Apulia Fairytale: The Itria Valley – Explore the long heel of Italy’s boot to discover sights, tastes, and gorgeous seascapes.

From April 17th to April 24th 2017

APULIA: the last great unspoiled place in Italy. The region is the “heel” of the boot of Italy and it’s filled with gorgeous town and seascapes: glittering limestone precipices, white sand beaches, beautiful hilltop towns with medieval castles and churches, stone houses, narrow stone-paved streets, olive trees, and vineyards.

The panorama is filled with a timeless enchantment and it will give us endless, magic photographic opportunities: we will spend our week exploring fascinating villages and towns like the Unesco World Heritage site of Alberobello, the city of the little cone-shaped drystone dwellings known as Trulli; Ostuni, the “white city”, famous for its glittering whitewashed houses; Polignano al Mare that combines charming, white-washed streets with panoramic terraces offering breathtaking views of the beautiful Adriatic Sea and coastline. Locorotondo, the “balcony of the Itria Valley” and famous for its white wines DOC. Martina Franca is a picturesque scene of winding alleys, blinding white houses and graceful colorful baroque and rococo buildings; the “Subterranean City” Matera, in the nearby Basilicata region and Unesco World Heritage Site, famous for its houses that are literally caves, called Sassi.

Our base camp will be an ancient fortified farmhouse, a traditional construction called “Masseria” that was once home to working farmers and peasants. The stunning Masseria Montenapoleone, located in the middle of the region in the Itria Valley, dates back to the 600’s; it has been brought back to its original splendor and it’s now one of the most elegant and unique boutique hotels in Puglia.

Every day, Barbara and Stefania will work side by side with you to teach you the most important elements of photography, composition and aesthetics in order to help you achieve your photographic goals. While we are going to have group discussions and presentations of our photographs – over some great food and wine – this is not going to be a traditional workshop with classes and lectures. It’s rather going to be a visual journey where participants will work on developing a personal style through their images; therefore it’s perfect for all level of photographic skill. Non photographers are also welcome and encouraged to join our tour.

Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Puglia, transfer to our Hotel/Masseria Montenapoleone (we can arrange pick up at the airport/station if needed), Welcome Dinner and presentation of the tour. D
Day 2 Ostuni
Our adventure starts in the “white city”, Ostuni. The city appears as a mirage, standing splendidly on a hillside rising from a green plateau that’s covered with olive trees and that eventually dives into the blue of the Adriatic Sea. Famous for its glittering whitewashed houses, we’ll photograph and stroll down the narrow streets, staircases, arches, and the beautiful courtyards crowned with small white houses, and artisans’ workshops. B/D
Day 3 Polignano a Mare
Today we’ll spend the day in Polignano a Mare, a shining gem on the coast of the Itria Valley, perched atop a 20 meter-high limestone cliff above the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic. It combines charming, white-washed streets with panoramic terraces offering breathtaking views of the beautiful Adriatic Sea and coastline. B/D
Day 4 Matera
The City of Sassi will transport us back into a past long-forgotten, with houses stacked one on top of the other and united by tortuous roads and wide staircases. The landscape around Matera, so evocative as to earn the nickname “The Second Bethlehem,” has impressed writers, artists and directors for centuries; Mel Gibson chose to film The Passion of the Christ here. In the 1950s, the people that lived in these caverns were transferred to modern quarters while the Sassi underwent complex restoration works, the objective of which was to return them to their original beauty. B/D
Day 5 Pasta Making and Night Photo Session in Ostuni
Today we are going to spend the day at the Masseria, resting and reviewing our images over some great wine and food during lunch. To make our experience even more complete we’ll have the chance to make some traditional Apulian food like fresh pasta, the traditional Orechiette (little ears, named for their orb-like appearance). And we’ll end the day in Ostuni where we are going to have a night photo shoot. B/L
Day 6 Alberobello
Today we’ll visit the Unesco World Heritage site of Alberobello, the city of the little cone-shaped drystone dwellings known as Trulli. The trulli are a unique example of ancient architecture that still survives and is in use today. To visit the stupendous Alberobello today is to travel to a destination without time. B/D
Day 7 Locorotondo and Martina Franca
Today we’ll start the day in Locorotondo (the name means Round Place). The village is famous for the “cummerse”, narrow rectangular town houses with pointed gable roofs, strangely evocative of north European, Baltic architecture. The old protective walls are traced by a perimeter road offering wonderful views over the surrounding agricultural land, a quilt of vineyards, olive groves and Trulli dissected by dry-stone walls. From here, we head to Martina Franca, a picturesque scene of winding alleys, blinding white houses and graceful colorful baroque and rococo buildings. Back to the Masseria, closing dinner and final picture review. B/D
Day 8
After our last breakfast together transfer to the Airport/Station. B
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Tour Fee:
The cost of the Tour is $3,200. Single Room Supplement: $500.
If you want to share the room, please let us know by email when registering. Please note that in the event that we are unable to pair you up for twin-sharing, you may have to get the single room.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
– 7 nights in Twin Room with separate beds, 7 Breakfasts, 6 dinners, 1 lunch (beverages, drinks and alcohol are NOT included at dinner and lunch).
www.masseriamontenapoleone.it/en/home/

– English/Italian speaking local guide to the cities and villages and instructors.

– Transportation to all the locations in private mini-van.

– Cooking Class.

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
– International Flights to/from Italy

– Airport Transfers – We can arrange transfers for you for the additional price of about €70 Euros per car (3/4 people max). The nearest airports are Bari Palese (BRI) and Brindisi Casale (BDS).

– Insurance: we strongly recommend you purchase Travel, Medical and Cancellation Insurance.

– Other food, drink/alcohol not mentioned above.

– Personal expenses and tipping.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED:
It is recommended that participants bring a Digital Camera and a laptop. A complete list of optional equipment will be sent at registration.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
A deposit of $1000 is required at time of booking. You can pay the deposit by Bank Wire, details will be provided right after registration. Please note that we will keep your Registration for a maximum of 3 working days. In the event that we do not receive your deposit after 3 days, your registration will be cancelled.

The Photo Tour will be confirmed by us no later than June 30th, 2016. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE ANY TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS TO/FROM ITALY BEFORE WE CONFIRM THE TOUR. Full payment is due when the Tour is confirmed, no later than June 30th 2016.
If you cancel before June 30th, your deposit will be refunded (less $ 50 administration fee.)
If you cancel on or after June 30th 2016 but before July 30th 2016, 50% of the Tour Fee will be refunded.
If you cancel on or after July 30th 2016, the Tour Fee will not be refunded.
In the event the Photo Tour is cancelled by us, a full refund will be given.

TO REGISTER:
To Register, please send us an email at info@internationalphotocenter.com or at stefania.pifferi@gmail.com with your first and last name, your phone, email, and which tour you are registering for, along with any additional information that you would like us to know. After we receive your email we will send you all the info for the payment.