Daily Itinerary
Pricing

Highlights

• Italy’s Best Kept Travel Secret
• The land of trullli, the conical-roofed homes
• Baroque City of Lecce known as the Florence of the south
• Spectacular Adriatic landscapes & seascapes

• The Sassi, the ancient cave dwellings in the city of Matera, Basilicata
• Spectacular Adriatic coastline
• Wine tasting of the celebrated Primitivo wine
• Ancient tradition and the art of making fresh burrata cheese
• Extraordinary local cuisine

 

Puglia, Passage of Discovery - Day by Day Itinerary

Departure from the United States

Thursday, September 8

Day 1 - Lecce

Friday, September 9

Morning: Arrival at the Brindisi airport and  private transfer to Lecce center.

Check in to your four-star hotel - your home for the next 3 nights.

Late Afternoon: Orientation Walk of Lecce with local, licensed guide.

Evening: Welcome Reception in a Private Palazzo in the Historic center of Lecce.

Day 2 - Lecce

Saturday, September 10

Morning: Walking Tour of Lecce center with local, licensed guide. Lecce is one the most beautiful historic cities of southern Italy. Lecce is known as the “Florence of the South” and it’s famous for having some of the best examples of Baroque architecture in Italy, Tour will include the Roman Amphitheatre, the Basilica of S. Croce, and the richly decorated Cathedral.

Afternoon: Spend the rest of the day exploring Lecce on your own.

Evening: Enjoy a leisurely night with dinner on your own.

Day 3 - Lecce

Sunday, September 11

Morning: Enjoy a full day excursion to Salento, the province at the "heel" of Italy which extends south-east towards Greece. Visit the small town of Galatina with its famous frescos of the Basilica of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria followed by a visit to the oldest pastry shops of the area and taste the local specialty, the “pasticciotto”.

Afternoon: Walking tour of Otranto, Italy’s ​​easternmost town (only 40 miles across the Adriatic Sea from Albania). Included in the tour is the Cathedral with the largest mosaic floor in Europe (dated 1163 ) and a stroll through the old Spanish fortification with a gorgeous view of Otranto. Rest of the afternoon at leisure in Otranto and return to Lecce.

Early Evening: Festive Puglia style aperitif.

Evening: Dinner on your own.

Day 4 - Lecce - Pezze di Greco

Monday, September 12

Morning: Departure from Lecce to central Puglia with enroute visit to Ostuni, known as La Città Bianca, “white city”,  for its beautiful whitewashed buildings. The walking tour of Ostuni will include the outstanding well-preserved old-town with its picturesque tangle of narrow medieval alleyways and the  dramatic 15th-century Gothic-Romanesque Cathedral facade with a frilly rose window.

Afternoon: Check in for three nights in our beautiful “Masseria”, a beautiful country residence. Our new base is ​​conveniently located in between the Itria Valley, with its lovely fields of olive groves, vineyards and the conical trulli houses typical of this region and the stunning Adriatic coast.

Evening: Group dinner at hotel.

Day 5 - Monopoli - Polignano a Mare

Tuesday, September 13

Morning: Departure for Monopoli with walking tour of town center. Fun boat excursion on the traditional “Calicco” boat along the Adriatic coast between Monopoli and Polignano a Mare.

Afternoon: After lunch return to hotel and free time to relax.

Late Afternoon: Departure for Polignano a Mare with its lively and picturesque city center, the terraces offering breathtaking views on the Adriatic sea and the jagged coastline. Polignano a Mare is also  the birthplace of the world famous singer Domenico Modugno who composed the beloved “Volare” song.

Evening: Group dinner at local restaurant in Polignano a Mare.

Day 6 - Alberobello

Wednesday, September 14

Morning: Departure for Alberobello. Walking tour of the unique town of Alberobello, a small fairy-tale village known for its cone-shaped buildings called trulli  and a UNESCO's World Heritage Site. Tour will include visit inside a trullo house and the unique trullo church.

Afternoon: Wine tasting and light lunch at local winery. Return to hotel with enroute stroll through the  wonderfully intact historic center of Martina Franca, with charming piazzas, beautiful baroque architecture and a stunning basilica.

Evening: Group dinner at hotel.

Day 7 - Locorotondo -  Matera

Thursday, September 15

Morning: Departure to Matera with en-route visit to Locorotondo. Walking tour of the picturesque Locorotondo with beautiful views of the Itria Valley. The round layout of the town is what gave the town its name (Rotondo in Italian means round).

Afternoon: Visit and light lunch at a local cheese maker at their farm.  Discover the secrets and ancient traditions of cheese making and the art of making fresh burrata, mozzarella and ricotta. After lunch depart for the magical cave town of Matera. Check in for two nights at our four-star hotel in the heart of Matera. Orientation walk of Matera with our guide.

Evening: Enjoy a leisurely night with dinner on your own.

Day 8 - Matera

Friday, September 16

Morning: Enjoy a walking tour of Matera, one of  the oldest continually inhabited settlements in the World and a Unesco World Heritage famous for the district of the “Sassi”, the ancient cave dwellings.

Afternoon: Free time to explore Matera on your own.

Evening: Farewell group dinner at a local restaurant.

 

Day 9 - Morning transfer from hotel to the Bari airport or Bari train station. End of tour

Saturday, September 17

Itinerary specifics subject to change.

Puglia, Passage of Discovery - Tour Pricing

Your tour price includes:

•   8 nights in beautiful, elegant accommodation in 4-5  star hotels
•   Meals:
  – Breakfast daily
  – 2 Lunches/Wine Tastings/Cheese Tastings:
         1 Wine Tasting and lunch at local winery
         1 Cheese Tasting at local cheese maker
  – 5 dinners:
         1 Welcome dinner reception in a private residence in Lecce
         2 Dinners in our hotel “Masseria”
         1 Dinner at local restaurant in Polignano a Mare
         1 Farewell dinner in Matera
•   Licensed Expert Tour Guide/Manager for entire trip (8 days)
•   Guided walking tours of: Lecce, Galatina, Otranto, Ostuni, Monopoli, Alberobello, Locorotondo, Matera
•   Private transportation throughout the entire itinerary
•   All museum entry fees
•   Airport transfers. We will coordinate transfers so you can share with other travelers
•   Gratuities to drivers and restaurants

 

Not Included:

• Flights
• Meals and drinks not specified
• Gratuities to your Tour Guide/Director
• Travel Insurance (strongly recommended)

Tour cost payable with credit card (Mastercard or Visa)

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Tour Cost based on double occupancy

9 days/8 nights Puglia.........................................................$4,397

Single Supplement.……………..………………………….…………+ $895

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All aspects of the tour will be coordinated by Giovanna Chiti of Discover my Italy.