Start your day with breakfast at the hotel before heading to Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed city famed for the ancient Sassi cave dwellings – human settlements dating back to the Palaeolithic period.
Explore the city’s rock-carved homes and churches that offer a glimpse into age-old ways of life. Then, visit a local bakery where you’ll witness the process of making Basilicata bread, passed down by generations, with a tasting included.
Spend the afternoon exploring Matera on your own, before returning to Bari for the evening at leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. two hours
Basilicata bread tasting
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out and embarking on a tour through Bari’s historic centre. Visit landmarks like the Basilica di San Nicola and Castello Svevo for views of the Adriatic Sea, stopping along the way to learn about typical Apulian dishes – turnovers known as ‘panzerotto’ and a regional focaccia covered in cheese and sauce.
Just outside town, visit an ancient oil mill to witness traditional production techniques. The tour ends with a tasting of Puglia’s famous olive oil, known for its fruity and herbal notes.
Depart for Ostuni, where you’ll enjoy dinner at the hotel, made using fresh, local ingredients.
Travel time: Driving – approx. one hour
Olive oil tasting
After breakfast at the hotel, board a Piaggio Ape Calessino vehicle for a tour of the ‘White City’ with its whitewashed buildings and streets, then continue to a local farmhouse to taste creamy burrata cheese.
Afterward, head to the UNESCO-listed village of Alberobello, known for its trulli cottages with conical stone roofs.
Return to Ostuni for an evening at leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 1.5 hours
Burrata cheese tasting
Head to the seaside village of Polignano a Mare, known for its white-pebble beaches, fresh seafood and dramatic cliffs. You may opt to join a sailing excursion onboard a catamaran (surcharges apply). Enjoy lunch with the group, then return to the hotel for some downtime.
In the evening, explore the town of Monopoli, famous for its medieval architecture. Stroll through historic streets with whitewashed facades and colorful flowers, then head to the shore to watch the sunset before spending the evening as you please.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 2.5 hours
Start today at a boutique masseria – a small-scale agricultural estate – where you’ll learn how to create some of Puglia’s most delicious dishes during a hands-on cooking lesson. Afterward, enjoy lunch with the group, tasting your creations, before visiting a nearby winery to sample Apulian wines.
In the afternoon, journey to Lecce where you’ll have time to explore the city, known as ‘the Florence of the south’, at your leisure.
Travel time: Driving – approx. one hour
This morning, take a stroll through the historic centre of Lecce, passing landmarks like the Basilica di Santa Croce and the Church of San Matteo while admiring the city’s famous Baroque architecture. The tour ends with a visit to the Palazzo Tamborino, one of the city’s noble mansions, offering a glimpse into its unique history.
In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with the group at a restaurant in the Old Town.
Say goodbye to your fellow travellers this morning as your journey through Puglia concludes. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checkout, then make your own way to the airport or train station for your onward travels.