2019 Wilderness Travel Catalog of Adventures

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

Ancient olive orchards stretching to the horizon, whitewashed coastal towns, the deep blue of the Adriatic and Ionian seas—Puglia and Calabria are a world apart. We follow tratturi (shepherds’ trails) that link orchards and villages, hike panoramic coastal paths, and explore iconic hill towns including Locorotondo in the heart of the Pugliese wine region and Ostuni, once a Greco-Roman city. The World Heritage-listed archaeological sites of Alberobello and Matera are on our journey, and our culinary adventures brings us the distinctive flavors of southern Italian life, with olive-tasting in the Valle d’Istria, sipping deep red Primitivo vintages in the wine town of Manduria, visiting an artisan cheesemaker, and tasting the bounty of the sea.

JON ARNOLD

HIGHLIGHTS • Hike shepherds’ paths and spectacular coastal trails across the most 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 opulent Baroque palazzi and the striking “white city” of Ostuni • Savor the best regional delicacies in Puglia and Calabria DETAILS • 12-day trip begins in Bari and ends in Reggio Calabria • 11 nights hotels and inns • All meals included except 2 dinners

local cellar, then walk through the canyon of Matera, exploring its labyrinth of traditional dwellings. Matera dates to the early Middle Ages, when Benedictine monks carved churches and monasteries into the walls of the ravine. Days 9-12 Corigliano / Sila Massif / Reggio Calabria In 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 and views across to Sicily. Depart on Day 12.

Days 1-3 Bari / Alberobello / Cisternino / Ostuni / Lecce We head across the orchards and vineyards of the Valle d’Itria and visit Alberobello for a walk through its maze of trulli -lined lanes. After exploring the fairytale setting of Cisternino and the “white city” of Ostuni, with its tumble of alabaster buildings, we’ll taste olive oils at rural farmsteads and enjoy the opulent Baroque architecture of Lecce, which offers architectural surprises around every corner. Days 4-6 Otranto / Santa Maria di Leuca Like much of Puglia, Otranto has a layered past. First a Greek port, then a Roman one, it was later ruled by the Byzantines,

DATES May 7-18, 2019 Jun 4-15 Oct 1-12

TRIP COST $6295 (10-16 members) $6895 (5-9 members) Single supplement: $950

Normans, and Aragonese. We explore the town and hike a spectacular coastal trail past the Punta Palascia lighthouse to lovely Santa Maria di Leuca, where the Adriatic and Ionian seas meet. We’ll explore Santa Maria di Leuca’s charming seafront and back streets and take a cruise along the rocky coast to visit grottos and caves that were once ancient sanctuaries. Days 7-8 Manduria Wine Tasting / Matera We taste Puglia’s own Primitivo di Manduria wines at a

We’re never far from the sea on this beautiful exploration of the Italian south. PHOTO: RAINER JAHNS

TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Moderate hikes of 2-4 hours over rolling countryside, rocky coastal trails, and steep canyons, van support

GIOVANNI SIMEONE

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