DAYS
6
TOUR CODE
MUPU-27
COST
£4195
DAYS
6
TOUR CODE
MUPU-27
COST
£4195
This new tour immerses travellers in the rich cultural scene to be found in Lecce, engaging all the senses on a discovery of Puglia’s artistic, musical, historical and gastronomic delights – with the chamber music of the city’s Easter Festival as our soundtrack.
Overview
"Spring returns, like a deep breath after the silence of winter, like a light gently settling on the white stones of Lecce’s Baroque architecture"
– Festival Artistic Director Ludovica Rana
The delightful Puglian city of Lecce plays host each year to an intimate ‘Festival di Pasqua’, welcoming artists of an international calibre from near and far in a celebration of Easter through chamber music, under the expert direction of Lecce-based cellist Ludovica Rana, sister of renowned pianist Beatrice Rana. This brand-new tour weaves a handpicked selection of cultural experiences around this musical core, with two festival concerts included, providing travellers with a holistic insight into the true soul of Puglia through an exploration of its art, craft, architecture, music, food and wine.
We will enjoy the major masterpieces for which Lecce is renowned, from the Basilica of Santa Croce and façade of the Palazzo dei Celestini to the Piazza del Duomo with its Cathedral, Ancient Seminary and Museum of Sacred Art, gaining an understanding of the history, style and continued relevance and influence of the city’s Baroque art and architecture. These will be complemented by an opportunity to learn about the exquisite local craft of cartapesta (papier-mâché), intended to mimic bronze and marble, seeing superlative examples in the Church of Santa Chiara and enjoying a private visit to an artist’s studio where these techniques continue to thrive.
Privileged experiences abound on our tour, across all art forms, and will continue with a private talk and recital in the beautiful surroundings of the archaeological museum Sigismondo Castromediano featuring Lecce-born international concert pianist Scipione Sangiovanni. This exclusive recital will introduce the inspirational legacy of the Baroque period in musical terms, complementing our daytime explorations.
We also look forward to private visits to the Casa Spada collection of musical instruments and the Fiermonte Museum, Lecce’s museum of modern and contemporary art, containing the Fiermonte-Filali family’s collection. Here, our visit will be enlivened by a local musician performing in front of the artworks. Meanwhile, informal pre-performance talks will illuminate the festival chamber concerts.
"[The Easter Festival] brings with it excellence, the intimacy of the great chamber music repertoire and the courage of discovery. Alongside the immortal masterpieces of tradition, less frequently performed works – precious and extraordinarily surprising – will resound"
– Festival Artistic Director Ludovica Rana
No visit to the region is complete without an opportunity to view the iconic Pugliese trulli, cone-shaped structures dotted throughout the Itria Valley. We will soak up the beauty of the landscape, including the delightful coastal town of Monopoli, while Lecce’s Roman remains will be studied on a dedicated walking tour.
Food and wine are integral to the Italian way of life, and Puglia is no exception. Historically, in the same way that local artisans were driven to create papier-mâché alternatives to marble and bronze, a lack of wealth resulted in the predominant use of fresh local ingredients. The quality of locally-available produce combined with creative ingenuity over the generations resulted in a high degree of inventiveness in Puglian cuisine. We will enjoy traditional food and wine throughout the tour, culminating in a private dinner prepared exclusively by a specialist chef, featuring modern dishes with a regional flavour created solely using local ingredients and paired with local wines.
MUSIC ON TOUR
The musical highlights of our tour will include private recitals alongside two main festival performances. Typically the Easter festival, produced by the Associazione Musicale Opera Prima and directed by cellist Ludovica Rana, features evening concerts showcasing local and international artists, with a particular focus on intimate classical performances and chamber works. Past repertoire highlights have included Schubert’s Quartet D 810 ‘Death and the Maiden’ (version for string orchestra by G Mahler), Dvořák’s String Quintet No 2, Op 77E, Grieg’s Holberg Suite, Op 40 and Puccini’s Crisantemi (Elegy for strings). The final musical programme is usually released around six weeks ahead of the festival.
Tour Director
Marie-Anne Mancio
Experienced Tour Director Marie-Anne Mancio is an art historian, writer and Arts Society accredited lecturer.
This tour will be led by Marie-Anne Mancio, MPhil, DPhil, an expert in art history with extensive experience leading tours in Italy, across Europe and worldwide. A writer and Arts Society accredited lecturer, Marie-Anne originally trained as an artist before gaining a DPhil at the University of Sussex in art and critical theory. She has written and presented courses for Tate and Dulwich Picture Gallery; writes reviews, catalogue essays and historical fiction, and spends much of her time in Italy. Marie-Anne’s expert guidance will be complemented by talks from a local musicologist, to be confirmed closer to departure, as well as local expertise from our Tour Manager.
ADDITIONAL TOUR STAFF
Louise Richards
The group will also be accompanied by expert Local Guide Louise Richards, a Puglia resident with close ties to the thriving local music and arts scene.
Born and raised in South Wales, Louise is a language graduate and amateur violinist whose life has long been shaped by music and travel. Having lived in Paris and Zurich, she built a career in public relations, organising and hosting events around the world. Today, Louise works freelance and divides her time between France and Italy. She is a strong advocate for Puglia’s flourishing classical music and arts scene, which she has enjoyed and supported for the past 15 years.
– ACE customer on a 2026 tour led by Marie-Anne Mancio
Our Accommodation
We will stay at the five-star Patria Palace Hotel, occupying an 18th century palazzo building in the heart of Lecce. A Leading Hotel of the World, the property blends rich heritage with refined elegance and exceptional amenities to create a relaxing and luxurious base for our explorations.
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart London Gatwick 0835 on Easyjet, arriving Naples 1215. Transfer to Patria Palace Hotel, Lecce, for five nights.
Day 2
Good Friday
Morning walking tour of Lecce focusing on its Baroque masterpieces: Basilica of Santa Croce, façade of Palazzo dei Celestini (exterior) and Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral, Ancient Seminary and Museum of Sacred Art) followed by the Giuseppe Garibaldi gardens. Afternoon visit to Church of Santa Chiara to view examples of local craft of cartapesta (papier-mâché) followed by private visit to an artist’s studio. Evening: private recital and talk with Lecce-born international concert pianist Scipione Sangiovanni at the Sigismondo Castromediano.
Day 3
Excursion to Monopoli for scenic walk along the beautiful seafront, followed by Leonardo Trulli Resort for lunch and an opportunity to view trulli (iconic cone-shaped structures – exteriors). Evening: apericena and pre-performance talk followed by festival chamber music concert.
Day 4
Easter Sunday
Morning walking tour of Lecce focusing on ‘Roman Lecce’: Piazza Sant’Oronzo, Roman amphitheatre, Roman theatre (exteriors) and Palazzo Vernazza (Roman foundations). Optional Mass at Santa Croce or free time followed by Easter Sunday lunch. Afternoon: private visit to Fiermonte Museum with recital by a local musician. Evening: apericena and pre-performance talk followed by festival chamber music concert.
Day 5
Easter Monday
Morning visit to Palazzo Tamborino Cezzi (secret medieval garden). Afternoon: optional private visit to Casa Spada collection of musical instruments or free time. Private dinner prepared by a specialist chef (modern dishes with a regional flavour, prepared using local ingredients and paired with local wines).
Day 6
Transfer to Bari for 1225 return flight on British Airways, arriving Gatwick 1430.
Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change. Due to the special nature of the visits, some details may be confirmed nearer the time. Further details of the festival’s music programme will be released in due course.
Frequently Asked Questions
To read our full list of frequently asked questions please visit our general FAQs here.
What is the maximum group size of this tour?
What is the deposit cost for this tour?
What tour staff will be on this tour?
Am I fit enough to travel on this tour?
Fitness Requirements
The majority of ACE Cultural Tours are active in nature. To make the most of our time in a destination and provide excellent value for money, they are busy – there are often several visits included each day. As such, our tours require a certain minimum level of physical and mental fitness, mobility and stamina.
Many visits will involve navigating several steps, uneven ground, steep ascents and descents, and could involve embarking and disembarking aircraft, coaches, trains and cruise vessels. Plenty of walking, punctuated by lengthy periods of standing, is the norm. Some tours may involve long coach journeys.
It is essential that all customers are sufficiently fit and able enough to fully participate. Furthermore, every tour comprises a group of guests. We cannot allow the entire group to be negatively impacted by one participant, either holding up the pace we reasonably need to maintain or disproportionately requiring the attention and support of the tour staff.
We carefully consider the intensity, fitness and other requirements of each itinerary and describe them on the tour pages of our brochures and website. Please study these descriptions closely. When you call to book, we will reiterate those requirements and ask you to confirm that all group members are indeed fit enough and otherwise able to meet the criteria. It is your responsibility to answer fully and honestly. If it transpires that you are not able to keep pace with the tour and/or it reasonably appears you are negatively impacting (or are reasonably likely to negatively impact) the enjoyment of the rest of the group (including their ability to complete all scheduled visits), we may ask you to sit out certain days/visits, take a taxi at your own expense (if available in the location), or even, if we consider there is no other reasonable alternative, ask you to leave the tour and make your own way home.
This tour requires a good level of fitness and mobility, and participants should meet ACE’s fitness requirements as outlined in our Booking Terms & Conditions. Please be aware that the itinerary involves time spent on foot during walking tours and at visits, where there are not always opportunities to sit down. Participants should be prepared to navigate uneven ground, cobbles, steps and stairs (sometimes without handrails).
As a minimum, participants should be able to successfully complete the following self- assessment tests:
- Walk for one hour at a reasonable pace and without needing to take a break to rest
- Climb at least two flights of stairs at a reasonable pace
- Stand unaided for at least 30 minutes
- Stand up and sit down ten times in one minute
- Carry or otherwise move your own luggage
Please ensure you have read and understand our full fitness requirements as described in our terms and conditions.
Practicalities
We plan to include two festival performances, subject to the programme announcement closer to the time. The festival music programme has traditionally been imaginative and of high quality. Please note details of the individual concerts are normally only released a few weeks before the festival.
UK Government Travel Advice
For additional travel information from the UK government please consult the following pages.
Flight Information
For customers who wish to make their own travel arrangements, ACE is pleased to be able to offer a flight reduction of £295. Please note that this tour departs from London Gatwick North Terminal and returns to London Gatwick South Terminal.
Cost Details
Easter in Lecce: Art & Music of Puglia
March 25 - 30, 2027
Included: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a deluxe basilica view twin or double bedded room, performances as described, five breakfasts, three lunches with wine, water & coffee, two apericene with wine/soft drink, two dinners with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not Included: travel insurance, superior double room for single use supplement £295, deluxe design double room for single use supplement £495.
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