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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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Start

Small Group

Program

At a Glance

Duration

17 days

Program Begins

Lecce

Program Concludes

Reggio Calabria

Group Type

Small Group

Meals

32 ( 15B, 12L, 5D )

Activity Level

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.”

Best of all, you'll...

View the famed bronzes housed at the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia, exploring prehistoric Greco-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.

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General Notes

Due to Calabria's mountainous region and complex road network, driving times can range from 1-4 hours per day between towns & villages.

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 the program

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Emanuela D'Andria

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.

Paolo Maragliulo

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.

Fabio Congedo

Fabio Congedo specialized in classical archaeology and worked as a professional archaeologist in Italy and abroad. The excavations in Egypt, with Columbia University in New York, represented some of the most exciting moments of his career as an archaeologist. He has worked as a tour guide and group leader in different regions of Italy, combining two of his main passions, history and travel. Telling the history of Italy, its masterpieces, and its mysterious civilizations is also the basis of another of his passions, writing.

Daniela D'amato

Daniela D’Amato's professional experience as a group leader began three decades ago while she was obtaining a degree at the University of Bari as an art historian. As soon as she graduated, she became aware that being a travel leader is meant to gather several factors such as emotions, sensitivity, paying attention to the most authentic details, reliability, and pragmatism. She enjoys singing, acting, reading, cooking, and traveling.

Davide Canevari

Davide Canevari lives in Milazzo, Sicily and studied law at university. He is an expert volcanologist and leads hikes on Mount Etna and Stromboli. He has visited 34 countries and is fluent in five languages. He has performed as an actor and singer in several opera festivals, and is passionate about the music of Dean Martin and tarantella folk. Davide's true passion is his homeland of Southern Italy and the ancient Greek culture that is still alive, at times impenetrable.

Massimiliano Giudice

Massimiliano Giudice's travel career began in 2015 when he started working as a group leader in Berlin after learning German. His passion for languages and cultural exchange led him to Turkey, where he spent over three years exploring, learning Turkish, and studying the country's traditions. In 2021, he returned to Italy and obtained a certification, leading groups in German, Turkish, and English. Two years later, he became certified as a tourism operations manager. Beyond his profession, he enjoys playing guitar, singing, and staying active.

Alfio Russo

Alfio Russo, a native Sicilian, lived in the USA until he was 10 years old. When he returned to Sicily, he continued his studies until he graduated as a dental technician. He has more recently been working as a group leader, leading visitors in his region and in southern Italy. His passion is wine, having inherited a vineyard from his father. He has been playing the bass for 30 years, collaborating with different groups in his area.

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 (13 to 24)

Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Suggested Reading List

View Full List (9 Books)

You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?

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Call 800-454-5768

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Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

Assurance Plan

Road Scholar's continued commitment to our participants and their well-being is exemplified whether participating on a program in the United States or on one of our International programs, every Road Scholar participant receives coverage under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan.

Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.
Assurance Plan

Road Scholar's continued commitment to our participants and their well-being is exemplified whether participating on a program in the United States or on one of our International programs, every Road Scholar participant receives coverage under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan.
Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.
Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.