Day 1 Sat: The guests will be met at Brindisi airport and brought by private
transport to their accommodation in the small town of Specchia where the
group will be based for the duration of their stay. Specchia is a charming little known town where the life style of the local people has not changed much over the years. Old and young alike socialise in the piazzas, chatting in the relative cool of the nocturnal air, dogs swagger from pillar to post and men discuss politics or football with heated animation. Women talk in quieter tones sharing secrets while the occasional irreverent remark evokes peels of raucous laughter. The tapestry of the social infrastructure remains very much intact. This lovely baroque town is situated just a short distance from both the
Adriatic and the Ionian sea. Guests will have a choice of whether they
want to stay in newly restored self catering apartments or in rooms of the
Palace of Count Risolo, both located in the old centre of the town. After guests have settled into their accommodation we will take you on a

short tour to get to know the town. Supper in a local restaurant will follow.
Day 2 Sun: In the morning we will visit neighbouring Tricase which boasts
amongst its numerous treasures one of the most beautiful baroque piazzas
in Italy. Its churches house the works of many famous artists (Veronese,
Palma il giovane, Fumo). Later, as we meander our way across the Salentine countryside, we will stop to admire the so-called oak tree of a hundred knights, famed for being the oldest and largest Vallonea oak tree in Europe. We will continue along the dramatic Adriatic coast to Italy's Land's End, Santa Maria di Leuca, where we will have lunch. Leuca (which comes from the Greek word leukos meaning white) is so called because of its spectacular luminosity. It was the landing place for all sailors coming from Greece and the Orient. We will visit the cave dedicated to Zeus, where the God was worshipped by the sailors after crossing the stretch of sea between Greece and Leuca. After admiring the opulent villas that exhibitan

astonishing array of architectural styles, we will then visit the archaeological complex of Cento Pietre located next to the ruins of the ancient city of Vereto. We will have supper at on of the many excellent local restaurants of Specchia which will be followed by an evening of pizzica, the local dance.
Day 3: We will set off in the morning and follow the rocky Adriatic coast, stopping for swims in little inlets. We will also visit the magical marine cave of Zinzulusa amongst other gorgeous coastal villages on the way up to Otranto. We will lunch at Otranto and visit this city that is known as the door to the Orient, and take time to appreciate its exceptional Norman, Byzantine and Aragonese monuments, its cathedral housing a magnificent floor mosaic dating back to 1163 and finally the ruins of Casole, the oldest University to be fund in Europe. We will return to Specchia for supper.

Day 4: We will visit the archaeological museum of Vaste, after which we will ambre through the Greek-speaking region known as "Grecìa" to see the many magical dolmens and menhirs. We will lunch at a local trattoria. In the afternoon we will explore the land of tarantismo and its splendid capital Galatina, taking in the Romanesque Basilica of St Caterina of Alexandria and places noted for the tarantula. We will return to Specchia to sample another of the excellent local restaurants located there.
Day 5: We will visit the Ionian coast (the baroque centre of Presicce, the centre of Ugento and its museum which houses the splendid statue of the Messapian Zeus. Afterwards we will relax in the maritime named Porto Selvaggio and will proceed to the exquisite island town of Gallipoli for lunch. Whilst here we will see its cathedral and other treasures that still resonate with life from ancient times. We will spend time strolling along its animated lanes. We will return to Specchia to sample the fare of yet another restaurant.

Day 6: We will immerse ourselves in the art and history of Lecce also known as the Pearl of the Spanish Crown - famous for its baroque architecture. We will wonder around the city stopping at the Castromediano Museum, monuments, artists workshops and for a bit of shopping. We will dine at one of the numerous restaurants here in order to see the city after dark. We will return to Specchia that night.

Day 7: A day in the countryside to see paiare (crofts), lamie (cottages) and masserie (fortress-farms) and to browse around local artists workshops producing metal work, pottery , papier-mache , straw baskets etc. We will visit the interiors of a peasant's house and one of the private palaces of the aristocracy where we will be greeted by the owners. We will have an old style picnic in the country with peasant food and wine. The afternoon will be dedicated to the mystical side of Salento, we will see places that are connected to ancient legends about fairies and devils. We will join a pizzica event as it was conducted in the past (in fields with small local communities instead of the current day slightly urban setting), taste the wine of ancient vineyards and visit an olive oil mill. Finally eat our supper in a local trattoria where some elderly people will be invited to sing traditional songs for us. Our guests will leave Salento after having spent an unforgettable day.

Day 8: We will accompany you back to Brindisi airport and say a tearful farewell!!!!

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