Matera - Once a Shame of Italy and Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Italian Delights July 2023 Happenings

A collage featuring the ancient stone city of Sassi di Matera with text overlay and a reference to James Bond's

Ciao tutti and welcome to our July 2023 newsletter.

We have just finished a couple of months of fun with our guests in Italy. It was great to be back in Italy amongst our friends and family and eating the glorious food and wine on offer! 2024 is looking to be a popular year for travellers. We have two tours fully booked already, but we still have limited places left on our 12-day Treasures of Lombardy, Piedmont and Liguria tour and our 8-day Southern Treasures and Secret Delights of Basilicata and Puglia Tour if you would like to join us next year. For those early bird planners, our 2025 dates have also now been published on our website. Click here to see our 2025 dates.

This month's Main Article is about the fascinating city of Matera in the gorgeous region of Basilicata. Today it is a modern city with wine bars, restaurants and hotels built into caves. You will be amazed to find out that in fairly recent history these caves were considered the 'shame' of Italy, due to the extreme poverty of the inhabitants. Come and experience Matera with us on our 8-day Southern Treasures and Secret Delights of Basilicata and Puglia tour. Click Here to find out more about the story of Matera.

Our Tour Focus this month focuses on our new, 12-day Treasures of Lombardy, Piedmont and Liguria. During this journey of discovery of three regions in NW Italy, there's a great mix of local artisans, scrumptious food and wine and local cultural experiences and beautiful landscapes. There are still places left on this tour for 2024, so contact us now if you would like to secure your places!

Lynette's feature recipe for this month is her much loved Focaccia recipe. She has had several people asking her to send them the recipe again, so we have decided to put it in this month's newsletter. Click here for the recipe.

Until our next newsletter!

Saluti

Jim.

A historic rock-hewn church in Sassi di Matera, promoting an 8-day tour of Basilicata and Puglia's hidden treasures.

If you are looking for a unique and unforgettable destination, then look no further than the Sassi di Matera, the ancient cave city in southern Italy. Here you can experience the history and culture of one of the oldest human settlements in the world. You can explore the labyrinth of caves, churches, and houses that are carved into the rock, and admire the stunning views of the ravine and the surrounding countryside. Sassi di Matera is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a source of inspiration for many artists and filmmakers. Don’t miss this opportunity to visit one of Europe's most unique landscapes. Visit Matera by joining us us on our 8-day Southern Treasures and Secret Delights of Basilicata and Puglia tour and CLICK HERE to read about Sassi di Matera.

2023-24 Italian Tours Brochure

Tour Focus

Treasures Tour

If you are looking for a small group tour of Italy that will take you to some of the most beautiful and authentic regions of the country, you should definitely consider the 12 Day Treasures of Lombardy, Piedmont and Liguria Tour! This tour will let you experience the Italian dream in the lush Lombard hills, the vine-clad hills of Piedmont, and the seaside treasure of Liguria and the gorgeous Cinque Terre. You will stay in family-run lodgings, dine at local restaurants and trattorias, and enjoy a variety of activities such as wine tasting, cooking classes, and walking tours. You will also visit some of the most scenic and historic places in Italy, such as Lake Maggiore, Genoa, the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, and Cinque Terre. Immerse yourself in the culture, food, wine, and natural beauty of Italy. You can find more details about this tour click here.

2023-24 Italian Tours Brochure