WELCOME TO PUGLIA & ELEGANT LECCE

Lecce - Arrive at Bari Airport and travel to the elegant town of LECCE, known as “The Florence of the South“on account of its astonishing number of baroque and Renaissance-style buildings. En-route drive to the picturesque fishing village of POLIGNANO A MARE, perched on limestone cliffs, boasting stunning views and colorful narrow streets for sightseeing and lunch on your own.Spend the first three nights of your Puglia adventure in a central four stars hotel.Dinner is included this evening in a local tavern where you’ll feel like one of the family.Eat like a local!

ELEGANT LECCE & ITS BAROQUE SPLENDORS

Lecce - Southern Italians have long known historic LECCE and its glorious profusion of Baroque mansions and churches.A beautiful baroque town with a remarkable architectural confection of palaces and churches intricately sculpted from the soft local sandstone. In the morning, we take a private tour around the city with our locally born guide to have the key sights explained to us. Lecce is known for its crafts, most notably papier-mache’ figurines, and this display is dedicated to explaining the skills and artistry that go into a local product.We end the morning with a visit to an HISTORICAL PALAZZO followed by an included light lunch in a local bistro.The remainder of the day is free for independent exploration.You might choose to visit the Museo Faggiano, which will give you an even greater insight into the city’s long history.Dinner tonight is on your own

THE MARVELS OF GALATINA, OTRANTO & THE SALENTO PENINSULA

Otranto - This morning we depart to the town of GALATINA, an important Greek colony in the Middle Ages and nowadays renowned for its splendid church of ST CATERINA D’ALESSANDRIA which contains early 15th-century frescoes with scenes from the Old and New Testaments.A mind-blowing Giotto-like experience!The second Galatinese gem is the local pastry, a sweet custard treat called pasticciotto Galatina which we try today. Move to CAPE OTRANTO to visit a recently restored 19th century lighthouse from where on clear days you can see the mountains of Albania.End the day in OTRANTO, a charming harbor town overlooking the turquoise Adriatic sea with an included lunch in a popular fishing restaurant.You’ll have time for visiting the stunning Cathedral where, in the interior you can find a remarkable 12th century mosaic floor depicting the Tree of Life balanced on the back of two elephants.The evening is all yours to head to the old town for a meal or taking in the atmosphere of the evening “stroll”-

PRIMITIVO WINE TASTING IN MANDURIA & BIBLICAL MATERA

Matera - Leaving beautiful Puglia region, we drive to nearby BASILICATA and the town of MATERA. Even for Italians, Basilicata is off the beaten track and little known, despite being portrayed as Biblical Palestine in countless film epics.Our first stop is a well-known winery located in the MANDURIA region for a tasting of their wines “Primitivo” and a visit to the wine culture museum.Continue to MATERA for the next two nights at “LOCANDA SAN MARTINO“or similar, located in the heart of the Sassi district, said to be one of the world’s oldest towns, inhabited since the Paleolithic Age.This evening we’ll meet for a delicious meal in a local gourmet restaurant.

FAIRYTALE MATERA

Matera - MATERA is a fabulous troglodyte town of prehistoric grottoes, cave tabernacles, abandoned hovels and Renaissance houses, all excavated into the luminous limestone tufa. The rock-cut cave dwellings known as the SASSI, date back to Byzantine times.With the help of a locally-grown expert, we’ll learn the stories of old and new Matera.Discover an ancient cave dwelling which tells a tale of poverty, hardship and struggle, whose history is best immortalized in writer Carlo Levi’s superb book “Christ stopped at Eboli“,comparing the Sassi to Dante’s Inferno.Today Matera contains some 3000 habitable caves.Visit a cave church-featuring medieval frescoes with their own legends that we’ll learn about.After an included light lunch with local products is included today. you’ll enjoy a non-guided visit to the stunning ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

TRULLI IN FAIRYTALE ALBEROBELLO, HOME-HOSTED LUNCH WITH BURRATA CHEESE EXPERIENCE

Alberobello - Today’s visit takes you to UNESCO ALBEROBELLO, famous for its district of Trulli, spread over the hillside to the south of the town. These square structures have conical roofs covered with “Chiancarelle”, grey-limestone roof slabs and are crowned by differently shaped pinnacles, each with a magical significance.Your expert guide will show you an 18th century small Trullo house, giving something of the atmosphere of trullo life, with sweet, rounded rooms that include a re-created bakery, bedroom and kitchen.Today,you are invited in the house of an Apulian family for a home-hosted lunch.Spend the last two nights in the white town of OSTUNI at the “HOTEL MONTE SARAGO“or similar, a town which shines like a pearly white tiara, extending across three hills with the magnificent gem of a late-Gothic 15th century cathedral.Dinner is on your own this evening.

OLIVE OIL FARM, WINE TASTING IN MAGICAL LOCOROTONDO & BACKROAD MARTINA FRANCA

Ostuni - This morning visit takes you to the small whitewashed village of LOCOROTONDO, considered one of the most picturesque ones in Italy boasting an extraordinarily beautiful and whisper-quiet pedestrianized historical center, where everything is shimmering white aside from the blood-red geraniums that tumble from the window boxes. After an included wine tasting,we’ll head on to the aristocratic and baroque town of MARTINA FRANCA to wander around its picturesque streets.Return to OSTUNI to visit a locally farm for an olive oil experience.In the evening celebrate your Apulian adventure with an “Arrivederci dinner” sharing travel memories and toasting new friends

Arrivederci Puglia

Bari - Morning transfers to Bari airport and train station.

• Private transportation
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Parking fees
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

• Flight
• Hotel City tax
• Gratuity to tour manager and driver
• Porterage