The 10-Day Puglia, Basilicata, Campania Southern Italy Tour begins in Bari in the region of Puglia and ends in Sorrento in the region of Campania. The all-inclusive escorted tour itinerary includes southern Italy’s sightseeing highlights. Southern Italy’s regions Puglia, Basilicata and Campania are all included on this fascinating journey into southern Italian history and culture. The area’s rich history dating back to the Stone age lends itself to the escorted tour experience. You’ll be escorted around southern Italy visiting Bari, Lecce, Alberobello, Matera, Trani, Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast an includes 4-star accommodations. This southern Italy escorted tour day-by-day itinerary explores the mixture of cultures that colonized the Italic peninsula over the centuries. You’ll enjoy rich architecture, music, food, culinary traditions, and culture. Families, friends, groups, and singles will all enjoy history’s great civilizations coming to life on this 10-Day Southern Italy tour. Submit the form or call 800.227.1577 for the price of the all-inclusive southern Italy tour with airfare from your preferred departure city and for more tour information.
Highlights
10-Day Southern Italy Escorted Tour Highlights
Southern Italy Tour Sightseeing Highlights:
- Explore Bari’s Old City “Bari Vecchia” walking with expert local tour guide.
- Tour the medieval fortress Castel del Monte, famous for its octagonal design.
- In Alberobello view the trulli, the conical dry stone huts.
- Enjoy a passeggiata in Lecce, known as the “Florence of the South” because of its Baroque architecture.
- Tour Matera’s Sassi (ancient stone dwellings), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Tour Pompeii, the ancient Roman city frozen 2,000 years ago when Mt Vesuvius’ ash covered it.
- Drive along the Amalfi Coast the most beautiful coastline in the world.
Click here to review the day-by-day southern Italy tour itinerary.
All-Inclusive Southern Italy Tour Includes:
- 9 nights First Class accommodations
- 3 nights Bari
- 2 nights Lecce
- 1 night Matera
- 2 nights Naples
- Italian city hotel taxes
- Hotel porterage
- When the southern Italy tour is booked with air all transfers included
- 12 meals: 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners with wine
- Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach
- Services of English-speaking tour manager throughout
- Services of local guides in all major cities
- Entrance fees per itinerary
- Comfortable wireless earphones for enhanced touring
Optional Tours
Optional Southern Italy Tours:
Day 4: Full Day Trani with lunch – $99 per person (8 Hours)
Travel to the historic seaside town of Trani with its picturesque harbor and 12th-century Cathedral di San Nicola Pellegrino, spectacularly positioned at the water’s edge. Continue, through landscape dotted, with olive trees that date back centuries. It is a must to taste the “green gold” (extra-virgin olive oil) that enhances the flavor of almost any Mediterranean dish, paired with local wine!
Day 6: Salento & Otranto with Lunch – $99 (8 Hours)
A full day tour will take you all the way to Santa Maria di Leuca, the end of the tip of the Italian heel, where the Adriatic Sea meets the Ionian Sea. Rocky coastline, beaches, fishing villages, watchtowers are waiting to be experienced in the most remote area of Puglia region. Enjoy a lunch of local delicacies, before continuing along the coast to reach Otranto, the Easternmost Italian town. Stroll through the historical town center surrounded by its ancient walls, check out the tiny shops or savor a gelato in an outdoor café, before returning to Lecce.
Day 9: Full Day Capri Day – $119 (8 Hours)
Enjoy a full day trip across the Bay of Naples to the Isle of Capri. There you’ll visit Anacapri, the highest point on the island. Then you’ll have time to stroll around and browse the boutiques full world-class Made in Italy handbags, leather, and jewelry. People watching, gelato, and homemade Limoncello may also be on your itinerary. The tour also includes a visit to the emperor Ceasar Augustus’ Gardens. There enjoy lovely views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Faraglioni rock formations. The Capri tour includes an expert local tour guide, round trip high-speed ferry between Sorrento and the Isle of Capri, and transportation on the Isle of Capri.
Accommodations
Southern Italy Tour Accommodations:
Bari 3 Nights – Grande Albergo delle Nazioni, Bari – ★★★★+
This superior first class hotel has spectacular views of the sea.
Lecce 2 Nights – Hotel President, Lecce ★★★★
This first class hotel is located near Lecce’s center.
Matera 1 Night – UNA Hotels Matera, Matera ★★★★
This first class hotel is a ten minute drive away from the city center of Matera.
Naples 2 Nights – NH Napoli Panorama, Naples ★★★★
This first class hotel is located in the historic center of Naples.
Video
Southern Italy Tour Video
Southern Italy Tour Day-by-Day Itinerary
Travel through Mediterranean history meeting the ancient Greeks, ancient Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Carthaginians, crusaders, Bourbons, and Ottomans on this comprehensive all-inclusive southern Italy tour. This escorted southern Italy tour provides an in-depth and authentic southern Italian vacation experience. The day-by-day itinerary provides time for your expert Italy tour guide to bring you through the area’s rich history and culture.
DAY 1 – Depart for Italy
Depart for Italy
DAY 2 – Arrive in Bari
Arrive Bari and transfer to your hotel. The energetic port city of Bari is the capital of the Puglia region of Italy, which forms the heel of Italy’s “boot”. Your tour will begin with an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager at approximately 6 PM (exact time will be advised on tour arrival day), followed by dinner. We recommend you to select flights that arrive no later than 4 PM
Overnight: Bari
Meals: Dinner
DAY 3 – Bari’s Old City and Castel del Monte
The exploration of Bari starts in the revitalized narrow streets of the Old City (Bari Vecchia). View Bari Cathedral and the stunning Romanesque Basilica of San Nicola, housing the relics of St. Nicholas, known as Father Christmas.
Next, your historical walking tour reveals 12th century Castello Normanno-Svevo built by the Normans.
In the afternoon travel to Castel del Monte, an extraordinary medieval fortress celebrated for its unique octagonal design. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this 13th century castle, built by Frederick II, is considered one of the best preserved medieval castles in Southern Italy, used as a site of the famous movie The Name of the Rose with Sean Connery. A tour of this fortress highlights the ingenious architecture, magnificent structure, and its massive public halls.
Upon return, linger on your own through Bari’s pretty squares, admire the architecture and try traditional Pugliese food in one of the piazzas buzzing with trendy restaurants and cafes
Overnight: Bari
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4 – Full day in Bari
Spend the day at leisure in Bari, strikingly beautiful with its seaside setting.
You may also choose to join the optional full day tour of Trani, with lunch with wine and olive oil tasting. The optional tour travels to the historic seaside town of Trani with its picturesque harbor and 12th century Cathedral dedicated to San Nicola Pellegrino, spectacularly positioned at the water’s edge. Afterward, continue through landscape, dotted with olive trees that date back centuries. It is a must to taste the local extra-virgin olive oil, known as “green-gold”, that enhances the flavor of almost any Mediterranean dish, paired with local wine for lunch.
Optional: Full Day Trani with Lunch
Overnight: Bari
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 5 – Masseria Lunch, Lecce
Begin your day with a visit to a beautiful local “Masseria”, or farmhouse, to savor lunch with regional specialties including local wine.
Afterward, travel to Lecce, known as the “Florence of the South” and stroll along 300 year old cobblestone streets past exquisite Baroque buildings. View Piazza del Duomo and the Roman amphitheater dating back to the 2nd century. Then, admire the Basilica of Santa Croce, a masterpiece of Southern Baroque architecture.
Time to explore on your own and perhaps dine at one of the quaint trattorias in the city center
Overnight: Lecce
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 6 – Full Day in Lecce
Today, spend the day at leisure to explore Lecce on your own.
You may also travel with the optional tour through the Salento Peninsula. A picturesque drive will take you all the way to Santa Maria di Leuca, where the Adriatic Sea meets the Ionian Sea. Rocky coastline, beaches, fishing villages, and watchtowers are waiting to be experienced in the most remote area of the Puglia region. After your lunch featuring local products and dishes, continue along the coast to Otranto, the easternmost Italian town. Walk the historic center surrounded by its ancient walls at your own pace, take your time to check the tiny shops, and why not savor a gelato while sitting in an outdoor café before returning to Lecce for leisure time.
Optional: Full Day Salento & Otranto with Lunch
Overnight: Lecce
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 7 – Alberobello, Matera
This morning visit the delightful town of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which introduces you to the Apulian traditional dry stone huts known as Trulli. In existence since the 14th century, these unusual structures featuring pyramidal, domed, or conical roofs are remarkable examples of mortarless, drywall construction, a prehistoric building technique used in this region.
After time on your own, journey to fascinating Matera. Here, learn about Matera’s roots connecting to the Paleolithic Age as you explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mysterious Sassi (ancient stone dwellings carved into rock) are believed to be the first human settlements in Italy. Over the centuries, the Sassi were adapted into family homes.
Tonight, dinner is at the hotel in Matera
Overnight: Matera
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 8 – Naples City Tour
A morning drive takes you to the city of Naples, which is famous for its mix of old world allure and real-city grit. As you approach the Bay of Naples, you are welcomed by spectacular panoramic views of the sea with Mount Vesuvius towering at a distance.
Upon arrival, enjoy a typical neapolitan pizza lunch. Then, embark on a walking tour of Naples. View Piazza del Plebiscito the main square, the Neoclassical San Francesco di Paola Basilica, San Carlo Opera House, Galleria Umberto, Royal Palace of Naples and the imposing medieval Maschio Angioino castle.
Tonight, spend the evening at leisure
Overnight: Naples
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 9 – Full Day in Naples
Spend the day at leisure in picturesque Naples, strikingly beautiful with its seaside setting.
You may also join the optional full day tour to the enchanting Isle of Capri by boat. Once there, walk through the narrow lanes of Anacapri, with its chic boutiques and shops offering tastings of the island’s famous Limoncello. Then, to La Piazzetta where everyone gathers to socialize, and to the Gardens of Augustus, towards the top of the island, a natural paradise, from where you can see splendid views of the sea and the famous Faraglioni rock formations, one of the island’s natural wonders.
After a lovely day in Capri, return to Naples. Tonight at dinner bid farewell to your Tour Manager
Optional: Full Day Capri
Overnight: Naples
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 10 – Depart Italy
Morning transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast
Click here to review the southern Italy tour accommodations.
For more southern Italy vacation options click southern Italy tours packages.
