2020 Wilderness Travel Catalog of Adventures

Hiking Puglia & Calabria HEEL TO TOE ACROSS ITALY’S SOUTHERN REALM

Centuries-old olive orchards, whitewashed villages, and the deep blue swirl of the Adriatic and Ionian seas define the landscape of Puglia and Calabria. In the Italian south, we follow tratturi (shepherds’ trails) that link orchards and villages, hike panoramic coastal paths, and explore iconic hill towns including Locorotondo in

stretch as far as the eye can see here, dotted with trulli , the whitewashed, conical-roofed houses Puglia is famous for.  In Alberobello, we’ll visit the 17th century Trullo Sovrano, the largest of the famous trulli houses. After exploring stunning Ostuni, with its tumble of alabaster buildings, we’ll taste olive oils at a farmstead and enjoy the opulent Baroque buildings of Lecce, with architectural surprises at every turn. Days 4-8 Otranto / Santa Maria di Leuca / Manduria Wine Tasting / Matera Otranto was first a Greek port, then a Roman one, and was later ruled by the Byzantines. We explore the town, hike past the Punta Palascia lighthouse to lovely Santa Maria di Leuca, where the Adriatic and Ionian seas meet, and cruise the coast to visit cave grottos that were ancient sanctuaries. Heading to the wine town of Manduria, we taste Primitivo di Manduria wines at a local cellar. At fascinating Matera, Benedictine monks carved elaborate churches and monasteries into the canyon walls. We set out for a canyon walk, exploring the picturesque alleys and warren of “sassi” dwellings. Days 9-12 Corigliano / Sila Massif / Reggio Calabria In still-undiscovered Calabria, we visit the 11th century fortified castle at Corigliano Calabro, head up to the Sila Massif for mountain hikes in pine and beechwood forests, and hike the Tracciolino Trail on the Costa Viola. Our final overnight is in Reggio Calabria, with its beautiful seafront. Depart on Day 12.

HIGHLIGHTS • Hike shepherds’ paths and spectacular coastal trails across the beautiful landscapes of Puglia and Calabria • Visit two World Heritage Sites: the trulli houses of Alberobello and the picturesque cave dwellings of Matera • Explore Lecce’s Baroque palazzi and the striking “white city” of Ostuni • Savor the best regional delicacies of Puglia and Calabria DETAILS • 12-day trip begins in Bari and ends in Reggio Calabria • 11 nights hotels and inns • All meals included except 3 dinners

“This trip far exceeded our expectations—the itinerary was superb and the guides terrific. The balance of hiking, villages, and wonderful meals was perfect. The two days in Matera were magical.” Philip Schrag, Arlington VA

Pugliese’s wine region and stunning Ostuni, once a Greco-Roman city. The World Heritage-listed sites of Alberobello and Matera are on our

DATES Apr 21-May 2, 2020

May 5-16 Jun 2-13 Sep 22-Oct 3

journey, and our culinary adventures brings us the distinctive flavors of the south, with olive tasting in the Valle d’Istria, sipping red Primitivo vintages in the wine town of Manduria, and savoring the fresh-caught bounty of the seas around us. Days 1-3 Bari / Alberobello / Ostuni / Lecce We head across the orchards and vineyards of the Valle d’Itria, which holds some of Puglia’s most iconic landscapes. The olive orchards

TRIP COST $5995 (11-16 members) $6595 (4-10 members) Single supplement: $620

TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 Moderate hikes of 2-4 hours over rolling countryside, rocky coastal trails, and steep canyons

Our hikes and cultural explorations take us through the best of Italy’s “heel to toe.”

MASSIMO BORCHI STEFANO TORRIONE

STEFANO TORRIONE

LUIGI VACCARELLA

FOR MORE DETAILS ON OUR EUROPEAN TRIPS, VISIT WWW.WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM/TRIPS/EUROPE 67