Puglia & Basilicata 2012 

We depart St Pancras International by Eurostar to Paris, travelling in Standard Premier Class, with a light meal and drinks served on board. From Paris we travel via Lyon and into the Savoy Alps, with the scenery increasing in beauty as the train gently climbs to Annecy, where we stay at the Novotel Atria Hotel*. On Day 2 we continue our journey to Italy, travelling via Milan to Rome. On arrival we walk to the 4-star Hotel Diana, located next to the railway station. (Day 1-E,D; Day 2-B,D)

*Our departures on 4 May and 28 September will spend the first night in Strasbourg and our tour leaving on 1 June will spend the night in Colmar. Please call for further details.

On our guided tour of the ancient city of Rome we explore some of the many fantastic sights and monuments in this remarkable city. Rome's architecture charts the passage of time as clearly as anywhere in Europe; with wonderfully preserved monuments from the early Romans and buildings with distinctive medieval, Renaissance and Baroque features. We pass the incredible Colosseum, Italy's most famous classical sight, visit the Roman Forum, the ancient power centre of Rome, the legendary Trevi Fountain and the monumental Spanish Steps. This afternoon you are free to savour the sights and sounds of Rome's seductive beauty at leisure. (B)

Leaving Rome, we travel across Italy by rail - a fantastic journey which takes us through Foggia and along the gorgeous Italian Adriatic coastline. We travel into Puglia, the 'heel' of Italy - a wonderful, rustic, rural region which has an incredibly undiscovered feel, even in the more developed areas. Puglia is known as the "wine cellar of Italy", where the railway lines run through the middle of vineyards and among the olive groves which produce more than half of Italy's olive oil. Almonds, figs, tomatoes and melons are all grown abundantly throughout Puglia. The region's rugged, bright-white coastline is home to secluded, deserted beaches - landing points for 2,000 years of invasions by Greeks, Romans, Turks and Venetians. The relaxed, unhurried and easy-going way of life, practiced by friendly locals, has an irresistible charm. You will soon find yourself drawn in to the fashion for long, lazy lunches and relaxing evening strolls, thanks to the appeal of the local atmosphere, climate and cuisine. Our destination is the town of Lecce in southern Puglia. Home to a quaint, compact Old Town and boasting elaborate Baroque architecture, Lecce has been dubbed 'the Florence of the South'. On arrival in Lecce we transfer to the 4-star President Hotel Lecce. Our early afternoon arrival gives you time to explore Lecce at leisure - the narrow alleys of the city centre are ideal for exploring on foot. (B,D)

This morning we enjoy a guided walking tour of Lecce, during which we see many fine examples of Baroque architecture and beautiful sandstone buildings. We visit the decorative Chiesa di Santa Croce, with its intricately carved rose window and grand, elaborate chandeliers, and the Piazza del Duomo, the main square dominated by the 70-metre high bell tower of Lecce's cathedral. In the afternoon you are free to continue exploring Lecce. You could find a peaceful place to relax in the shade at the city's delightful botanical gardens, or visit Lecce's Roman amphitheatre - an archaeological treasure excavated in 1938. The huge, circular arena, dating back to the 2nd century AD, would have seated several thousand spectators and provides a real insight into ancient Roman culture. (B)

This morning we travel to Otranto, a town which lies at the most easterly point of the Italian mainland, whose 15th century walls surround a tightly packed, car-free historic centre. Otranto has long since expanded beyond its walls, creating a lovely, seaside resort with a small fishing harbour and palm tree lined promenade. We enjoy a guided tour of the walled town before continuing along the coastline to Santa Maria di Leuca. The lovely village, found on a stunning section of cave-lined coast at the point where the Ionian Sea meets the Adriatic, is packed with dazzling white-washed buildings. Here you have time to stroll along the seafront promenade and see the famous 47-metre tall lighthouse that stands in front of the Basilica. (B,D)

Our full-day coach tour takes us to explore some of the region's most fascinating heritage destinations. We travel first to Matera, located in Basilicata. The town sits in a small canyon and is most famous for its 'Sassi' - ancient troglodyte caves used as dwellings and churches since the Palaeolithic era. Over the last decade many of the Sassi have been adapted into fantastic houses, hotels and restaurants. We have time to explore the caves and the town itself, where you will find a number of artisan craft shops. We continue to Alberobello, a charming town packed with as many as 1,400 'trulli' - peculiar cone-shaped houses built from stone. These unusual homes, which resemble large stone beehives, were originally built without any kind of mortar - quickly dismantled and easily rebuilt, allowing the occupiers to evade tax collectors when word spread of their imminent arrival. The countryside surrounding Alberobello is covered in thousands of trulli. (B,D)

Today you are free to relax and enjoy Lecce at leisure. You can remain in Lecce, enjoying the hotel facilities and the fantastic atmosphere of the town. Alternatively, you could choose to visit one of the nearby resorts, such as the attractive seaside town of Gallipoli, which boasts a superb beach and fantastic shallow waters. (B)

We leave Lecce this morning, travelling in First Class along the picturesque Adriatic coastline and through Bari before we arrive in Foggia. From here we transfer by coach to the old town of Vieste, located on the Gargano Peninsula. This is the 'spur' on the heel of Italy, part of a large national park, brimming with pine forests and lined with long sandy beaches. One of the Vieste's most recognisable features is the Pizzo Muno; a large white limestone stack that stands proudly on the beach. We spend three nights at the 4-star Forte Hotel Vieste. (B,D)

Today you have the chance to relax at the hotel or explore Vieste and its ancient city centre, set above and alongside the towering, sheer white cliffs. Alternatively, visit the small town of Peschici, where white-washed houses cling to the rocky headland at the end of the sweeping sandy bay. Here you could relax in a local café and admire the views or take a walk along the beach, dipping your toes into the warm, clear waters. (B,D)

Our excursion today takes us along the fascinating Gargano Peninsula by boat - a fantastic opportunity to see this incredible stretch of coastline and national park from a different perspective. Our boat trip passes the many caves cut into the cliffs and the idyllic, secluded coves that feature regularly on the shoreline. We also see many of the picturesque villages that are perched on the cliff tops. (B,D)

We leave Vieste today, travelling by coach to Foggia. Here we board the train, travelling in First Class to the north of Italy. We travel via Milan to the city of Turin, where we spend the final night of our holiday at the 4-star Hotel ATA Concord. On Day 13 we travel on by TGV to Paris, where we connect with the Eurostar service to London. (Day 12- B,D; Day 13-B,E)

E = Eurostar meal, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
These meals, where shown, are included in the price of your holiday