1st DAY Istanbul - Bari (Matera Tour)
Meet at the Turkish Airlines counter in the International Departures terminal at Istanbul Airport. After luggage and ticket procedures, we will depart for Bari with the scheduled Turkish Airlines flight. Arrival in Bari according to local time. We will start our Bari city tour with our private vehicle and guide waiting for us. Among the places to be visited during the tour are the Basilica Di San Nicola, the port, and Bari Cathedral. After the tour, we will proceed to our hotel for check-in and free time. Guests wishing to join the optional Matera tour (€75) will depart with our guide. We will arrive in Matera, which is the European Capital of Culture 2019, located in the Basilicata region of Southern Italy and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This city, known as “Sassi di Matera” (the stones of Matera), was carved from cave and tuff rocks on both sides of the Gravina canyon in prehistoric times. As an old city, its living conditions and appearance have attracted the attention of Hollywood filmmakers. Thus, films such as Pasolini’s “The Gospel According to Matthew”, Ferrara’s “Mary”, and Beresford’s “King David”, Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” have been shot here. It has also hosted films by Ferzan Özpetek. After our tour with our guide, we will return to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.
2nd DAY Bari (Puglia Triangle Tour)
After breakfast at the hotel, a free day awaits you. Guests wishing to participate in the optional Puglia Triangle tour known as Alberobello & Castellana Grotte & Polignano a Mare (€145) can join. We will first head to Alberobello. Alberobello, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995, will create a fairy-tale effect with its differently shaped white houses and roofs. The Trulli houses are built by stacking stones without mortar. When the king raised the property tax too high, the people built their houses this way to avoid detection by royal officials who would come to inspect. We will continue our visit to the Castellana Caves, known as the oldest cave in the world. The cave system is formed by limestone known as Altamura and consists of 3,348 meters long with a depth reaching 122 meters. Our last stop will be the coastal town of Polignano a Mare. When we reach the beach through the narrow streets of the town, we will be greeted by high cliffs with bright white houses and a deep blue bay. After the tour and beach break, we will return to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.
3rd DAY Bari (Puglia Treasures Tour)
After breakfast, a free day awaits. Guests wishing to participate in the optional Puglia Treasures tour (Martina Franca – Ostuni - Monopoli) (€145) will depart with our guide. If you love to explore hidden and lesser-known yet rich places, Martina Franca is for you. This city, with its ancient olive trees, will charm you with the perfect combination of art, history, and natural beauty with its Baroque architecture. During our tour, we will visit the Palazzo Ducale, San Martino Church, and St. Anthony Church, which are among the places to be seen. Afterwards, we will move to Ostuni. With an 8 km coastline, a majority of its income coming from tourism, and a small population of about 32,000, Ostuni is a charming Italian city rich in olive and grape trees. During our visit, we will have the opportunity to see interesting details such as white-architectured Mediterranean houses, narrow streets, arched passages, spiraled stairs, and more. Our final stop will be Monopoli, one of the most beautiful cities in the Puglia region, located by the Adriatic Sea. During our visit, we will see Piazza Settembre, the colorful permanent market, Monopoli Cathedral, and its bell tower located in the heart of the city's historical center. After the tour, we will return to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.
4th DAY Bari - Amalfi Coast – (Designer Outlet La Reggia Tour)
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, we will head to our hotel located in the Napoli region. After checking into the hotel, free time awaits for the rest of the day. Guests wishing to join the optional half-day Designer Outlet La Reggia tour (€55) can do so. In this tour, you will find renowned brands (Armani, Moschino, Furla, Ralph Lauren, Boss, etc.) at discounts of up to 70% in Italy's most famous Designer Outlet chain, McArthur Glen La Reggia. After the tour, we will return to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.
5th DAY Amalfi Coast (Amalfi & Positano & Sorrento Tour)
After breakfast at the hotel, a free day awaits you. Guests wishing to join the optional Amalfi Coast & Sorrento (€145) tour will depart. In this tour, you will enjoy the sun, sea, sand, and also experience history while taking postcard-perfect photos. We will first start our tour in Sorrento, a beautiful Mediterranean town built on cliffs. You will get to know the region with your guide, marveling at its lemon groves and sparkling sea. After exploring, we will head to Positano, a town famous for its colorful houses and steep descents to the sea, where we will have a stop for photos at a panoramic terrace. Afterward, we will set off for Amalfi. Named after Greek mythology, this town has played an important role as a port throughout history. Among the main sites to explore are the Sant'Andrea Cathedral and the square where it is located, Flavio Gioia Square. There will also be a short beach break for guests wishing to take a dip. After some free time, you will return to the hotel at the time determined by your guide. Overnight at our hotel.
6th DAY Amalfi Coast – Istanbul – (Napoli & Pompei Tour)
After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, guests wishing to participate in the optional half-day Napoli & Pompei (€125) tour can do so. During this tour, one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, Pompei, will be visited. Pompei lies at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, which erupted in AD 79 and destroyed the city. Following lengthy excavations that began in 1748, archaeologists uncovered the city in its full vibrancy. Among the sights to see are the Basilica, Forum, House of Faun, restaurants, baths, and bakeries. The tour will then continue with a visit to Napoli, where we will see the Royal Palace, built in the 16th century, the San Carlo Theatre, the famous cafes and shops of the Umberto I Gallery, and San Francesco Di Paolo Church, inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, as well as Plebiscito Square and the Angevin Castle. Following the tour, we will transfer to Napoli Airport for our flight back to Istanbul with Turkish Airlines. Arrival in Istanbul and the end of our tour.