Apulia Orthodox - Rimini

Arrival at Rimini Federico Fellini airport. Transfer along the Adriatic coast and check into a 4-star hotel in Giovinazzo, a charming village on the outskirts of Bari. An exquisite dinner will await us. The hotel is located directly on the sea and is the ideal setting for leisure trips full of culture, relaxation, good food and fun. The well-kept style of the furnishings ensures the best comfort and relaxation. The cozy surroundings and numerous amenities make for a pleasant and satisfying stay.

Breakfast at the hotel and depart for a day of religious and naturalistic discovery. We will begin with liturgy at the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas in Bari. The church is a pilgrimage destination and a bridge to the civilizations of Eastern Europe and the eastern basin of the Mediterranean Sea. We will have lunch at the Russian church and then move inland through the beautiful Apulian countryside. We will visit the Castellana Caves, Italy's largest speleological complex in terms of the extent and beauty of the concretions. The Grotta Bianca, is for richness and whiteness of alabaster, the most splendid in the world. At sunset we will return to the hotel for dinner. Free evening.

Breakfast at the hotel and depart for a beautiful day in the northern part of Puglia, the Gargano. We will visit the town of Monte Sant'Angelo, the very place where Archangel Michael appeared on Mount Gargano in the 5th century. The Sanctuary of St. Michael the Archangel is a crossroads for pilgrimages from all over the world. The site is a trace of the Lombard presence in southern Italy and is a UNESCO site. In the afternoon we will visit increasingly picturesque and fascinating places. Castel del Monte is the most famous castle in Puglia and a UNESCO site. The castle was built by Frederick II and is shrouded in legends and mysteries: its octagonal shape, esoteric references, plays of light and inclinations of shadow, numerical combinations, and its distance from celestial bodies. Trani is an elegant city on the Adriatic Sea with its characteristic harbor. Visit the historic center and the superb cathedral, called the "Queen of the Cathedrals of Apulia," and the oldest synagogue in Europe, due to the strong historical Jewish presence in Trani. We will return to the hotel for dinner and evening at your leisure.

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for the fairy-tale area of Valle d'Itria with its enchanting landscape of white trulli, dry stone walls, ancient farms and large olive groves. Alberobello is the world capital of trulli and a UNESCO site. A trullo is a dry-stone cottage with a traditional Apulian conical dome and they dot the entire Murgia, the heart of the region. Followed by a visit to the Albea Wine Museum & Winery, with local wine tasting and typical Apulian light lunch. The Wine Museum of the Albea Winery is the symbol of the Apulian wine renaissance, taking the excellent wines of this peculiar territory to the highest levels. We will then visit some of Puglia's most beautiful villages. Ostuni is an architectural gem, called "The White City" because of its white walls and the splendid white alleys of its historic center, typically painted white with lime. Polignano is the birthplace of singer-songwriter Domenico Modugno for his internationally famous song "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)." Its historic center is on sheer cliffs overlooking the sea, where balconies and flower-lined streets offer a truly poetic and exciting setting. In the evening, return and dinner at the hotel with a free evening.

Breakfast at the hotel and full day in Campania, traveling along the world-famous Amalfi Coast. The beautiful Amalfi Coast, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Amalfi 's most significant monument is the Duomo, dedicated to its patron Saint Andrew, whose precious relics are kept in the crypt. Naples is the most important city in southern Italy and its historic center, the largest in Europe, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Russian Orthodox church dedicated to St. Andrew, where the Orthodox liturgy will be celebrated. Return to Apulia, dinner at the hotel and free evening.

Breakfast at the hotel and depart for a lovely day in Bari with Orthodox liturgy in St. Nicholas Basilica followed by a guided city tour and free time. Beautifully situated on the Adriatic Sea, Bari is the second largest economic center in southern Italy, famous for its port and university, and for being the city of St. Nicholas with its famous Basilica. Bari has the longest waterfront in Italy. Its historic center, Bari Vecchia, is a combination of narrow streets, scents and colors. After the guided tour, traditional Bari lunch. In the afternoon we will have free time and go shopping in the center of Bari or at the Molfetta Outlet. The Molfetta Outlet, set in a Mediterranean environment, is a place where the pleasure of shopping is enhanced by generous hospitality and exclusive services. In the evening, return and dinner at the hotel with free evening.

Breakfast at the hotel and depart for the enthralling northern Adriatic coast, visiting two religious centers-Lanciano in Abruzzo and Loreto in Le Marche. An event that the Catholic Church considers the first Eucharistic Miracle took place in Lanciano in the 8th century. The relics of the Miracle are preserved in the Basilica of St. Francis in Lanciano. We will have lunch at an agritourism in Lanciano with traditional Abruzzo food and wine. Traveling along the Adriatic coast we arrive in Loreto to visit the famous Shrine of the House. The Sanctuary of Loreto preserves according to an ancient tradition, now proven by historical and archaeological research, the Nazarene home of Our Lady. Finally we will arrive in Rimini with hotel accommodation and dinner. Free evening.

Breakfast at hotel and departure for Rimini Federico Fellini airport. Return home.