1. Bari: Puglia’s Itria Valley Full-Day Guided Tour
Full day guided tour with licensed tour guide in Itria Valley, in the heart of Puglia. The guided tour start in Locorotondo from piazza Vittorio Emanuele square, where two 19th century big pillars mark the old Porta Napo¬li, you can follow a long path where you can see buildings such as the former Town hall, today the Communal Library from the end of the 18th century, the baroque Palazzo Morelli with its splendid portal and small balconies with wrought iron railings and, up ahead, the Mother Church. Pretty white buildings, coloured with blood red geraniums and other flowers coming out of every corner and nook, Locorotondo is a very charming village! After Locorotondo the guided tour continues in Martina Franca, famous for its many buildings in Baroque and Rococo style. The tour starts from Piazza XX Settembre and Gate Santo Stefano to Piazza Roma where we’ll visit the fountain of the Dolphins and the Palazzo Ducale from the particular eighteenth century frescoes and stately rooms. Then, we walking among the alleys of the old town, we’ll arrive in Piazza del Plebiscito and visit the baroque basilica dedicated to St. Martin, exceptional example of Baroque architecture, the building of the University and the Clock Tower. The Martina Franca tour ends with a visit to the Immaculate Square and its famous esedra, the chapel of St. Nicholas of the Greeks, and finally the church of San Domenico. The tour end in Cisternino, amazing and unforgettable through its wonderful atmosphere, great views of the Itria Valley below, cute old buildings and very friendly people. During the tour we’ll visit the church of San Nicola, known as the Mother Church, was built in the 12th century over the previous 8th century Basilian church, whose foundations remain. Along the way we’ll visit the Norman-Svevian tower was built in the 11th century by the Normans, and is 17 meters tall. It was largely rebuilt in the late 14th century and was remodeled several times in subsequent periods. Stop at the beautiful view overlooking the entire Itria’s valley, a wonderful skyline of the valley with trulli and olive trees.