Fly & Drive Het Ongerepte Zuiden | Italië

About the destination: Despite the fact Bari is quite a large modern city it has managed to keep the unique atmosphere of small towns. In this city ancient buildings and strict gothic castles border with new trading centres and restaurants, making Bari even more attractive and elegant. Walk along the narrow streets of the city centre to reach the Cathedral of Bari. Built in the 12th century, its crypt is a triumph of Baroque art. In this labyrinthine streets, another fine example of Baroque architecture stands, the beautiful church San Nicola, built a thousand years ago. Castello Normanno Svevo, which was built in 1132, is one of the most notable sights of the city. The Museum of Archaeology is another place of interest in Bari as excavations in the old part of the city haven’t stopped even now, so the museum constantly gets new exhibits. If daytime is traditionally used for unhurried walks on shady valleys, night turns Bari into one noisy discotheque. Trendy bars, pubs, and clubs are ready to entertain their visitors till dawn.

About the destination: Matera is the capital of the Matera province in the Basilicata region of Italy. It boasts the sassi, well-preserved rock-cut settlements that are a World Heritage site and one of Southern Italy's many important attractions. The town center, the oldest part of town, was built on the edge of a bare plateau where a high rocky mount looms over the spot where a valley descends to the long deep river-ravine. This is where you'll now find the town cathedral and the fairly typical Italian town center. The town's main historical museum, the Museo Nazionale Ridola, contains exhibits from distant eras of Basilicata's past, from prehistory to the Roman age (closed Monday mornings; a small entrance charge). Nearby, Palazzo Lanfranchi houses the Museo Nazionale d'Arte Medievale e Moderna della Regione Basilicata - an art museum incorporating the Pinacoteca D'Errico, which has lots of religious paintings by southern painters and, more interestingly, the Centro Carlo Levi, which contains a range of paintings by the twentieth-century artist and writer who is a part of this region's modern history.

About the destination: Santa Maria di Leuca, often spelled simply Leuca is a frazione of the comune of Castrignano del Capo, in the province of Lecce (Apulia), southern Italy. A part of the town once belonged to the comune of Gagliano del Capo.

About the destination: In spite of the great development of buildings, Otranto preserves an almost intact historical center, which shines in all its splendor protected by the fortifications overlooking the south shore of the natural harbor. The natural entrance to the historical center is the Porta Alfonsina, in memory of Alfonso, Duke of Calabria, who liberated the city from Turkish domination. A series of alleys lead us to the Otranto Cathedral, a jewel of Romanesque-pugliese architecture, built in 1080-88 and also known as Catedrale dell'Annunziata. The gabled façade is dominated by a Gothic-Arab style rosette from the 15th century and a Baroque portal from 1764. Its austere interior, with three naves, is decorated with a 17th-century ceilings in gilded wood and by 14 Granite columns. In the Chapel of the Martyrs, to the right of the main altar, the bones of the victims of the Turkish massacre are preserved. The masterpiece, however, is depicted on the ground in a beautiful mosaic in bright colors by the priest Pantaleone (1163-1166), depicting scenes from the Bible and medieval epic cycles. Beneath the apse is the wide crypt, supported by a jungle of columns with capitals of different periods and Byzantine frescoes. Near the cathedral, we find the Diocesan Museum, which displays a collection of fabrics and liturgical objects, statues and paintings belonging to the church, as the fifteenth century baptismal font. We can also observe interesting fragments of a late-Roman mosaic found under the muscled pavement. The main street of the village is Corso Garibaldi, vibrant and crowded, which rises in the direction of the town square, or Piazza del Popolo, with the Torre dell'Orologio (Clock Tower) dating from 1779. From here you reach San Pietro , A Byzantine church that dates back to the X-XI century, and was for many years the seat of Greek worship. The exterior looks austere; In contrast, the interior is a plant in Greek cross, inserted inside a square, and very decorated. Marked by three small ships supported by eight columns, the church has its walls and vaults covered with frescoes depicting biblical scenes. The cannon vault of the ship to the northwest is adorned by the "Last Supper" and the "Lavatory of the feet".

About the destination: Lecce is a historic city in Apulia region of Italy, and the capital of the province of Lecce. Because of the rich Baroque architectural monuments found in the city, Lecce is commonly nicknamed "The Florence of the South". Lecce has a lovely historic center (centro storico), and travellers can easily spend many hours exploring picturesque little lanes and finding the more far-flung Baroque churches. The town's great artistic treasure is its architecture; in terms of other arts, such as painting, Lecce cannot really compare with northerly towns like Florence and Rome. The town has two main focal points: Piazza Sant'Oronzo and Piazza del Duomo. Piazza Sant'Oronzo is the big civic heart of the town, a large square with a slightly different atmosphere, the ancient and the modern sitting uncomfortably together. Piazza del Duomo is an unusual interpretation of a familiar Italian cathedral square. In Lecce the cathedral sits in one corner of a theatrical enclosed square; a still space in the heart of town.

About the destination: Alberobello, a small town in Italy’s Puglia region, is famous for its fairytale trulli: whitewashed, conical-roofed stone houses that look like they belong in a storybook. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town’s historic districts—Rione Monti and Aia Piccola—are packed with these unique dwellings, some dating back several centuries. Wandering the narrow lanes, you’ll find trulli converted into shops, tiny museums, cafés, and cozy guesthouses, all preserving their original charm. Begin your visit in Rione Monti, the more touristic quarter, where over a thousand trulli climb the hillside. Climb up to the Belvedere terrace for a panoramic view of the clustered cones, especially beautiful in the soft evening light. Nearby, the Trullo Sovrano, the only two-story trullo open to the public, offers a glimpse into traditional local life, with period furniture and household tools showing how families once lived in these compact spaces. For a quieter, more authentic atmosphere, head to Aia Piccola, where residents still live in many of the trulli. Here you can soak up daily life, chat with locals, and take photographs without the crowds. Don’t miss the trullo church of Sant’Antonio, with its distinctive cone-topped façade, and consider joining a guided tour to learn about the construction techniques and symbolism behind the painted roof symbols. Alberobello also makes an excellent base for exploring the wider Valle d’Itria. Combine your stay with visits to nearby white towns such as Locorotondo, Martina Franca, and Ostuni, or take a day trip to the Adriatic coast for a swim. In the evenings, sample Puglian specialties in local trattorias—orecchiette pasta, fresh seafood, and rich olive oil—paired with regional wines like Primitivo or Negroamaro, rounding off your stay in this uniquely enchanting town.

About the destination: Despite the fact Bari is quite a large modern city it has managed to keep the unique atmosphere of small towns. In this city ancient buildings and strict gothic castles border with new trading centres and restaurants, making Bari even more attractive and elegant. Walk along the narrow streets of the city centre to reach the Cathedral of Bari. Built in the 12th century, its crypt is a triumph of Baroque art. In this labyrinthine streets, another fine example of Baroque architecture stands, the beautiful church San Nicola, built a thousand years ago. Castello Normanno Svevo, which was built in 1132, is one of the most notable sights of the city. The Museum of Archaeology is another place of interest in Bari as excavations in the old part of the city haven’t stopped even now, so the museum constantly gets new exhibits. If daytime is traditionally used for unhurried walks on shady valleys, night turns Bari into one noisy discotheque. Trendy bars, pubs, and clubs are ready to entertain their visitors till dawn.