Terre Federiciane e Sassi. It is a Basilicata 4 day tour package. Itinerary is: Melfi, Matera, Venosa, Acerenza, Ripacandida.
On the slopes of Mount Vulture is revealed a territory destined to remain in the memory for a long time. These are the places of the Swabian emperor Frederick II and his great castles, but also places of important and precious cathedrals to which the historic centers of the towns seem to huddle as if to guard the numerous works of art. Outside the walls a countryside full of vineyards for the production of the famous Aglianico DOC wine. And then Matera with its Sassi, a landscape revealed by numerous breathtaking views and dotted with caves and rock churches.
Day 1: Arrival of the participants in the early afternoon in Melfi (PZ), a town symbol of the domination of Frederick II, guided tour of the beautiful historic center, the cathedral of S. Maria Assunta, the famous castle which has seen a succession of Normans, Swabians, Angevins, Aragonese popes over the centuries; a real jewel set in the medieval old town. The visit, very interesting, allows you to admire in the Archaeological Museum housed in its rooms, finds found in the surroundings of considerable artistic value, continuation to the hotel, room accommodation, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Matera for a guided tour of the famous stone districts I sassi walk in the heart of the tufa districts to admire the landscape dotted with caves and rupestrian churches, with the suggestive views from Piazzetta Pascoli and Piazza Duomo, and then again visit a peasant house, and so on in a fascinating journey through the alleys and ancient houses carved into the stone, lunch in a restaurant in the stones. Free afternoon with time available in the center for personal visits and shopping, return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Breakfast at the hotel and morning dedicated to the discovery of Venosa guided tour of the city of with its Jewish catacombs, the abbey church of the SS. Trinità called the INCOMPIUTA with its precious polychrome mosaics and admirable Byzantine and sixteenth-century frescoes. The church site houses the Norman tombs of the Hautevilles, the magnificent Archaeological Park preserves the remains of a thermal plant. Lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon, transfer to Acerenza (PZ) among the "most beautiful villages in Italy". Its historic center has in fact maintained the characteristics of a medieval village with a radial layout around the Lombard Castle (current headquarters of the museum of sacred art). Visit of the imposing cathedral of 1100 and rare example of Romanesque-Swabian architecture dedicated to S. Canio, rich in frescoes, and decorations in stone and wood. Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Breakfast in the hotel and transfer to Ripacandida (PZ) for the visit of the stupendous church dedicated to San Donato completely frescoed; also called "little Assisi" of Basilicata for the valuable frescoes of the Giotto school that decorate the walls of the splendid Franciscan sanctuary dedicated to San Donato Vescovo, followed by a tasting in the cellar of the excellent Aglianico DOC wine from all over the territory, return to the hotel for lunch and departure for the return in the afternoon.
Included in the price:
Accommodation in hotel in double rooms
N. 2 FB + 1HB
1 lunch in a restaurant in Matera
Cumulative admission to the sites of Melfi - Venosa
Drinks included with meals
Tourist guide in the locations included in the program
Guided tasting in the cellar
Operational assistance
Not included in the price:
Travel advice, extras, entrance fees to monuments, possible tourist tax.
