Secrets of Southern Italy and Sicily

Day 1 - Alberobello
Join your tour group at the hotel.
Grand Hotel la Chiusa di Chietri, Alberobello (4-star)

Day 2 - Alberobello - Martina Franca - Ostuni
Today’s full-day trip starts with a tour of the remarkable zona dei trulli in the old town of Alberobello. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is made up of 1,500 ‘trulli’ - white painted houses with dry-stone conical roofs that date back to the 14th century, only found in southern Puglia. The sea of kiln shaped rooftops appears straight out of a fairy tale. Next, we visit the historic town of Martina Franca in the Apulian hills. With Italian cinematic good looks, we wander through the sun-dappled piazzas, baroque churches and palazzos of the old town. Rising above a patchwork of olive groves, cypress trees and the glittering waters of the Adriatic, we continue up to the whitewashed town of Ostuni - an image synonymous with Puglia and stereotypical Italy at its finest. Topped with a sand-coloured 15th-century Gothic cathedral, the ‘Citta Bianca’ (White City) sweeps down the hillside in a labyrinth of narrow alleyways and staircases, with pretty gardens, painted doorways and tiny Fiats and scooters parked on the cobbles. Our exploration will involve some uphill walking.
Alberobello - Martina Franca - Ostuni

Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Excursion to Alberobello, Martina Franca and Ostuni (all day)

Day 3 - Lecce
Today we continue exploring this beautiful corner of southern Italy with a trip to Lecce. The old town is a masterpiece of creamy-coloured stone and intricate baroque façades. Dating back to the Trojan Wars, it was given a facelift in the 17th century and is adorned with crouching gargoyles, ornate stained glass and carved balustrades - the elaborate decorative style of which birthed its own architectural name, ‘barocco leccese’. We'll visit the cathedral and then an aristocratic mansion - where we'll enjoy aperitivo.
Lecce

Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Excursion to Lecce with local guide, including entrance to cathedral and afternoon aperitivo at an aristocratic mansion (all day)

Day 4 - Matera - Altomonte
Our journey south to the Calabria region will be lengthy yet fascinating, stopping in the ancient troglodyte city of Matera. Thought to be the oldest city in the world after Aleppo and Jericho, the cave houses or ‘Sassi’ were inhabited for close to 10,000 years. Once described as the ‘the shame of Italy’ for the poor living standards, the residents were relocated in the 1950s. Finally recognising the historical significance of these dwellings, Matera was given UNESCO status in 1993 and was awarded the European Capital of Culture in 2018. Today, the caves are museums, boutique hotels and filming locations for Hollywood blockbusters. Arriving in Altomonte, we’ll stay for three nights. Our hotel is popular for local weddings and on these occasions we’ll have the use of a private restaurant and terrace.
Matera - Altomonte

Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Guided visit to the caves at Matera (morning)

Day 5 - Altomonte
This morning we take an orientation walk around Altomonte, a town known for its gorgeous churches, romantic stone squares and fabulous views over Pollino National Park and the Pellegrino mountains. The perfect wedding picture backdrop, Altomonte is known as the ‘Wedding City’ for the sheer number of couples that choose to marry here. The afternoon is free to explore.
Altomonte

Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Orientation walk in Altomonte (morning)

Day 6 - Altomonte
The whole day is free to spend as you please.
Altomonte

Day 7 - Giardini Naxos
Today we drive south to the coastal city of Reggio Calabria or the ‘toe’ of Italy, separated from Sicily by the narrow Strait of Messina. Before we board the ferry for the short crossing, we visit the National Archaeological Museum - home to two full-size Greek bronzes of bearded warriors from around 450 BC. Known as the Riace Warriors, they were found at sea off Calabria in 1972. Our first taste of Sicily is the scenic drive to the town of Giardini Naxos.
Giardini Naxos

Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Visit to the Archaeology Museum in Reggio Calabria (morning)

Day 8 - Giardini Naxos
Spend the day at leisure.
Giardini Naxos

Day 9 - Savoca - Taormina
Even if you’re not a film fan, you can’t fail to be wowed by today’s visit to Savoca. This small medieval village shot to big screen fame when it featured in the 1972 film, ‘The Godfather’. There’ll be free time to explore and soak up the rustic charms and cinematic scenery. Afterwards we visit the town of Taormina, the timeless jewel in Sicily's crown. Perched on a rocky hilltop with endless blue views across the ocean, the crumbling Corinthian columns, arches, and amphitheatre of the ancient Greek theatre are staggering. The one-time home of DH Lawrence and a stop on Europe’s famed Grand Tour during the 17th-19th centuries, the old town is a treasure trove of painted villas and tiled squares lined with chic pavement cafés.
Savoca - Taormina

Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Visits to Savoca and Taormina, including entrance to the Greek theatre (all day)

Day 10 - Mount Etna's Slopes
We head about halfway up the largest active volcano in Europe to the Rifugio Sapienza, where it’s an easy walk across the dried lava to the smaller Silvestri Crateri. After a short stop we head to a Sicilian winery for a tour and tasting. Accompanied by local appetisers of salami, olives and bread, we'll taste four local wines made using grapes from vines grown in the volcanic soil.
Mount Etna's Slopes

Today includes…
Excursions & visits: Guided excursion to the slopes of Mount Etna, including wine tasting (morning)

Day 11 - Giardini Naxos
Say goodbye to your tour group for your onward travel.
Giardini Naxos

Planning your next adventure is thrilling! While we hope for smooth travels, preparing for the unexpected is always smart. We highly recommend getting travel insurance when you book. Whether it's a medical emergency, a flight cancellation, a delayed suitcase, or an unforeseen event, ensure you're covered. For more info and advice, please visit: www.twac.com.au/travel-insurance or talk to your TWAC travel consultant.

Voluntary Changes

Includes booking changes requested by you, including but not limited to those changes requiring an airline ticket or a Purchase Confirmation reissue.

 • Changes - $100.00 per booking + additional charges from the airline/cruise company/accommodation/other travel providers.

Name Changes Due To Passenger Error

• If the incorrect name has been advised to TWAC, charges of $100.00 per booking + any additional charges applied by the airline/cruise company/accommodation/other travel providers.

Supplier Fees

In the event the Travel Offer you have purchased is unable to proceed, and/or a travel Supplier is unable to fulfil the Travel Offer due to external circumstances (Limitation of Liability e.g. a Force Majeure event), there may be a fee or amount of money that is withheld by our Suppliers and is unrecoverable. This may be due to non-refundable airline tickets, cancellation penalties with cruise cabins or unrecoverable payments with our land/accommodation partners. TWAC has committed to these costs as your Agent and will endeavour to recover all funds committed and/or paid for your Travel Offer, but this may not be possible in all circumstances. If refunds are unavailable from Suppliers, we will endeavour to obtain a travel credit on the best terms available and communicate these outcomes to you. If TWAC cannot obtain a refund or travel service credit, or part thereof, this cost is passed on to the customer as a Supplier Fee. This fee is not revenue-raising and is paid to or withheld by our suppliers when recovering payments.

Although you should read all of the terms and conditions, the following is a summary of the most important:

• Our travel package is non-refundable, however you will receive a travel credit to be applied to our travel services.
• You, as our client, agree to check all documentation immediately for errors. Travel With A Cause (TWAC) does not take responsibility for incorrect dates or names supplied.
• Prices, including, in some cases, of confirmed bookings, may be subject to change. ​
• Some confirmed bookings are non-refundable if cancelled by you and it is your responsibility to check if this applies.
• We will be entitled to retain our service fees even if a booking is cancelled or does not proceed for any reason which is not our fault.
• It is your responsibility to make yourself aware of all information relevant to your travel plans, including but not limited to visa requirements and health precautions.
• There may be some additional fees or other incentives from Suppliers.
• We are not liable for the recent updates of any published Supplier content including websites and brochures

CANCELLATION POLICY
Tour packages are non-refundable. If your tour package is affected by Covid-19 related travel restrictions and you are unable to travel, you will receive either a free date change (credit that is specific to your original package and purchase value) or an open credit less any non-recoverable supplier fees to the value of your original purchase for use on any other tour or package available via the TWAC website.
 
Please note: Date change credits are subject to availability and not guaranteed until confirmed by TWAC, not the tour operator you are due to stay with.
 
We recommend you consider purchasing travel insurance with Covid-19 protection. The standard cancellation policy will apply if you cannot travel because you have tested positive for Covid-19.
 
Please note: All additional charges are payable in AUD (unless otherwise stated).