Puglia
Puglia is a region of Italy 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 white-washed cities reminiscent of Greece (Città bianche), the Baroque city of Lecce and the cone-shaped Trulli houses of Alberobello. We will have opportunities to swim in the clear blue waters of the Adriatic Sea and stay in a historic farm estate (Masseria). Just over the border in Basilicata is the ancient town of Matera, where the Sassi people once lived in caves carved into the cliffs. We will stay in one of the unique hotels made from these caves. We will have professional, guided tours of the historic towns, a scenic boat tour to see caves and grottoes along the cliffs of Monopoli and we will take part in a hands-on cooking experience, learning to prepare traditional regional dishes. 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. The Trabocchi Coast, named after its traditional wooden fishing piers, begins in the northern reaches of Puglia.
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
View from the Lecce palazzo rooftop
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One of the "pasta ladies" in Bari
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A favorite restaurant in Vieste
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