The trip was marvellous. The hotels in Paris and in the Dordogne were magnificent. Also was the guide, who spent all afternoon with us. Such an enthusiastic, knowledgable and surprisingly young man. Thank you for a great holiday.
ART GALLERY SOCIETY OF NSW MYSTERIES OF THE MEZZOGIORNO
A journey through Italy's south including Abruzzo, Basilicata & Puglia with Neil Moore
Sunday 03 to Friday 15 October 2010
Known as the 'Mezzogiorno', the Italian south is a fascinating mix of Greek, Norman, Arab, French and Spanish influences. With a history significantly different from that of the north, this half of what was once the Kingdom of the two Sicilies has seen greater misery but also periods of extraordinary splendour and cultural ambition which have left abundant traces throughout the region.
From the towering mountains of the Abruzzo - perhaps Italy's last frontier with it's inaccessible hill towns and forests still providing refuge to wolves and bears - to the flatlands of Puglia with thousand year old olive trees and magical clusters of the strange conical houses known as Trulli, you will be constantly reminded that there is no other place that matches the cultural richness of Italy.
The country we travel through is fascinating and at times spectacular. Excellent meals of local produce will be included at strategic places within the itinerary, and the whole package will be threaded together with Neil Moore's insights on history, art, architecture and contemporary life.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOUR
* The castle and octagonal church at Calascio built high on a mountain from which you can almost see the whole width of the Italian peninsular * The beautiful Romanesque abbey of San Clemente at Casauria * Paestum * The Archaeological Museum in Naples * Ancient Greek ruins of Paestum * Matera, Unesco site, troglodyte city unique in Italy * The Romanesque cathedral of Trani * The Trulli houses of Alberobello & surrounding towns - idiosyncratic conical architecture unique in Italy * The Spanish derived baroque of Martina Franca, Ostuni and Lecce * Castel del Montess
ACCOMMATION
Accommodation for this tour is amongst the most extraordinary to be found in Italy - worthy destinations in themselves. The focus is on 'Albergo diffuso' accommodation where the rooms are spread out within an urban habitat, not necessarily connected one to another They provide an unforgettable experience of really living the life of the locals.
In the Abruzzo we stay in an ancient town revived through the acquisition by one owner of a significant proportion of a stunning mountain top village, with the aim of recreating as far as possible its original atmosphere and aspect while still providing the high standards required by today's discerning traveller. It is a unique and unforgettable experience and like no other hotel.
In Matera our accommodation is nestling in the heart of the 'sassi' area of Matera, a troglodyte town and a world heritage Unesco site where the houses are the built facades to caves excavated in the soft volcanic cliffs. Our rooms are in these caves! Recently the setting for Mel Gibson's Passion of Christ the place has been inhabited continuously since Neolithic times.
In Locorotondo our accommodation is situated in this fascinating whitewashed town built inconcentric circles in the midst of a landscape of 'Trulli', the remarkable conical stone houses that are such a feature of this part of Puglia.
MARY ROSSI TRAVEL
SUITE 3 THE DENISON
65 BERRY STREET NORTH SYDNEY NSW 2060
PH: (02) 9957 4511 FX: (02) 9929 6326
www.maryrossitravel.com
EMAIL: info@maryrossitravel.com
Known as the 'Mezzogiorno', the Italian south is a fascinating mix of Greek, Norman, Arab, French and Spanish influences. With a history significantly different from that of the north, this half of what was once the Kingdom of the two Sicilies has seen greater misery but also periods of extraordinary splendour and cultural ambition which have left abundant traces throughout the region.
