Newsletter Details

The tour company that offers unique off the beaten track, Italian style journeys in regional Italy for: travellers interested in the mystique of Italian culture, lovers of cuisine, wine, architecture, history, landscape and music.

If you would like a copy of the postcard please click here to download it.

Here is our tour programme for 2010. We already have significant interest in these literariness so please contact us for a booking form and detail literary if you are interested.

• APULIA TOUR MAY - 2010 - Monday 10th to Wednesday 19th May

• VENETO TOUR SEPTEMBER - 2010 - Saturday 4th to Friday 17th September - Provisional Dates

ROME & SABINA TOUR SEPTEMBER - 2010 - Friday 24th September to Sunday 3rd October - Provisional Dates

• Tour departs Rome and finishes in Rome
• Tour departs Rome and finishes in Venice

About us

Here is what Megan Nicol Reed  Auckland journalist has to say about our itinerary:

on be put off by 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 Bassan aim to provide a similar experience to that which  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 is plenty of 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 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.�

Sunday Star Times article about Apulia and our tours: Pureli, Madly, Deeply - April 2006

Recently published in the Sunday Star Times travel section was this charming and evocative
article on the charms of Puglia, written by the well known British travel writer Zoe Williams. The region of Puglia (Apulia) is regarded as an place to experience. Read on and whet your appetite for a taste of unspoilt Italy at its best.

read more

 Participants Comments

The tour you took us on made us feel we could dip into Italian life both past and present in a way which had not been possible on our previous trips to Italy. In fact the trip was up there with the best experiences in our lives.�
Ian and Margaret - Wellington - New Zealand � Lazio tour participant

"My enjoyment and understanding of the country, its history and culture has been much enhanced. We felt welcomed and looked after really well, and had so much fun. Thank you all, my appreciation is enormous. I can't wait till my next trip."
Janet - Auckland - New Zealand - Apulia tour participant

"I have  been to Rome many times but was amazed at the wonderful places we visited in the city that I had never previously discovered. The Lazio region itself is a treasure house of fascinating sites ranging from Etruscan through to towns built according to best architectural principles in Mussolini抯 time. The knowledge and enthusiasm of John and Andrea for food leads them to search out the best of local cuisine, and their architectural expertise provides a new dimension when touring. Great company, great trip!�
Christine - Auckland - New Zealand - Lazio tour participant May 2003

Veneto: The wonder of Venice, Palladio抯 world renowned villas and Carlo Scarpa抯 contemporary buildings, The romance of Juliet抯 balcony in Verona contrasts with the awe inspiring Scrivengi Chapel Giotto frescoes in Padua.  The friends of Andrea and John who welcomed us into their homes and the charming hotels plus the high tech Grappa distillery were just a few of the exceptional experiences I heartily recommend�
Sue Shand - Wellington - New Zealand - Veneto tour participant May 2005

APULIA ,the trulli houses in Alberobello, the Sassi district of Matera (a sight never to be forgotten), the hill town of Locorotondo, are only some of the amazing places visited, and the fabulous food, all go into making everlasting memories of a wonderful trip. Andrea and John such fantastic hosts, with their expert knowledge and humor, helped to make the tour so very enjoyable, and one I thoroughly recommend�
Dale - Auckland - New Zealand - Apulia tour participant May 2007