Discover Southern Italy

May 18 – 29, 2010

We begin our journey to Southern Italy in Rome, where we will travel by chartered motor coach to Potenza, the capital city of the region of Basilicata.  The first week will be spent in mountainous Basilicata and the last six days in Mediterranean coastal towns.

 Basilicata’s natural beauty, ancient culture, deeply rooted local traditions, Mediterranean food, and above all the warmth and hospitality of its people, will provide an unforgettable experience.  At times we will travel on secondary roads through the Apennine Mountains to small hilltop villages, with dramatic panoramas of mountain ridges and rolling hills.

There is not a Friendship Force club established in this area, but we will have the opportunity to meet with local people in the cities of Potenza and Matera.  In Matera we will enjoy a home hosted dinner and in exchange host our new local friends in a restaurant.       

We will spend four nights in the city of Matera, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage city in 1993.  The ancient district of Matera, known as the Sassi, is one gigantic sculpture that has been carved out of the rock along the side of a ravine, creating houses, churches, and other structures.  It has been the setting for many biblical films including The Nativity and The Passion of the Christ.  In Matera we will have a bread-making workshop, which will include tasting the famous “Pane di Matera”.

We will travel to the town of Venosa, home of the Latin poet Horatio, where we will taste the wine of the Aglianico grape and visit an archeological park.  At the arch of the boot of Italy we will visit Metaponto, an old Greek colony.  At Metaponto we will visit the remains of a Greek temple, a fruit orchard and the sandy beach at the arch of the boot of Italy.  As we make our way to the beautiful coastal village of Maratea we will visit the peasant village of Aliano, the setting for Carlo Levi’s book, Christ Stopped at Eboli and San Costantino, a village that still reflects its Albanian roots.

From Maratea we will visit Pollino National Park before traveling north to the city of Sorrento, where we will stay four nights at the Esperidi Resort.  Sorrento is located on the beautiful Bay of Naples, which is dominated by Mount Vesuvius in the distance. 

There are a variety of world-renowned sites to visit near Sorrento including Pompei, Capri, Mount Vesuvius, the Amalfi coast, Herculaneum, Paestum, and Naples.  These optional excursions include door-to-door transportation from the Esperidi Resort.  The local commuter train is a four-block walk from our resort for individuals who want to set their own agenda to visit Pompei, Mount Vesuvius, Herculaneum, and Naples.

The Sorrento Cooking School is located on the grounds of the Esperidi Resort, and cooking classes are available as an option.  The classes are lively and are taught with the aid of an English translator.  Following class, participants dine on the food they have created.  

From Sorrento we will return to Rome by chartered motor coach. 

For an itinerary including cost and details follow this link http://www.datapdq.com/itinerary.htm

Contact Richard Spencer, ED at 402 488-6930 or click here to contact via email