Originally part of Magna Graecia, Puglia—the amazing heel of Italy's boot—was colonized by the Greeks and later conquered by the Romans. It also hosted Byzantines, Goths, Normans, and Venetians. Collectively, they left behind one of Italy's richest archaeological and cultural regions.

Focusing primarily on treasures from the Middle Ages and Baroque Period, Cornell's Jeffrey Blanchard, an expert on Italian art, architecture, and city planning, will guide our exploration of this fascinating locale. We'll visit the breathtaking seaport towns of Trani and Bari, both with wonderful Romanesque cathedrals, and Frederick II's thirteenth-century Castel del Monte, a UNESCO heritage site universally valued for its formal perfection.

Among other towns we'll visit are magnifi­cent Lecce, noted for its carefully conserved baroque architecture; ancient Otranto; and Ostuni, with its white citadel upon the hill. We will also explore the southern Italian city of Matera, founded by the Romans in the third century BCE and best known for its sassi, its ancient caves, where habitations were dug into calcareous rock. Amid the marvels of its justly famous landscapes and ancient olive groves, we'll find time to savor Puglia's storied food and wine.

This program is part of Cornell's Adult University (CAU), which offers acclaimed education vacations designed and led by Cornell faculty. Programs include off-campus travel adventures and weeklong on-campus summer courses open to all, including Cornell alumni, families, and friends.

For more information and to register, visit cau.cornell.edu, e-mail cauinfo@cornell.edu, or call 607.255.6260.