Overview
Southern Italy Escape
Imagine spending time in Italy’s most beloved locations without the higher costs and bigger crowds associated with busy travel season. Join us on a cultural and culinary adventure of Southern Italy’s wonderful gems. Start with a stroll in Sorrento, one of the most beautiful settings facing the Bay of Naples; travel to the Adriatic coastal resort of Trani; and overnight in the Apulian capital of Bari on the heel of Italy’s “boot.” Be sure to sample the local focaccia after your tour of St. Nicolas’ Church! In Alberobello, take a tour of the traditional Trullo houses—whitewashed, circular homes, with classic conical roofs. Admire the lacy stone buildings and baroque squares of Lecce, and visit the Duomo and Santa Croce Basilica to understand why Lecce is called the “Florence of the South.” A scenic drive brings you to the rocky outcrop of Matera—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit Casa Grotto to learn all about the Sassi houses, thought to be among the first human settlements in Italy.Continue your Italian vacation to the charismatic Naples, birthplace of Neapolitan pizza. Here, enjoy guided sightseeing, which includes a visit to the fascinating Archaeological Museum. Join us in the off season and escape to Southern Italy’s off-the-beaten-path locales.
Highlights of Southern Italy Escape
Price Details US
All Escape by Globus tours and departures are excluded from the following Globus discounts: Book Early & Save Discounts, Second Tour Discount and Small Group Discount.
UNESCO Sites
The Sassi of Matera|The Trulli of Alberobello
Small Group
Globus offers Small-Group Discoveries on select dates. A Small-Group Discovery is limited to an average of just 24 guests per departure. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus escorted tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery trip is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.
Private Touring
6 guests in a party: $1,688*18 guests in a party: $447*
Inclusions
We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect vacation—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides (with headsets to hear every word), to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring in spacious comfort by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach. Free Wi-Fi is included on board your coach and in most hotel lobbies and common areas.
Itineraries
Day 1
ARRIVE IN SORRENTO, ITALY Welcome to Sorrento! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (D)
Day 2
SORRENTO Amore, Sorrento SORRENTO Orientation walk of the old town. Free time (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURAL GEMS Just as the sirens of Greek mythology lured sailors to the rocky shores of Sorrento, we are drawn to its alluring panoramas, sun-washed beaches, bistros, and boutiques. Take a seat in a sidewalk cafe to peruse the picturesque panoramas on the Bay of Naples.
Day 3
SORRENTO–TRANI–BARI Hidden Gem TRANI Stop in the seaside resort en route to Bari. (B) 193 mi / 310 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHTCULTURE & TRADITION Known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” Trani encapsulates everything Puglia offers: wonderful beaches, a history-rich city center and mouthwatering food. But that’s not all, Trani is, in fact, a member of “Cittàslow International,” an organization founded in Italy to promote slower way of life, protecting quality of life through healthier living, sustainability, and culture.
Day 4
BARI. EXCURSION TO ALBEROBELLO Breaking Bread BARI Guided walking tour includes the Old Town, San Nicola's Church, and [LF] local focaccia tasting.ALBEROBELLO Guided walking tour includes visit to a Trullo, one of the conical houses famous for their unique cone design. (B,D) 81 mi / 130 kmLOCAL FAVORITE LOCAL TASTES The beauty of Italian culinary specialties is that no two regions approach recipes in the same way. Take the traditional Focaccia Barese (from Bari). The dough is made with the local staple of potatoes to create a bread that’s not too tall but perfectly soft in the middle. Between the crunchy edges of baked mashed potato are ripe tomatoes, oregano, olive oil, and olives for the perfect palate-pleasing experience.
Day 5
BARI–LECCE Sweet Strolls in Apulia LECCE Guided walking tour includes Duomo and Santa Croce Basilica. Free time. (B) 93 mi / 150 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURAL GEM Stroll through Apulia, the “Florence of the South,” to take in the vibrant and bustling atmosphere. Wander the narrow streets of golden sandstone looking for hidden Piazzas or indulge in a wine bar with a glass of local rose and views of the carved baroque churches the city has to offer around each corner.
Day 6
LECCE–MATERA Stone Houses MATERA Guided walking tour includes visit to Casa Grotta. (B,D) 112 mi / 180kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC SPOT Matera is a city like no other, entirely carved out of the rocky slopes of a mountain in the Basilicata region and has been extended over millennia. Explore with a guide the secrets of this unique city that has been the setting for many famous films from Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of Christ” to James Bond “No Time to Die”
Day 7
MATERA–NAPLES Chilling on the Coast Scenic drive en route to Naples. (B) 162 mi / 260 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT PICTURE PERFECT Puglia region forms the heel of Italy’s “boot,” with whitewashed towns, centuries-old pastoral landscapes, and the magnificent Mediterranean coastline. Drive through this region and enter the vibrant city of Naples, a true feast for the eyes and palate in the quintessential Italian style.
Day 8
NAPLES A Slice of Life in Naples NAPLES Guided sightseeing includes the Galleria Umberto, Piazza Plebiscito, and the Archaeological Museum. Farewell dinner at your hotel. (B,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURE & TRADITION Naples delivers Old World charm in spades as one of Italy’s oldest cities. From its regal Palazzo Reale to the 13th-century Duomo di San Gennaro’s frescoed masterpieces to nearby Mount Vesuvius to the most famous pizza in the world served throughout the city in Neapolitan style. A stroll along the promenade beside the Bay of Naples reveals why locals and visitors choose this spot to soak in the sunset on the Mediterranean Sea.
Day 9
NAPLES Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Departures
| # | Air Start Date | Land Start Date | Land End Date | Land Only Price | Discount | Final | Departure Code | Status |
Hotels
| # | Name | Description | City | Address | Rating |
| 1 | Grand Hotel Cesare Augusto | Set in its own lush garden, the hotel features 120 air-conditioned guestrooms complete with safe, satellite TV, and mini-bar. Amenities include a contemporary restaurant with international and regional menus and panoramic roof-top terrace with swimming pool and snack bar. | Sorrento | Via Degli Aranci, 108 | First-Class |
| 2 | Excelsior | Hotel Excelsior is just 100 meters from Bari's shopping area and a 3-minute walk from the rear entrance of the train station. All rooms are equipped with elegant furniture, parquet floors, comfortable beds, and free Wi-Fi. The Excelsior's rooms are spread throughout eight floors, all offering windows overlooking the courtyard and a private road. Each guestroom features a marble bathroom with bath or shower and hairdryer. | Bari | Via Giulio Petroni, 15 | First-Class |
| 3 | Hilton Garden Inn Lecce | Set in a quiet residential area in the heart of the Salentine Peninsula, just a short distance away from the stunning attractions of Lecce's historic city center also known as 'The Florence of the South'. This contemporary hotel boasts a complimentary 24-hour fitness center, Beauty & Spa facility and a seasonal rooftop outdoor swimming pool with views of the city skyline. All 143 rooms are designed for extra comfort with self-adjusting Garden Sleep System® beds, air-conditioning, coffee/tea making facilities and complimentary Wi-Fi access. A full-service restaurant offers inspired Italian cuisine in a contemporary and refined atmosphere, a variety of snacks and refreshments can be found at the 24-hour Pavilion Pantry and the trendy looking bar offers drinks and light bites in stylish surroundings. | Lecce | Via Cosimo De Giorgi 62 | Superior First-Class |
| 4 | Unahotels MH Matera | This hotel is a modern property with in-house restaurants, three seasonal outdoor swimmig pools, a fully equipped gym and a fully fledged SPA facility that offers relaxation and beauty treatments. The 131 guest rooms all boast modern finishings, wide luminous windows with a view of the old town of Matera in the distance and are equipped with complimentary toiletries, digital safe, a mini bar, satellite TV and Free Wi-Fi internet access. | Matera | Via Germania, SNC, Borgo Venusio | First-Class |
| 5 | Starhotel Terminus | The Terminus hotel offers a 4 star retreat from everyday life in the midst of lively Naples. It is located in a strategic location just steps from the metro L1 stop Garibaldi, which offers easy transport to reach the main attractions of the city. | Napoli | Piazza Garibaldi 91 | First-Class |
