Castel del Monte is an ancient manor built by Frederic of Swabia on the highest hill of Alta Murga which dominates the splendid landscape like an emperor's crown, a symbol of the power and genius of the great man who was Federico II. Today it is a Unesco World Heritage Site, a castle full of mystery and many questions that seek an answer among the stones, the only witnesses of the past. Your personal guide will await you at the bus and car parking and together we take the shuttle that bring us to the Castle where we walk around the area and admire the monument from outside and all the splendid area of Alta Murgia, then you entry inside of the Castle and explore the different spaces: cort, rooms and towers. Using the story learned from the guide and your own imagination immerse yourself in the midlevel atmosphere and try to understand the mystery of this unique manor so narrow related to its builder.

Go on a journey through the history of Puglia on a 1.5-hour guided tour of Castel del Monte in the hills of Andria and discover a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meet your guide at the castle entrance, 36 miles (60 kilometers) from Bari. Explore the castle grounds and walk around the outside of the mountain fortress while your guide describes its history. It was first recorded as the Castellum Del Monte in 1223, and built by the humanist Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen. A unique piece of medieval military architecture, Frederick imbued the castle with symbolic significance, defined by the laws of math and astronomy. Soaring 1,770 feet (540 meters) above sea level, in the heart of the Alta Murgia National Park, you will get panoramic views of the surrounding area, from the Gargano promontory up to the ancient province of Lucania. Discover impressive structural elements that follow the repetition of the number 8, from the castle’s basic octagonal shape, to the 8 trapezoid rooms, 8 towers, and 44 steps of the spiral stairs. Admire the harmonious blend of Romanesque and Gothic influences, together with important contributions from Islamic art.

Discover the most significant medieval monument in southern Italy on a 1-hour guided tour of Castel del Monte. Situated in Andria in the Puglia region, the citadel and castle is a national treasure and beauty to behold. Built on top of a hill with commanding views of the Puglia region, Castel del Monte is the most important building built by the Emperor Frederick II Hohenstaufen of Swabia. Explore the monument’s myths and legends, including the meaning of the number 8. After years of neglect, when the castle was stripped of its furniture and marble decorations to become a refuge for shepherds, brigands and political refugees, Castel del Monte was bought and restored by the Italian state in 1876. Almost a century later, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the perfection of its shape and harmonious union of cultural elements from northern Europe, the Islamic world, and classical antiquity. Explore the castle’s façades and interior, and learn the historical context in which it was built.

On board a splendid Fiat 500L, at the slow pace of the roads of the South, we will travel to get to know places otherwise difficult to reach independently. You will get to know ancient towns, seaside resorts and historical sites of Puglia and Basilicata. Our trips will turn into an opportunity to learn the local culture in a friendly and informal environment. We will travel backroads to destinations that will enlight the day with the beauty that nature and human work will offer along the way. You will have a friend at your side who will immediately immerse you in the customs and traditions of the territories you are going to visit. You can select amongst various itineraries: Alberobello: we will stop in Polignano, famous for its cliffs home of the Diving World Championship on the Adriatic coast, and explore the Itria Valley in depth driving across the backroads filled with ancient monumental olive trees. Matera: on the way to this amazing town we will stop in Gravina in Puglia and Altamura, homelands of some of the most delicious food in the region. Castel del Monte: stops in Ruvo di Puglia and Trani, with their wonderful cathedrals, through suggestive rocky and coastal scenery. Itineraries and distances in kms: 1) Bari - Alberobello - Matera - Bari (190 km) 2) Bari – Alberobello – Locorotondo – Cisternino – Ostuni – Bari (190 km) 3) Bari - Polignano - Alberobello - Locorotondo - Cisternino - Monopoli - Bari (170 km) 4) Bari - Altamura - Gravina - Matera - Bari (150 km) 5) Bari - Castel del Monte - Trani - Bari (150 km)

The guided tour will start from the Archaeological Park where you can visit the thermal baths, the domus, S.S. Trinity and the amphitheater. Inside the baths you can visit the changing room, the mosaic paved frigidarium, tepidarium and calidarium heated by the ovens. Not far away there are two domes from the second century BC which are composed of five rooms with a central basin useful for collecting rainwater. Later you will visit the amphitheater and the S.S. Trinity, the fifth-century church and the Abbatial Palace with its monastery. Then visit the unfinished church which was designed to contain a larger number of faithful and was started in the mid-1100s but never finished. Visit the 16th-century Aragonese castle Pirro del Balzo, a majestic, square-plan building with four cylindrical towers surrounded by a deep moat. Inside there is the national archaeological museum that contains Roman antiquities. The guided tour ends with the external visit of the so-called house of Horace, dating back to the second century BC.

- Immerse yourself with a walk among the Barletta’s country side olive trees, located in the heart of the Apulia region. - First the host will talk and explain the amazing nature of those ancient olive trees, and how they proceed to the harvest time. - Then you will take a guided tour in the innovative Vallarella Oil Mill built in 2020, with its unique Industry 4.0, discover all the different stages from the production, through extraction and bottling. - Discover the meaning of real cold extraction oil and become an oil miller/master maker for a day, give voice to your senses (sight, smell and taste) by following directions that the host will advise you to proceed to tasting. - Taste 2 types of award-winning extra virgin olive oils and a balsamic vinegar accompanied by bruschettas, taralli, local olives and 1 glass of wine of our production in our special tasting room.

Discover Barletta, famous for the Challenge that occurred between 13 Italian knights and 13 French knights in 1503. Begin with a visit to the medieval castle of the eleventh century, founded by the Normans and expanded by the Spanish in the sixteenth century. Among the sculptures preserved in the castle, you can visit the bust of Emperor Frederick II Hohenstaufen of Swabia limestone, dating from the thirteenth century. Go on to visit the historic "Winery of the Challenge", historically known as the "House of Poison" for the challenge famous challenge that was launched there. After the winery, discover the Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore of the twelfth century, the most important church in Barletta. The cathedral is divided into two parts, the front being a typically Romanesque architectural style of the twelfth century, while the back part is of Gothic architectural style of the fourteenth century. The tour will end outside the baroque palace "Della Marra", with paintings by Giuseppe De Nittis and the visit of the bronze giant named Heraclius next to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre.

After pick-up from the Trani Central Station, head to Castel del Monte, the most visited monument in Puglia on a private tour. The castle was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The Castel del Monte was built in 1240 by Federico II and sits atop a prominent hill in Alta Murgia National Park. The castle has a wonderful view of the surrounding landscape stretching all the way to the sea. Marvel at the castle's unique octagonal shape with eight towers and eight sides. A licensed tour guide will show you the castle and tell you about its incredible history. Learn about Federico II's fascinating life and his extravagant personality. Discover hidden aspects of life in the Italian Middle Ages and the many mysteries that remain about the Castel del Monte.

Canusium has been an important Roman town and still today, you can admire the wonderful testimonies along the tour. The tour will begin by visiting the Cathedral of San Sabino from the 6th century. A.D., where you will be able to visit interesting buildings from the Roman imperial age with monolithic columns in ancient green marble, Corinthian capitals. Certainly, the three most interesting elements will be the Acceptus pulpit, the episcopal chair of the 11th century by Romualdo and the bronze door. Following will be the Mausoleum of Boemondo d'Altavilla, the marble tomb of the knight of the first Crusade Your walk will then continue until you arrive at the archaeological museum of Palazzo Sinesi, inside of which you will find hundreds of a precious funeral kit of IV-III sec. B.C. consisting of red figures, golden ceramics, listed ceramics, alabaster objects, an exceptional bronze anatomical armor, as well as the original and extraordinary Canosa plastic and polychromatic vessels. After your museum tour, continue to the Archaeological Park of San Leucio along with the Antiquarium Museum, where you will have the opportunity to visit the ruins of the Italic temple dedicated to Minerva - Atena Ilias and then the early Christian basilica dedicated to San Cosma, Damiano and then S.Leucio.

What can be said to describe the flavor, the color and the taste of these sweet jewels? Just try them. In Puglia, "confetti" is usually eaten during the Carnival period when you can find them in every bar along with its special irresistible smell. Visit the museum, see the tools for its fabrication and a DVD presentation in English. The museum will relate a fascinating story of a confectionary product that also reflects the story of modern Italy. It will be well worth a visit in order to mix a slice of Italian cultural history with a bit of shopping and buying of presents. Purchase various flavors of a favorite treat and have a final tasting of candy dragée confetti. Afterwards, have a guided tour in the town center of Andria.