023
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.
— Review left November 12, 2023
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.
— Review left November 9, 2023
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.
— Review left November 5, 2023
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.
— Review left November 2, 2023
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
— Review left November 1, 2023
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.
— Review left October 31, 2023
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.
— Review left October 23, 2023
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.
— Review left October 14, 2023
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.
— Review left October 7, 2023
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.
— Review left September 22, 2023
This program opens one's eyes to an overlooked and perhaps misunderstood area of Italy that is rich in culture, history and life.
— Review left June 7, 2023
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.
— Review left May 24, 2023
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!!
— Review left May 18, 2023
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.
— Review left May 8, 2023
History came to life on this trip. Beautiful locations! Fantastic food. What a grand adventure!
— Review left November 16, 2022
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.
— Review left November 1, 2022
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.
— Review left October 31, 2022
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.
— Review left October 13, 2022
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
— Review left October 6, 2022
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.
— Review left October 3, 2022
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,
— Review left July 15, 2022
very interesting history of this region, Iwas unfamiiar with it.
— Review left May 28, 2022
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!
— Review left May 19, 2022
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...
— Review left May 8, 2022
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!
— Review left April 28, 2022
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.
— Review left April 13, 2022
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.
— Review left April 9, 2022
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!
— Review left April 7, 2022
Great food, surprising sites, beautiful landscape, wonderful people: They're all here in Italy's heel, instep, and toe.
— Review left April 7, 2022
The beautiful parts of Italy that the tourists have not found.
— Review left November 14, 2021
I highly recommend the Heel to Toe of Italy program itinerary of Road Scholar.All areas covered are hidden treasures of Italy.
— Review left November 8, 2021
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.
— Review left October 28, 2021
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.
— Review left October 17, 2021
Great trip and wonderful and helpful guides.
— Review left September 30, 2021
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.
— Review left November 18, 2019
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
— Review left November 15, 2019
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.
— Review left October 21, 2019
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.
— Review left June 16, 2019
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.
— Review left June 13, 2019
This trip took us to many places that were "off the beaten path."
— Review left June 6, 2019
If you want to eat like a king this is the trip for you!
— Review left May 30, 2019
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!
— Review left May 15, 2019
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.
— Review left April 25, 2019
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!
— Review left April 13, 2019