Magna Graecia
Basilicata, Calabria & Apulia
September 30 – October 15, 2012
16 Days
Led by Dr. Robert S. Bianchi
Art Historian

This new tour visits the significant archaeological and art historical sites of Southern Italy from remote antiquity through the Middle Ages. We become acquainted with early Italic peoples in the form of prehistoric, troglodyte-like settlements and a Neolithic trench village near Matera. We tour the homeland of the Iapygian tribes with settlements at Egnazia, tombs near Matera and at Maduria and stelae with their own distinctive Daunian inscriptions in Manfredonia. We experience the Greek presence at Apulia, Canosa, Herakleia, Sybaris, and Tarentum in the form of temples and a diverse array of pottery, each in a distinctive idiom. We stand where Hannibal triumphed at Cannae in 216 BCE over the Romans, but witness Roman expansion in the region from the terminus of the Appian Way to her architectural expressions of imperial grandeur. The art and architecture of the region is richly represented by churches such as Santa Maria at Siponto, a wonderful architectural synthesis of Armenian and Islamic elements, and by the churches at Triani, Orantano, and Bari which offer local Apulian interpretations of the Romanesque style. Many of the churches we will see are museums in their own right. The Jewish presence is revealed by catacombs of the 4th to 6th centuries CE, and the Byzantine in churches and baptistries. The Byzantine gave way to the Romanesque and Gothic, monuments which are indebted to the Classical past and serve to bring closure to this magnificent chapter of this region’s remarkable archaeological and art historical past.

Sunday, September 30: Independent departures from our home cities.

Monday, October 1: BARI: The tour begins in the thriving university town of Bari (ancient Barium), the capital of Apulia. Founded by the Illyrians, it became a center of commerce under the Romans and one of the most important Adriatic ports in Italy, rivaling Venice in the 11th century. We will have ample opportunity to explore the old and new city during our four day stay here. This evening we will gather for an opening lecture and dinner with Dr. Bianchi. Hotel Oriente.
Meals: Dinner

Tuesday, October 2: BARI: Our first day takes us into northern Apulia and the densely forested and rocky Gargano Peninsula, where we will begin our study of the Daunian people. Our visits here begin at the ruins of an abbey and its 11th century church of San Leonardo as well as the beautiful 12th century cathedral, Santa Maria di Siponto built on an earlier church. These buildings are extremely interesting for their architecture. We then continue to Manfredonia founded in 1256 by Manfred, King of Sicily and Naples. His castle now houses the Museo Archeologico Nazionale del Gargano, which displays unique Daunian Stelae, 6th and 5th century Daunian grave slabs carved to represent people and animals. We will spend the afternoon in Lucera where we visit the imperial residence of Frederick II and a Roman amphitheater and the Cathedral, built in 1300 on the grounds of the last standing medieval mosque in Italy.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Wednesday, October 3: BARI: Today’s touring begins with the splendid Terra di Bari cathedral towns of Trani and Barletta. These towns are renowned for their rich architectural heritage and churches built in the local style known as Apulian Romanesque. The lovely white-painted town of Trani boasts an elegant old city and a magnificent 11th century Cathedral built over the older church of Santa Maria della Scala. Barletta is an ancient town that flourished during the Middle Ages and is now visited for its fine churches adorned with frescoes and art. We will then visit Cannae, site of the 216 BCE battle in which Hannibal defeated the Roman consuls. The Antiquarium de Canne della Battaglia houses the finds from the necropolis. In nearby Canosa we will visit the Ipogei Lagrasta, fascinating underground burial chambers. This full day ends with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Castel del Monte, designed and built by Frederick II in 1240.
Meals: Breakfast & dinner

Thursday, October 4: RUVIA DE PUGLIA: This morning we will explore Bari’s Old City, including the Basilica of San Nicola, Apulia’s first great Norman church, and the Cathedral of San Sabino. Excavations below the church floor have revealed an early Christian basilica with fine mosaic floors. The remainder of the day will be at leisure to wander on our own. In the late afternoon we will transfer to Ruvia di Puglia, a delightful old town. Hotel Pineta.
Meals: Breakfast & dinner

Friday, October 5: RUVIA DE PUGLIA: Our full day of touring take us into upper Basilicata, a distinctly Norman region of imposing castles, wild forests and finely tilled fields. Here we will visit Lagopesole, one of Frederick II’s finest castles. Our first stop will be the marvelous Abbey of Holy Trinity in Venosa. This monastic complex stands on the ruins of an earlier church which in turn was built on a Roman temple. Remains of Roman baths have been incorporated into the church. Across the road the archaeological area encompasses a Roman amphitheater and Jewish catacomb dating to the 4th to 6th century CE. The Venosa museum displays the finds from these sites. As we travel to our last stop, the red Castle of Lagopesole, the volcanic Monte Vulture and the Apulian aqueduct will come into view.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Saturday, October 6: LECCE: Leaving Bari behind we drive south to the spectacular Castellana caverns, possibly the most exciting caverns in Italy. We will visit the various chambers, rich in stalagmite and stalactite in alabaster and other colored stones. From there we continue to the charming village of Alberobello with its typical trulli. These unusual whitewashed houses have conical stone roofs, some of which are decorated with religious or folk symbols. We next visit Egnazia, a Graeco- Messapian town, where we will explore its walled acropolis and fine forum as well as a Messapian chamber tomb, a well-preserved section of the Via Traiana and the Archaeological Museum. Hotel Patria Palace.
Meals: Breakfast & dinner

Sunday, October 7: LECCE: Our excursion today takes into the “heel” of Italy known as Grecia Salentina. We will travel along sandy beaches to Otranto, one of the last Byzantine towns to fall to the Normans. We enter the old city in order to visit the Romanesque Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is most noted for its extraordinary mosaic floor. We then cross the peninsula to visit the old town of Gallipoli, situated on a tiny island. Here a maze of twisting streets and picturesque whitewashed houses are set against the backdrop of the blue Ionian Sea.
Meals: Breakfast & dinner

Monday, October 8: LECCE: We will spend the day visiting Lecce, including the Roman remains of a unique and well preserved theater, amphitheater and the Porta Rusce, the southwest city gate. We will stroll through the city’s beautiful piazzas visiting the Archbishop’s Palace, the Baroque Basilica di Santa Croce, and the Norman Santi Nicola e Cataldo. The day ends with the excellent Provincial Museum.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Tuesday, October 9: LECCE: Touring today centers on Brindisi, the terminus of Via Appia. Our visit here includes the Provincial Archaeological Museum, which houses the Punta del Serrone bronzes, a find of over 300 sculptures and fragments of sculptures from Brindisi’s harbor region. We will also view the 13th and 14th century frescoes in the church of San Giovanni al Sepolcro. Returning to Lecce, we stop at the Romanesque Abbazia di Santa Maria a Cerrate, an 11th century masterpiece.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Wednesday, October 10: MATERA: Today’s touring begins at Manduria, the center of the Messapian civilization. We will explore the Messapian necropolis and ancient city walls. Then, at the Biblioteca Comunale we will see an extraordinary collection of incunabula and 16th century medical texts. Touring continues at Taranto, to visit its charming old quarter which is actually an island, and the National Museum, which contains the largest archaeological collection in southern Italy with the exception of the Naples Museum. We then continue on to Matera. Hotel del Compo.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Thursday, October 11: MATERA: We will spend our full day in and around Matera, visiting the churches and frescoed chapels carved out of the rocks of the “Sassi” including the Crypt of Original Sin, a unique rock cut church. Lastly, we will visit a nearby Neolithic trench village and the necropolis with Apulo-Peucetian tombs dated to the 4th and 5th century BCE as well as the Museo Nazionale Domenico Ridola, which displays the finds from this fascinating region.
Meals: Breakfast & dinner

Friday, October 12: MATERA: This exciting day will be spent visiting the monuments and tombs of ancient Metapontum, founded in the 7th century BCE. Dedicated to Hera, the Doric Tavole Palatine is one of the best-preserved monuments of Magna Graecia. We will visit the antiquarium before completing our day at the ancient settlement of Heracleia.
Meals: Breakfast & lunch

Saturday, October 13: CROTONE: Today we continue south to Crotone stopping en route at Sybaris. The legendary Sybarites are said to have lived in such opulence that they were the envy of all Magna Graecia. We will explore the remains of their famous city before continuing south into the Sila Massif to Santa Severina, a beautiful Byzantine fortified town. Our visit will be to the impressive medieval castle and duomo including the byzantine baptistery. Palace Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Sunday, October 14: CROTONE: Our last morning brings us to Capo Colonna, a romantic site where the great Temple to Hera Lacinia once stood, and the Antiquarium of Torre Nao. We then return to Crotone to visit its excellent Archaeological Museum. Our farewell dinner this evening will be at the highly regarded Lido degli Scogli.
Meals: Breakfast & dinner

Monday, October 15: We will transfer to the Crotone airport for our flights home.
Meals: Breakfast