Mediterranean Soul Beauty is here, where it lives! On the global coasts for long periods of the year. Among its map, Italy holds the record for UNESCO sites: records, Italy shows off good food and design. they are fi fty-one of them and are part of the Home of the Mediterranean diet and fashion, World Heritage for their great historical, artistic it is a paradise for food and shopping’s lovers. and cultural interest. You never get tired of discovering the Italian Travelling along the Belpaese means disco- culture, its authentic “lifestyle” always in search vering places of extraordinary richness and of good taste, pleasure, joy of life. diversity, among magnifi cent cities of art, Tourlink guides tourists and travellers to di- uncontaminated landscapes, romantic villages scover the roots of Italian culture and the most nestled in the mountains, beaches and sunny authentic Mediterranean soul. THE REAL TRIP BEGINS IN THE SOUTH. of the Calanchi to the Lucanian Dolomites, the You can try to tell the story of Apulia and Ba- Mediterranean soul has its roots here. Even silicata in many ways, describing their simple the minority linguistic expressions represent and sincere beauty. Starting from Calanchi to a cultural richness of inestimable identity Murgia or from Capitanata to Salento we can value: the Franco-Provençal language of the realize that the charm of these places is in the Dauni Mountains, the Arbëreshë culture of the richness of their diversity and in their glorious villages near the Mount Pollino, the griko of past projected into the future. Greece Salentina explode in popular songs The Apulia, which means the land without rain, and stories, giving life to musical and folklore has 900 km of coast with a mediterranean phenomena of great attraction and anthropo- weather that guarantees to this east-orien- logical interest. ted region a weather that is always pleasant. Eating is a pleasure, here in the South it is even Between the blue of two seas, a sky always more so. Taste, fl avours, Mediterranean smells blue and the green of the olive trees that enrich the dining experience. The stop for shore up its red earth, you can fi nd the houses lunch and dinner is almost a sacred moment and beautiful farms’ dazzling white. of sharing pleasure and goodness. The Medi- Basilicata, instead, is a land of woods and terranean Diet was born in the South and is a mountains, sometimes wild and inaccessible. UNESCO World Heritage Site, as are the jewel Its small villages are witness of a rural and places to discover and visit: Castel del Monte, peasant history that preserves its authenticity Monte Sant’Angelo, Alberobello and Matera. and archaism. The true beauty of these lands The latter, among the oldest in the world, alre- is, however, inherent in their incredible Medi- ady UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, terranean diversity. From the National Parks of has celebrated its year as European Capital of Murgia and Gargano to the enchanting and Culture in 2019, an event that has projected it colourful Valle d’Itria, from Salento’s traditions among the Top International Destinations and, to the millenary history enclosed in caskets as the President of the Republic Sergio Matta- such as the Marta Museum or the Metaponto rella has declared, has given honor to Italy and Archaeological Park, from the lunar landscape its South. #SOUTHERNITALYGRANDTOUR To enrich the experience, in addition to the discovery of Apulia and Basilicata, this year Tourlink also offers the Special Grand Tour of South of Italy. From Rome Caput Mundi to the Naples of contemporary art, from the colourful Amalfi Coast to the majestic Pompeii, from the trulli of Alberobello to Taormina, Agrigento and Syracuse. SUMMARY About us 7 Our services 11 How to go to Apulia and Basilicata 12 CULTURAL TURISM Matera and the authentic Basilicata 16 Matera and the Itria Valley 17 The archaeological Basilicata 18 On the Ways of Frederick II, Stupor Mundi 22 Gargano and Daunia 23 Salento and the Itria Valley 24 TOURISM OF TASTE AND HANDICRAFTS Taste Tour in Itria Valley 28 Slow Food Tour in Basilicata 30 Tastes of the territory 34 Among shops and workshops of the ancient crafts 35 ACTIVE AND NATURALISTIC TOURISM Active Travel Matera and Itria Valley 38 Sport and adrenaline in the green heart of Basilicata 42 INSPIRATIONS. NEW TOURS AVAILABLE 45 LUXURY TRAVEL Exclusive moments between Apulia and Basilicata 50 MICE Mice 54 Tourism incentive game 55 Team building adventure leadership & team coaching 56 WEDDING Wedding 59 #SOUTHERNITALYGRANDTOUR #Southernitalygrandtour 62 UNIQUE EXPERIENCES 67 6 ABOUT US The birth of Tourlink has taken place in a very important moment for Basilicata and South of Italy, thanks to the designation of Matera (alre- ady a UNESCO World Heritage Site) as European Capital of Culture 2019. Tourlink is an Italian Incoming Tour Operator & DMC based in Mate- ra, specialized in proposals for South of Italy and in particular for Basi- licata and Apulia. We are Tailor-Made specialists and operate mainly in B2B. We are, in fact, Destination Manager of reference for many national and International Operators, who choose us and collaborate with us for the attention and quality we put in our daily work. From Leisure Tourism for Groups and Individuals to care for the Lu- xury segment and for Mice (two strategic sectors for us), Wedding and Experiential up to Active Travel, we always try to offer a trip that is unique, with authentic and very original experiences. With the aim of offering a 360-degree consultancy in the planning and management of personalized itineraries, travel ideas, dedicated packages and visiting experiences, Tourlink proposes among the de- stinations Matera, the city of the Sassi, the areas of Basilicata and ne- arby Apulia and South of Italy in general, to discover its historical-arti- stic, cultural, naturalistic and food and wine peculiarities. Tourlink, furthermore, as DMC, offers support to companies and in- stitutions guaranteeing know-how and professionalism in the Even- ts and Congresses, Festivals and Productions Cinema and TV pro- ductions, Incentives and Team Building sectors. Tourlink Headquarter via Cappelluti 83 - 75100 Matera - Italy Tel: 0835 700028 – Fax: 0835 700001 www.tourlink.it - [email protected] Registered office Tourlink by Datacontact srl Via Lazazzera, 1 - 75100 Matera - Italy P. iva: 01037060777 Aut. Trail Reg. n.4935 of 05/12/2016 Third party liability policy N.106253113 - Groupama Assicurazioni S.p.a Fondo Ga- ranzia policy N.IT/EVO/MGA/FFI/2019/00483 - Booking Sicuro - Evolution Insurance Company Limited 7 "When you see Basilicata you see fields, vineyards, beautiful landscapes, you see the land as it should be" (Francis Ford Coppola) 10 OUR SERVICES TAILOR-MADE TRIPS GUIDES Rooted in the South of Italy, but with an inter- Tourlink relies on qualified and specialized tou- national horizon, Tourlink organizes personali- rist guides to discover the territory with services zed tours, thematic itineraries and stays “sewn” Multilingual (English, French, German, Spanish, to the specific needs of the customer. We are Japanese, Russian, Chinese, Arabic). Tailor Made specialists and work on B2B for You can book dedicated services for users with Groups and FIT. hearing and visual disabilities. LUXURY AND MICE AUDIOGUIDE RENTAL We take care of the Luxury and Mice sectors Tourlink offers the wireless radio guide rental with particular attention and care in every detail. service for group and individual tourism: comfortable, cheap and with great advanta- ges, the radio transmitters allow a considerable HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS economic saving even for groups of 50 people, Tourlink is a privileged partner of many hotels they promote freedom of movement, profes- and restaurants in South of Italy: from the Dimo- sionalism and discretion in communicating with ra di Charme to the Historical Palace, from the the participants to guided tours. small and characteristic B&B to the International Hotel and the Residence Village on the sea. LGTB FRIENDLY Tourlink has always been attentive to the needs TRANSFER of LGBT customers. Tourlink offers individual and collective transfer services in Apulia, Basilicata and South of Italy. 11 HOW TO GO TO APULIA AND BASILICATA 50 national and international destinations from Apulia Airports MILANO LINATE VILNIUS MILANO MALPENSA MADRID ROMA FIUMICINO RIGA CHARLEROI LIVERPOOL MONACO COPENAGHEN AMSTERDAM ISTANBUL BUDAPEST KUTAISI – KOPTINARI BERGAMO BERLINO PARIGI BEAUVOIS DUSSERDOLF BUCAREST OTOPENI FRANCOFORTE VERONA GENOVA CUNEO VENEZIA MALTA TIMISOARA LONDRA STANSED BARCELLONA PISA BOLOGNA SIVIGLIA MOSCA VALENCIA DUBLINO VIENNA PRAGA SHANGAI VARSAVIA NEW YORK Connections with Matera: CAR: 45 minutes on the new highway Bari-Matera TRAIN: Railway connections FAL “Bari -Matera” / “Bari Central-Airport Bari”. BUS: A branded shuttle bus every hour from Bari airport to Matera and vice versa + FrecciaLink with the FrecciaRossa on Bari and Ferrandina. Mosca Riga Copenaghen Liverpool Vilnius Dublino Varsavia London Dusseldorf Colonia Berlino Bruxelles Maastrict Francoforte Praga Paris Stoccarda Budapest Monaco Vienna Karlsruhe New York Bucarest Milano Torino Venezia Timisoara Mostar Bologna Genova Firenze Barcellona R oma 3 ore 2 ore 1 ora Tirana Madrid Cagliari Siviglia Istanbul Valencia Kutaisi Palermo Shangai NAP (Napoli) - 3h Catania BRI (Bari) - 1h Malta BDS (Brindisi) - 2h Matera CULTURAL TOURISM Cultural Tourism MATERA AND THE AUTHENTIC BASILICATA Day 1 other important rocky chur- Day 4 Arrival in Matera, hotel ac- ches. Morning: breakfast at the ho- commodation. Afternoon free tel and transfer to Craco, “the walking through the beautiful Day 3 ghost town”. old town. Morning: breakfast at the ho- Afterwards, transfer to Tursi Dinner in hotel or restaurant, tel and transfer to Melfi, a Fe- and lunch in a typical restau- free walk and overnight stay. dericiana city important for rant. the promulgation of the Melfi Afternoon visit to the Arab-Nor- Day 2 Constitutions.