Discover Puglia
Journey through Italy's Hidden gem
OCTOBER 9 - 20, 2025
Small Group Tour of 20 People
WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW PLACES TO EXPLORE!!!
Join us in Puglia, where sun-kissed landscapes, charming villages, and crystal-clear waters await you! Nestled in the "heel of Italy’s boot", Puglia is a delightful blend of history, culture, and natural beauty and less crowded than the ever popular Rome, Florence & Venice.
Imagine This: You, strolling through Alberobello's narrow streets, marveling at the iconic trulli houses. Or enjoying a plate of orecchiette pasta or fresh seafood dish in a quaint trattoria, savoring the fresh, local flavors that make Puglia a food lover’s paradise.
We'll explore the stunning Adriatic coastline, swim in turquoise waters, and take in the breathtaking views from Polignano a Mare & Monopoli as well as visiting the historic Matera and Lecce, the "Florence of the South," with its baroque architecture and vibrant atmosphere.
Itinerary
October 9 – Overnight Flight: NY to Bari
October 10 – Matera
We'll have a private transfer from the airport to our hotel in Matera. After checking into our hotel we'll enjoy some free time to explore on our own before gathering for a Welcome Dinner this evening. (D)
Hotel Nazionale Matera (or similar) - 3 Nights
October 11 - Altamura & Matera
This morning after breakfast, we'll head out to explore two historic towns.
We'll discover the medieval town of Altamura, built during the Holy Roman Empire, entering the historical center from one of the ancient gates of the the town to discover the architectural beauty of the churches and the typical squares of the old town. We'll use our sense of smell to search out old wood-burning ovens where even today they are cooking bread and focaccia.
A visit of Altamura is not complete without tasting its famous bread.
Altamura bread has been recognized as a PDO (protected designation of origin) product since 2003 because it is produced using wheat grown for centuries in the hills of the Murgia plateau and baked in traditional wooden and stone ovens. We'll have some free time to enjoy exploring the city on our own.
Next we proceed back to Matera to visit the old section of the city. Known as the "City of the Sassi", Matera has been included on the UNESCO Heritage List since 1993.
During our tour, we will also admire some masterpieces of the Apulian-Romanesque and Baroque architecture. We will be immersed in the silence of ancient stone churches enlightened by the beauty of sublime Benedictine and Byzantine frescoes. We will witness the long human timeline from the Paleolithic age to the present day.
This evening we will have dinner together at a local restaurant. (B, D)
October 12 – Bari
Today we'll spend in the seaside city of Bari where the heart of Puglia beats strongest and the aroma of traditional cuisine fills the air.
We'll stroll through the narrow, sunlit streets of Bari Vecchia, the historic old town and learn the history as well as taste the cuisine. As we go along, we'll be sampling some of the local favorites and perhaps find the "cooking women of Bari" making their homemade pasta on tables outside their homes.
The day will include history, tastings and free time to explore the waterfront, the shops and the local people. This evening we will be free to have dinner on our own. (B, L)
October 13 – Lecce
This morning after breakfast we'll check out of our hotel and bid goodbye to Matera. We'll head south to our next hotel in the center of Lecce.
On the way, we'll visit a wine museum to learn the history of wine making in this region. We'll enjoy a wine tasting and lunch before heading to Lecce.
After checking into our hotel, we'll meet our guide for a walking tour of the city and then enjoy dinner on our own. (B, L)
Patria Palace Lecce (or similar) - 3 Nights
October 14 – Otranto
This morning after breakfast we'll head south to the hidden gem that is the coastal town of Otranto. We'll explore the cobblestone streets where every corner reveals a new layer of history and charm. The town’s centerpiece, the magnificent Otranto Cathedral, boasts a breathtaking mosaic floor from the 12th century that tells stories of knights, mythical creatures, and biblical tales. The Castello Aragonese, an impressive fortress overlooking the sea, offers panoramic views that will leave us breathless.
We'll enjoy lunch in Masseria Forticata before heading back to Lecce for a free afternoon and dinner on our own. (B, L)
October 15 – Galatina & Gallipoli
This morning after breakfast we head to the west coast of the "heel of Italy". Along the way, we'll stop in the small town of Galatina, often called "the smaller brother of Lecce" for its Baroque influence. We'll walk the streets of the historic center, a jewel of Salento and have a chance to stop by a local pastry shop to taste the famous “pasticciotto”, a typical cake made with pastry and cream born in this small town.
Then we head west to the town of Gallipoli. This enchanting coastal town is rich in history due to its Greek roots and its wonderful Baroque and Renaissance buildings. We'll walk through the alleys of the old town, which connected to the mainland by a seventeenth-century bridge, and admire the courts and palazzi of what had once been one of the richest cities in the south of Italy in the sixteenth century.
We'll enjoy an included lunch and have free time to explore on our own before heading back to Lecce for dinner on our own. (B, L)
October 16 – Ostuni & Polignano
Today after breakfast and checkout, we say goodbye to Lecce and head north to Polignano.
On the way we will visit the gleaming white city of Ostuni, which sits atop the last hill of the southern Murgia plateau. Looking out from its
fortifications, your eye is drawn over a plain full of ancient olive trees toward the crystal blue waters of the Adriatic Sea.
We'll spend time exploring the narrow streets of old town and then be invited to visit a traditional olive oil mill where we will immerse ourselves into the world of the so-called “green gold” of Puglia. With almost half of the national production, this region is among the biggest olive oil producers in Italy. Here, we will learn about the traditional method of olive oil processing, which uses granite mill stones, as well as the modern processing system. We will taste different extra virgin olive oils produced by this olive oil farm and enjoy a light lunch.
Then we head to our last hotel in Polignano for free time at this beautiful resort for the rest of the day and dinner on our own. (B, L)
San Lorenzo Boutique Hotel & Spa (or similar) - 4 Nights
October 17 – Polignano a Mare
This morning you will have free time to enjoy the hotel property, spa, beach or head into town on your own.
This afternoon we will provide transportation into Polignano a Mare for free time to enjoy the town and then meet up for an included dinner with transportation back to the hotel afterward. (B, D)
October 18 – Alberobello & Cooking Class
This morning after breakfast we'll enjoy a visit to the town of Alberobello, a UNESCO heritage site known for its typical buildings, called trulli, which are traditional conical-roofed stone houses that were built using prehistoric techniques. They are still used as homes, restaurants, and shops.
The Rione Monti, a maze of narrow winding streets with over 1,000 trulli, is the oldest part of the town, along with the Rione Aia Piccola.
After the visit, we'll go to a local Masseria located just few km from Alberobello downtown. Here we'll enjoy a half day cooking class. We'll learn to cook as Italian grandparents did. We’ll prepare authentic Apulian dishes: facaccia barese, polpette di pane e uova (bread and eggs-balls “), orecchiette’s pasta with tomatoes and basil, veal-rools “apulian style”. We'll enjoy our meal and relax before returning to Polignano for the rest of the day and dinner on our own. (B, L)
October 19 – Monopoli
This morning after breakfast we'll have transportation into the town of Monopoli. Here we'll have free time to enjoy this seaside town before gathering for our Farewell Lunch.
We'll have transportation back to our hotel and the afternoon to enjoy the property, go to the beach or maybe wander back to Polignano a Mare. Dinner will be on our own. (B, L)
October 20 – Flight Home
We will have a VERY early morning transfer to the airport for our flight home, leaving Puglia with some amazing memories!
PRICING* FOR DOUBLE OCCUPANY
$5975/PERSON
SORRY NO SINGLE PRICING AVAILABLE FOR THIS TRIP
$5775/PERSON -SAVE $200-DEPOSIT BY 8/31/24
*Price Includes
Daily Private Coach Transportation with English speaking tour guide
10 Nights in luxury accommodations
19 Meals
- Daily Breakfast (except first and last day)
- 7 Lunches
- 3 Dinners (including Welcome & Farewell dinners)
All Tours, Entrance Fees & Activities listed
*Price Does NOT Include
Airfare
Travel Protection (Available Upon Request)
Meals or Transportation not listed
DEPOSIT $1200/PSN TO SAVE $200 BY 10/15/24
FINAL PAYMENT DUE ON OR BEFORE 7/8/25
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