Puglia 10 Day Itinerary
May 28
(Thurs) Leave the U.S. arriving the next day at the airport in Brindisi, Puglia. Transfer to hotel in Lecce.
May 29-31
(Fri-Sun) Our first three nights will be spent in Lecce, a town known for its beautiful Baroque architecture. Our lodgings are in a historic 15th century palazzo which boasts a stunning rooftop terrace dripping with brilliant vines of bougainvillea and fragrant roses. Here we can sip an evening spritz or local wine and enjoy views over the city. During our walking tour on Saturday with professional guide, Emanuela, we will visit the beautiful Baroque buildings and churches, visit a local papier-machė artist to learn of this venerable local art form and explore the sunken Roman amphitheater. We will also stop at a local caffè to enjoy a Caffè Leccese and Pasticciotto tasting. On Sunday a scenic drive down the coast is planned, visiting towns along the way such as Otranto, Galatina and Gallipoli, finally reaching the very bottom of the "boot" at Marina di Leuca. We will admire the incredible frescoes in the Basiica of Santa Caterina in Galatina and have lunch near Tricase. In the evening, as our dinner, we will be served a scrumptious antipasto on the rooftop, accompanied by Prosecco and the local favorite wine, Rosato.
June 1
(Mon) Tonight we will stay in one of the historic Maserie. Traced back to the Middle Ages, these fortified farmhouse structures created a refuge for local farmers and their families. They were once the heart of agricultural activities and designed to be self sufficient. We will taste their wine and olive oils, be served delicious meals prepared from local ingredients and enjoy the swimming pool. On the route to our lodging, we will visit Ostuni, known as the White City due to its abundance of white-washed houses. This is one of Puglia's most picturesque locations, displaying medieval architecture and endless views of olive groves and the Adriatic sea.
June 2 & 3
(Tues & Wed)
Today we take a short drive to the Polignano a Mare-Monopoli area and check into our lodgings and explore these historic towns known for excellent beaches. During our stay, we will take a boat tour to see grottos and caves along the beautiful coastline. On Wed we will drive to Bari, a port city on the Adriatic Sea and the capital of southern Italy’s Puglia region. Our guide, Vito, will give us a tour of its maze-like old town, Barivecchia. We will have an opportunity to watch and chat with the "pasta ladies" as they deftly make their specialty, orecchiette pasta, in the open air on a street renamed for them.
June 4
(Thursday) After breakfast we will drive into the Valle d’Itria to visit the coned-shaped Trulli houses in Alberobello with our guide and learn the fascinating story of this place. We will also visit the towns of Locorotondo and Martina Franca before reaching Matera just over the boarder in the region of Basilicata. We will check into our boutique hotel fashioned out of the caves once inhabited by the Sassi people and end the day with aperativi, admiring the view of the town from the terrace. Tuesday morning Vito will lead us on a tour through the warren of lanes of the ancient part of the city and learn how the Sassi people lived for centuries in these dwellings carved into the hillsides.
June 5 & 6
(Fri-Sat) We leave Matera after a short lunch break to drive north to the beautiful Gargano Peninsula. We will admire the breathtaking views of the coast as we make our way to the town of Vieste. Our hotel is located on Punta San Francesco and has panoramic views of the sea on both sides of its rooftop terrazza. During our stay, we will enjoy meals along the seafront, explore the old town, investigate the trabocchi fishing piers and enjoy a relaxing day on the beach and a swim in the sea.
June 7
(Sun) Today we drive to the town of Trani, where we will spend our last night of the tour. Known as “Pearl of the Adriatic,” Trani is a picturesque coastal town, renowned for its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant harbor. We will wander through narrow alleys lined with historic buildings, artisan shops and charming cafes and then enjoy our arrivederci dinner along the picturesque harbor.
June 8
This morning we will transfer to the Bari airport for flights heading home.
(Thurs) Leave the U.S. arriving the next day at the airport in Brindisi, Puglia. Transfer to hotel in Lecce.
May 29-31
(Fri-Sun) Our first three nights will be spent in Lecce, a town known for its beautiful Baroque architecture. Our lodgings are in a historic 15th century palazzo which boasts a stunning rooftop terrace dripping with brilliant vines of bougainvillea and fragrant roses. Here we can sip an evening spritz or local wine and enjoy views over the city. During our walking tour on Saturday with professional guide, Emanuela, we will visit the beautiful Baroque buildings and churches, visit a local papier-machė artist to learn of this venerable local art form and explore the sunken Roman amphitheater. We will also stop at a local caffè to enjoy a Caffè Leccese and Pasticciotto tasting. On Sunday a scenic drive down the coast is planned, visiting towns along the way such as Otranto, Galatina and Gallipoli, finally reaching the very bottom of the "boot" at Marina di Leuca. We will admire the incredible frescoes in the Basiica of Santa Caterina in Galatina and have lunch near Tricase. In the evening, as our dinner, we will be served a scrumptious antipasto on the rooftop, accompanied by Prosecco and the local favorite wine, Rosato.
June 1
(Mon) Tonight we will stay in one of the historic Maserie. Traced back to the Middle Ages, these fortified farmhouse structures created a refuge for local farmers and their families. They were once the heart of agricultural activities and designed to be self sufficient. We will taste their wine and olive oils, be served delicious meals prepared from local ingredients and enjoy the swimming pool. On the route to our lodging, we will visit Ostuni, known as the White City due to its abundance of white-washed houses. This is one of Puglia's most picturesque locations, displaying medieval architecture and endless views of olive groves and the Adriatic sea.
June 2 & 3
(Tues & Wed)
Today we take a short drive to the Polignano a Mare-Monopoli area and check into our lodgings and explore these historic towns known for excellent beaches. During our stay, we will take a boat tour to see grottos and caves along the beautiful coastline. On Wed we will drive to Bari, a port city on the Adriatic Sea and the capital of southern Italy’s Puglia region. Our guide, Vito, will give us a tour of its maze-like old town, Barivecchia. We will have an opportunity to watch and chat with the "pasta ladies" as they deftly make their specialty, orecchiette pasta, in the open air on a street renamed for them.
June 4
(Thursday) After breakfast we will drive into the Valle d’Itria to visit the coned-shaped Trulli houses in Alberobello with our guide and learn the fascinating story of this place. We will also visit the towns of Locorotondo and Martina Franca before reaching Matera just over the boarder in the region of Basilicata. We will check into our boutique hotel fashioned out of the caves once inhabited by the Sassi people and end the day with aperativi, admiring the view of the town from the terrace. Tuesday morning Vito will lead us on a tour through the warren of lanes of the ancient part of the city and learn how the Sassi people lived for centuries in these dwellings carved into the hillsides.
June 5 & 6
(Fri-Sat) We leave Matera after a short lunch break to drive north to the beautiful Gargano Peninsula. We will admire the breathtaking views of the coast as we make our way to the town of Vieste. Our hotel is located on Punta San Francesco and has panoramic views of the sea on both sides of its rooftop terrazza. During our stay, we will enjoy meals along the seafront, explore the old town, investigate the trabocchi fishing piers and enjoy a relaxing day on the beach and a swim in the sea.
June 7
(Sun) Today we drive to the town of Trani, where we will spend our last night of the tour. Known as “Pearl of the Adriatic,” Trani is a picturesque coastal town, renowned for its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant harbor. We will wander through narrow alleys lined with historic buildings, artisan shops and charming cafes and then enjoy our arrivederci dinner along the picturesque harbor.
June 8
This morning we will transfer to the Bari airport for flights heading home.
