Spend Christmas in Italy at Coppola's Palazzo Margherita

Set in the charming town of Bernalda, where Francis Ford Coppola's grandfather was born, Palazzo Margherita delights guests with palatial rooms and suites, delicious authentic Italian cuisine, endless luxurious amenities and hospitality so heartwarming many visitors choose never to venture beyond the Palazzo walls.

Palazzo Margherita's General Manager Rossella De Filippo and her world-class team will welcome you into the intimate family atmosphere of this unique 18th century Italian estate. Just as she does at home, Rossella dresses the Palazzo with elegant, handmade holiday decorations. Guests will also have the chance to experience traditional Christmas recipes in the cozy kitchen where Chef Tommaso will share the secrets of ancestral Basilicatan cuisine.

Sitting next to the wood oven, with a good glass of wine in hand, you will feel the NATALE Italiano!

ITINERARY:

Day 1 – December 23, 2015

• Arrival at the Palazzo
• Cooking lesson in the warmth of our dine-in kitchen, where you will learn how to prepare some of our traditional Christmas recipes
• Welcome dinner
• Classic Italian movie screening in the Salon

Day 2 – December 24, 2015

• Breakfast
• Tour of the Crypt of the Original Sin near Matera. Known as the “Sistine Chapel” of Rupestrian wall paintings, this cycle of frescoes, dating back to the 9th century A.D, depicts scenes from the Old and the New Testament
• Tour of Matera and its Sassi or cave dwellings, including a visit to the Musma (one of the most renowned contemporary art museums in Europe), the Palazzo Lanfranchi (National Museum of Medieval and Modern Art of Basilicata), Casa Cava (a unique auditorium), Casa Ortega (an Arts & Crafts school in the original home of the Spanish exiled painter) and a number of rock Rupestrian churches
• Lunch in Matera in a typical trattoria, sampling traditional local food
• At the Palazzo, a traditional Christmas Eve dinner, including select local wines, in our beautiful Salon
• Midnight mass in one of Bernalda's historic churches, to experience a truly authentic Southern Italian Christmas

Day 3 – December 25, 2015

• Breakfast
• Tour of the historical center of Bernalda, exploring the ancient streets and churches
• Christmas aperitivo in our cozy Family Bar
• Traditional “Pranzo di Natale” (Christmas lunch)
• Participation with the staff in one of the most entertaining Christmas customs of Southern Italy: the family game of “tombolata” and other card and board games
• Dinner with “giropizza” in our Family Kitchen. With the “giropizza,” a typical Italian custom, the entire group of guests is given a series of pizzas of various kinds, allowing each participant to taste different specialties

Day 4 – December 26, 2015

• Breakfast
• Tour of Lecce, the renowned Baroque architectural city known as “The Florence of the South,” with its many churches and beautiful squares, including the stunning Piazza del Duomo. It's also possible to visit an ancient Roman Amphitheatre built in the 2nd century, situated near Sant'Oronzo Square
• Lunch in a traditional Lecce restaurant
• Return to Palazzo Margherita
• Chocolate Story and Taste: The history of chocolate through its tastes and savoring scents
• Dinner at the Palazzo
Day 5 – December 27, 2015
• Breakfast
• Check out

PRICE:

• 1790 Euros per person (B&B and entire package above included)
• Based on double occupancy
• Additional beds may be priced upon request.

Visit website: https://www.coppolaresorts.com/palazzomargherita