A taste of Italy

An Auckland architect and his Italian brother inlaw offer a non-tiki tour travel alternative, writes Megan Nicol Reed ...

 

SPEND THE night in a masseria, wander through an abandoned trulli complex and savour the freshness of pasta you’ve watched being made – all on an Authentic Italy Tour of Puglia.

Don’t be put off by the thought of all those tour buses filled with snap-happy sheep cramming five cities into five nights, this family-run business plans intelligent and intriguing itineraries. By deliberately going off the beaten track, tour guides John Anderson and Andrea Bassanaim to provide a similar richness of experience to what

Italians travelling within their own country innately know how to find and enjoy. One Kiwi, one Italian, the brothers-in-law are both architects and their tours reflect this.

Of course, in between appreciating the local architecture and visiting archaeological sites, there’s ample opportunity to sample the local fare of this region, on the eastern coast of the ‘‘heel’’ of Italy.

While this is no whistle stop tour and there’s plenty of time to linger, the tour is intentionally comprehensive, incorporating places and experiences usually not accessible to independent travellers, such as visits to interesting private residences.  Departing from and finishing In Rome, groups are restricted to a maximum of 14 on this two week tour.

 

Contact:  John Anderson, 09 361-1113,  john@authenticitalytours.co.nz,  www.authenticitalytours.com