Book Early and Save $200 Per Person ![](/sites/default/files/2025-12/1%20Meals%20%28red%29.png) 30 Meals ![](/sites/default/files/2025-12/2%20Small%20Group%20%28red%29.png) Small Group ![](/sites/default/files/2025-12/3%20CT%20Ratings%20%28red%29.png) CT Rating 3/5 - Moderately Challenging ![](/sites/default/files/2025-12/4%20Leader%20%28red%29.png) Led by Marc Cianfrini **From Mountain Villages to the Adriatic Coast** Discover the timeless charm of Southern Italy, where medieval hilltop villages, dramatic mountain landscapes and sun-drenched Adriatic coastlines reveal a rich tapestry of history and tradition. Explore UNESCO treasures including Castel del Monte, Alberobello’s distinctive trulli and Matera’s ancient cave dwellings. Savour regional wines, fresh burrata and handmade orecchiette, meet local artisans and experience the warmth, flavours and authentic traditions of Abruzzo and Puglia. .button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 20px; margin: 5px; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 6px; background-color: gray; /* default color */ color: white; } .button:hover { opacity: 0.9; } [Book Now](https://enrollment.craigtravel.com/booking?departurecode=TEU100927:20270910) [Download Brochure](https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/gcIMmmm/AbruzzoPugliaSep2027) [![Italy map - Abruzzo and Puglia](/sites/default/files/2026-11/Abruzzo%20%26%20Puglia%20-%20Map.jpg)](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2026-11/Abruzzo%20%26%20Puglia%20-%20Map.jpg) ### Tour Highlights - UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES: Discover Frederick II’s octagonal Castel del Monte, the dry-stone trulli of Alberobello and the Sassi of Matera, with their homes and churches carved into rock. - FOOD & WINE: Savour a wine tasting near L’Aquila, lunch on a trabocco above the Adriatic, enjoy burrata straight from the producer, shape orecchiette at a cooking class in Bari and learn about grape harvesting at a winery in Monopoli. - ARTISANS & TRADITIONS: Hear stories of transhumance in Santo Stefano di Sessanio, watch local women shape pasta on Bari’s “Strada delle Orecchiette,” try a ceramics workshop and explore Gallipoli’s underground olive oil mills. - STORIES OF THE SOUTH: Learn how Campo Imperatore earned the name “Little Tibet,” step into the old towns of Trani, Polignano a Mare, Ostuni, Otranto and Galatina, and honour Canada’s fallen at the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery. ### Inclusive Features - International flights, domestic Canadian flights, and airport transfers with air-inclusive packages - Domestic flights within the destination - Carefully selected accommodation as listed, or similar - All sightseeing and entrance fees as described - Meals as indicated in the itinerary: B: BREAKFAST (12) L: LUNCH (9) D: DINNER (9) - Dedicated journey leader, national guides, and local specialists where applicable - All gratuities, surcharges, fees, and taxes - International eSIM to keep you connected - Visa support for Canadian citizens as required - Free insurance quote (contact us for details) ### Itinerary Overview Full View DEPART CANADA September 10, 2027 We gather for our overnight flight to Rome. ARRIVE ROME / L’AQUILA September 11, 2027 Arriving at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, we head east towards L’Aquila. Along the way, a wine tasting with local charcuterie, cheeses and regional specialties gives us our first taste of Abruzzo. This evening we gather for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant near our hotel. ***Hotel Castello L’Aquila - 3 nights*** Lunch, Dinner L’AQUILA September 12, 2027 A morning guided tour introduces us to L’Aquila, a city that, according to legend, was founded by communities from 99 castles joining together. The Fontana delle 99 Cannelle commemorates this story, with 99 spouts, one for each castle. Among our stops is the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio, known for its Romanesque façade and Holy Door. After a free afternoon, we dine at a local restaurant. Breakfast, Dinner SANTO STEFANO / CAMPO IMPERATORE September 13, 2027 Today, we head into Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park. Our first stop is Santo Stefano di Sessanio, once a prosperous village that built its wealth by supplying wool to Florence. Here, we enjoy a traditional snack featuring coffee, local bread, eggs, and tomatoes. Then, we learn about the important role of women in the region’s pastoral traditions, listening to stories of transhumance before taking part in a hands-on introduction to local crafts. Afterwards, a shuttle bus carries us up to Rocca Calascio, at about 1,460 metres. Beyond lies Campo Imperatore, a vast, high-altitude plateau in the Apennines. Its expansive landscape has earned it the nickname “Little Tibet.” Breakfast, Dinner L’AQUILA / COSTA DEI TRABOCCHI / VASTO September 14, 2027 Descending towards the Adriatic, we stop in Ortona, where Canadian soldiers fought street by street in December 1943 in a battle known as “Little Stalingrad.” At the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery, we pay our respects to those who rest here. Along the coast, we explore the Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere, one of the region’s most powerful monasteries in the Middle Ages, overlooking the sea. Lunch is served on a trabocco, one of the wooden fishing platforms that give this stretch of the coastline its name. We end the day in Vasto. ***Hotel Excelsior - 1 night*** Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner VASTO / TRANI / BARI September 15, 2027 Continuing our journey into Puglia, we tour the 13th-century Castel del Monte, built for Emperor Frederick II. Standing on a hill in the Murgia region, its distinctive octagonal design and remarkable features helped earn it UNESCO World Heritage status in 1996. Next, a local producer welcomes us for a tasting lunch featuring fresh burrata before we head to Trani to admire the cathedral’s pink stone rising at the edge of the sea. Our day ends in Bari, our home for the next four nights. ***Hotel Boston - 4 nights*** Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner BARI September 16, 2027 As the dynamic capital of Puglia, Bari perfectly balances a bustling modern waterfront with a labyrinthine historic centre that preserves centuries of authentic Southern Italian culture. A guided tour leads us through Bari Vecchia, the historic old town, to the lane known as the “Strada delle Orecchiette,” where local women sit at tables outside their doorways shaping pasta by hand. At a cooking class, we try the technique ourselves before sitting down to lunch. The afternoon is ours to explore, and this evening, we dine at a local restaurant. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner BARI / POLIGNANO A MARE September 17, 2027 In the countryside near Monopoli, we savour a curated wine tasting alongside lunch at a local winery. Following our meal, we head to the coast to Polignano a Mare, a picturesque whitewashed town set high on cliffs above the Adriatic. Below the town, the cove of Lama Monachile cuts into the rocky coastline. Back in Bari, the evening is ours to enjoy at leisure. Breakfast, Lunch ALBEROBELLO / OSTUNI September 18, 2027 In Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a local guide introduces us to the trulli, limestone houses built without mortar using a traditional dry-stone technique that is still practised in the region. Lunch follows at a local masseria, one of Puglia’s historic manor farms. In the afternoon we tour Ostuni, the “White City,” rising above the surrounding olive groves. On our walk, we explore its whitewashed lanes, which climb towards the old town. Breakfast, Lunch BARI / MATERA / LECCE September 19, 2027 We travel inland to Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. We explore the Sassi, the old districts of homes and churches carved into rock. At Casa Grotta, a cave house partly carved into the rock and furnished as it was in the 1950s, we learn what daily life was like for families living in Matera’s caves. After lunch, we continue south to Lecce for dinner. ***Mercure Hotel President Lecce - 4 nights*** Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner GALLIPOLI September 20, 2027 Gallipoli’s old town is set on a limestone island linked to the mainland by a bridge. Beneath the old town’s streets are historic olive oil mills carved into the rock. On our visit to an underground mill, we see where olives from the surrounding countryside were once pressed. Afterwards, we take part in a hands-on ceramics workshop. We gather for dinner at a local restaurant in the evening. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner LECCE September 21, 2027 A guided tour introduces us to Lecce, known as the city of the Baroque, where churches and palaces are carved from pale local stone. We then travel to Otranto, whose cathedral is home to a remarkable 12th-century floor mosaic created under the direction of the priest Pantaleone between 1163 and 1165. Continuing to Galatina, we step inside the Basilica of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria, where the walls are covered in 15th-century frescoes. Enjoy lunch along our route, and the evening is ours to explore. Breakfast, Lunch LECCE September 22, 2027 A day at leisure lets us enjoy Lecce at our own pace before we gather for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Breakfast, Dinner LECCE / ROME / CANADA September 23, 2027 As our memorable journey through Abruzzo and Puglia comes to an end, we transfer to Brindisi Airport for our flights home to Canada via Rome. Breakfast [Download Brochure](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2026-11/Abruzzo%20and%20Pulia%20TEU100927%20%284NOV2026%29.pdf) [![Polignano a Mare](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2026-11/Italy%20Polignano%20a%20Mare.jpg.webp?h=c3635fa2&itok=vDxA1xNY "Polignano a Mare")](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2026-11/Italy%20Polignano%20a%20Mare.jpg) [![Trani, Italy](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2026-11/iStock-2280902284%20Trani%20Italy%20-%20adj.jpg.webp?h=92229be0&itok=-B6VkUmp "Trani, Italy")](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2026-11/iStock-2280902284%20Trani%20Italy%20-%20adj.jpg) [![Venere, Italy](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2026-11/Venere%20italy_0.jpg.webp?h=df42386d&itok=w4Rrr4rw "Venere, Italy")](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2026-11/Venere%20italy_0.jpg) [![Traditional trulli houses in Alberobello](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2026-11/Traditional%20trulli%20houses%20Italy%20Alberobello.jpg.webp?h=e5aec6c8&itok=_zBRIZNf "Traditional trulli houses in Alberobello")](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2026-11/Traditional%20trulli%20houses%20Italy%20Alberobello.jpg) [![Lecce, known as the city of the Baroque, where churches and palaces are carved from pale local stone](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2026-11/Lecce%20Italy.jpg.webp?h=c3635fa2&itok=gSRugrF0 "Lecce, known as the city of the Baroque, where churches and palaces are carved from pale local stone")](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2026-11/Lecce%20Italy.jpg) [![Ostuni, Puglia](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2026-11/Ostuni%20Puglia%20Italy.jpg.webp?h=d8102449&itok=BxgAM4Uz "Ostuni, Puglia")](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2026-11/Ostuni%20Puglia%20Italy.jpg) [![Archway in Santo Stefano di Sessanio](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2026-11/Archway%20in%20Santo%20Stafano%20di%20Sessanio%20Italy.jpg.webp?h=d8102449&itok=GbBSCVC_ "Archway in Santo Stefano di Sessanio")](https://www.craigtravel.com/sites/default/files/2026-11/Archway%20in%20Santo%20Stafano%20di%20Sessanio%20Italy.jpg) ### Have any questions? Contact Sheena Raspe at SRaspe \[at\] craigtravel.com or call [1-800-387-8890](tel:1-800-387-8890) ### Tour Cost in Canadian Dollars Per Person Land Only $9,375 Toronto $10,725 Ottawa / Montreal $10,915 Winnipeg / Halifax $10,995 Calgary / Edmonton / Vancouver $11,045 St. John's $11,115 Saskatoon / Regina $11,115 Victoria $11,115 Single Supplement $1,595 [Book Now](https://enrollment.craigtravel.com/booking?departurecode=TEU100927:20270910) #### [Join our CT Match Program](https://www.craigtravel.com/craig-travel-match) [Find a like-minded traveller](https://www.craigtravel.com/craig-travel-match) to share your cabin and enhance your journey with shared experiences, fostering the potential for future travel companionship. ### **Payment and Booking Terms** Deposit is **$900 per person** Final payment is due **June 3, 2027** Prices are in Canadian dollars per person. Land-only price includes one domestic flight within the destination. Land-only members join the group at the hotel in L’Aquila and leave the group at Rome airport. Airfares from other gateways are available on request. Tour price is based on sharing a twin-bedded room. Prices are based on a minimum of 20 members and on rates, taxes and fees effective November 2026 and are subject to change due to factors beyond our control. Group to be escorted with a minimum of 20 members. Canadian passport holders may require an ETIAS travel authorisation prior to departure. **SMALL GROUP EXPERIENCE** **Limited to 25 members** Insurance is NOT INCLUDED but is highly recommended. Premiums are calculated based on the individual’s age, destination (country), trip length, and trip booking window – please contact our staff to receive a quote. Please discuss your insurance coverage prior to booking. Refer to [terms and conditions](https://www.craigtravel.com/terms-conditions) for full details. #### CT Rating **3/5 - MODERATELY CHALLENGING** We designed this journey as an in-depth exploration of two contrasting regions, from the mountain villages of Abruzzo to the coast and countryside of Puglia. Guided tours lasting a few hours take travellers along cobblestones streets, slopes and steps through historic centres and hilltop villages. Some travel days include cumulative coach time of up to four hours, with scenic or cultural stops along the way to ensure a comfortable pace. Hotels are European in style, often with rooms, bathrooms and elevators smaller than in North America. Dinners in Italy are served later, and some shops close in the early afternoon. Travellers should be comfortable walking for a few hours at a time and managing steps unassisted. Do you have any questions about this journey? [Email Us](mailto:sraspe@craigtravel.com?cc=sales@craigtravel.com&subject=Abruzzo%20and%20Puglia%202027) #### Journey Leader ![Profile picture for user Marc Cianfrini](/sites/default/files/styles/user/public/pictures/2026-11/Marc%20Cianfrini.jpg.webp?h=dd7f0db2&itok=xsCnhc8p) Marc Cianfrini - is a retired teacher who devoted over 40 years inspiring Secondary and Post Secondary students to achieve their academic and career goals. He was a leader in many innovative experiential educational initiatives. Marc also has been actively involved in his local community as a volunteer and coach. He has travelled extensively and has led numerous group tours. ![](/sites/default/files/2025-12/1%20CT%20Loyalty%20Points.png) [Craig Travel Loyalty Points ](/loyalty-club) ![](/sites/default/files/2025-12/2%20Pay%20By%20Cheque.png) [Pay by Cheque Discount](/pay-cheque-discount) ![](/sites/default/files/2025-12/3%20Refer%20a%20Friend.png) [Refer a Friend ](/refer-friend) ![](/sites/default/files/2025-12/4%20About%20CT%20Ratings.png) [About CT Ratings](/craig-travel-ratings) ![](/sites/default/files/2025-12/5%20Travel%20Insurance.png) [Travel Insurance](/travel-insurance)