Excursion Trani & olive oil tasting tour at Bari

You will be surprised by Trani and its Apulian Romanesque Cathedral which will disclose a wonderful underground route with remains of older churches and, above all, fragments of fine mosaics dating from the XII century.

Explore Apulian countryside dotted with sculpture-like olive trees, enjoy a visit to a traditional oil factory to learn about production techniques and taste some delicious olive oil: a very nice tour to combine culture and tradition...actually two among "Precious stones" of Apulia!

Departing from the ship, you will travel to the new town of Bari for a panoramic sightseeing drive. Along the town "lungomare" (seaside road), you will admire the imposing architecture of the grand buildings, many of which originated from Mussolini's time to signify his powerful influence.

Travelling northwards along the scenic coastal route, you will arrive in Trani: here you will have the opportunity to visit the elegant Cathedral located at the extreme tip of a U-shaped little harbour, facing the Swabian Castle.

The Cathedral is one of the finest examples of churches in Apulian Romanesque style, boasting a precious doorway with stone carvings dating from the 13th century and a beautiful XII century's bronze door made by Barisano da Trani using the so called "lost wax" bronze process for the first time. The door's 32 sections are decorated with figures of Christ, the Virgin, Apostles and Saints. The impressive interior of the cathedral was covered with Baroque decorations in the XIX century, and it was restored to its original Romanesque appearance in 1952-55.

From the side aisles you will reach the Crypt dedicated to Saint Nicholas the Pilgrim (who died in Trani by the end of the 11th century), built along with the lower church of Santa Maria, over a Paleochristian site housing a rectangular space known as Hypogeum (literally "underground space") of Saint Leucius, after the first bishop of Brindisi whose bones were transferred to Trani in the VIII century.

After the visit, you will have some free time for wandering at leisure around this lovely town that is locally known as 'the slow town'. Here you will have the opportunity to sit and relax in one of its typical cafes. The lively fishing port and the wide, paved streets and elegant buildings offer a very pleasant ambience. If you are lucky, you may see the hustle and bustle of the local fish market.

Take a stroll along Trani's harbour to join the bus and continue your guided tour towards Bisceglie. The area around is renowned for olive oil high quality production, basically related to little olive cultivars such as the so called "Cima di Bitonto" and "Coratina": explore the Olive Oil Route visiting one of its famous factories, and then taste some of its delicious specialities while learning about olive harvest and oil production.

It is time to drive back to Bari pier with plenty of information about arts, traditions and…flavours!