Puglia & Abruzzo
Puglia is sandwiched between the Adriatic to the east and the Ionian Sea to the west and boasts the longest coastline of Italy’s mainland regions. On this tour we will explore the shorelines of the Salento, once part of Magna Grecia, the agricultural Valle d'Itria, the Città bianche, white-walled cities reminiscent of Greece, the Baroque city of Lecce and the cone-shaped Trulli houses of Alberobello. We will visit Matera just over the border in Basilicata to see where the Sassi people once lived in caves carved into the cliffs, many of which have now been renovated into unique lodgings. We will have walking tours of the historic towns, a scenic boat tour to see grottoes and we will also enjoy a hands-on cooking experience. Puglia, like most of southern Italy, embraces the slower pace of life demonstrated in the tradition of La Pausa, the midday rest, and the evening stroll or passeggiata. The cuisine is known as La cucina povera, simple but flavorful dishes prepared from fresh, local ingredients paired with locally produced wines. The region is the top regional producer of Italian olive oil and the second top producer of Italian red wine.
Abruzzo is a hidden gem, a much less traveled Italian region. With the Adriatic coastline to the east and the Apennine Mountains to the west, the rugged interior is saturated with National parks and nature reserves. It also encompasses hilltop towns, dating to the medieval and Renaissance periods, which are uncrowded and a delight to to explore. The Trabocchi Coast, with sandy coves, is named after its traditional wooden fishing piers. An opportunity to relax on the beach and take a dip in the warm Adriatic sea is an essential experience and one of the many highlights of our trip. On this tour we will have a special guide, Sam Ciapanna, who lives in a small town in Abruzzo for half of each year. He is looking forward to showing us his favorite places and introducing us to traditional foods and wines. We will also visit the town of Ascoli Piceno in the neighboring region of Le Marche to enjoy the sparkling piazzas constructed from local travertine and taste the traditional olive all'ascolana.
Abruzzo is a hidden gem, a much less traveled Italian region. With the Adriatic coastline to the east and the Apennine Mountains to the west, the rugged interior is saturated with National parks and nature reserves. It also encompasses hilltop towns, dating to the medieval and Renaissance periods, which are uncrowded and a delight to to explore. The Trabocchi Coast, with sandy coves, is named after its traditional wooden fishing piers. An opportunity to relax on the beach and take a dip in the warm Adriatic sea is an essential experience and one of the many highlights of our trip. On this tour we will have a special guide, Sam Ciapanna, who lives in a small town in Abruzzo for half of each year. He is looking forward to showing us his favorite places and introducing us to traditional foods and wines. We will also visit the town of Ascoli Piceno in the neighboring region of Le Marche to enjoy the sparkling piazzas constructed from local travertine and taste the traditional olive all'ascolana.
Thanks so much for planning and executing such a wonderful trip...I feel so fortunate to have experienced Italy with you...It truly was a trip of a lifetime. —Ann P, Worthington, OH
Trulli houses, Alberobello, Puglia
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Interior of a Sassi cave, Matera, Basilicata
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The countryside near Colonnella, Abruzzo
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