Puglia is a land of art and culture, rich in treasures waiting to be discovered. It has been the cradle of many ancient civilizations and located in a strategic position in the southeastern corner of Italy, amid ancient archaeological sites from Magna Graecia. Puglia is a treasure chest of art, history, nature, and gourmet cuisine. Basilicata, also known as Lucania offers breathtaking mountains, verdant forests as well as a rich cultural and gastronomic heritage. Both regions abound in Unesco World Heritage Sites. Come experience the wonders of these two regions firsthand.
Featuring Lecce (4 nights), Matera (2 nights) Polignano a Mare (2 nights) with visits to Locorotondo, Ostuni, Martinafranca, Alberobello, Castel del Monte, Trani, Altamura, and Bari
Included Features
- Private car, van transfers with English speaking driver on arrival, departure, and throughout the package as indicated
- Eight nights' accommodation in select centrally located hotels
- Buffet Breakfast daily, hotel taxes, and service
- Wine tasting in Lecce at a renowned Enoteca
- Guided walking tours of Lecce, Locorotondo, Ostuni, Alberobello, Matera, Castel del Monte, Polignano a Mare and Bari
- Mozzarella and capocollo tastings in Martinafranca
- Lunch in Castel del Monte at a panoramic masseria with wine
- Bread tasting in Altamura at a historic bakery
- Focaccia tassting in Old Bari
- Coffee stop at a historic cafe' in Polignano a Mare
Itinerary
DAY 1 – BRINDISI/LECCE
Independent arrival at Brindisi Papola Casale Airport. Private car transfer with English speaking driver to the beautiful city of Lecce, affectionately known as the “Florence of the South.” Lecce will take visitors from prehistoric civilizations through Medieval architecture to the masterpieces of Baroque architecture. Check in at your centrally located hotel in Lecce. Time to relax and unwind. Overnight in Lecce.
DAY 2 – LECCE
Breakfast/Wine Tasting
Buffet breakfast at hotel and soon after, meet your English speaking guide/lecturer in your hotel lobby for a private two hour walking tour of the city. Enjoy highlights such as the Piazza Sant’Oronzo, the Basilicata of Santa Croce, and the Duomo. At the end of the tour, enjoy a wine tasting of Manduria or Primitivo wines at a renowned enoteca of the city. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight
DAY 3 – LECCE/LOCOROTONDO/OSTUNI/MARTINAFRANCA/ALBEROBELLO/LECCE
Breakfast/Mozzarella and Capocollo tasting
Buffet breakfast at hotel and depart for a full day excursion to explore Puglia’s hidden treasures. Our first stop will be in Locorotondo, a circular shaped village with unique little churches and residences along the winding white roads. Enjoy a guided walking tour with the Chiesa Madre of St. George, the Bernardi Palace, and the historic Greek Church. Continue to Ostuni, the “white city” with its whitewashed cluster of homes and palaces.. Enjoy a guided walking tour with the co-cathedral of St Mary of the Assumption, the Church of St. Francis, and the old city. We proceed by private car to Martinafranca where we will stop for a guided walking tour of this lovely Baroque treasure. Enjoy a tasty mozzarella and capocollo tasting at a local artisan. Our final stop for the day is in Alberobello, a Unesco World Heritage Site, for a guided walking tour of this one of a kind village made with cone-shaped homes, called “trulli”. Enjoy a private guided walking tour with entrance to visit the interior of a trullo. Return to Lecce in the late afternoon.
DAY 4 – LECCE
Breakfast/Optional Excursion to Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca and Gallipoli
Buffet breakfast at the hotel and enjoy a full day at leisure to explore this magnificent city at your own pace. For the more adventurous, take part in an optional excursion to Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca and Gallipoli, with its magnificent beaches and historic fortified town. Our first stop is in Otranto. Visit 15th-century Aragonese Castle and 11th-century Otranto Cathedral. Proceed to Santa Maria di Leuca with its rupestrian settlements, crypts, churches, castles, hundred-year-old olive trees, hidden coves and inlets, and a sea that is blue like no other. From the port of Leuca perhaps set sail for the nearby grottoes – dei Giganti, del Presepe, del Diavolo and del Drago – they were actually settlements in the Neolithic Era. View the Due Mari where the Adriatic Sea meets the Ionian Sea. Visit Gallipoli with St. Agatha’s Cathedral, the Church of St. Mary of Purity, the Gallipoli Castle with its imposing Rivellino Tower. Return to Lecce for overnight.
DAY 5 – LECCE/MATERA
Breakfast
Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out. Private car transfer to Matera, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Enjoy a guided walking tour of “I Sassi”, ancient cave dwellings inhabited since the Paleolithic period represent an outstanding example of urban settlement carved from rock, as if continuing a Paleolithic tradition in modern times. Entrance to the Casa Grotta and Chiesa Rupestre included. Following the visit, check in and room assignment in a stunning cave hotel. Balance of the day at leisure.
DAY 6 – MATERA/CASTEL DEL MONTE/TRANI/MATERA
Breakfast/Masseria Lunch with wine
After breakfast, enjoy a full day excursion to Castel del Monte and Trani. Our first stop will be in Casteldemmonte, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Stop for a guided tour of the 13th-century citadel and castle situated on a hill in Andria. It was built during the 1240s by the Emperor Frederick II. A unique piece of medieval military architecture, Castel del Monte is a successful blend of elements from classical antiquity, the Islamic Orient and north European Cistercian Gothic. Following the visit, proceed to a panoramic masseria for a country lunch with local specialties and wine. We continue to Trani. Enjoy a private guided tour of this stunning fishing village known for the breathtaking views from its St. Nicholas Cathedral. Stroll along the promenade and admire the local fishermen unloading their daily catch. We return to Matera in the late afternoon.
DAY 7 – MATERA/ALTAMURA/BARI/POLIGNANO A MARE
Breakfast/Bread Tasting/Focaccia Tasting/Coffee
Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out. Depart by private car and driver to Altamura, an ancient settlement from the Megalithic Period that borders with Basilicata. Stop to visit a bread artisan shop to taste the famous Pane di Altamura, a naturally leavened bread made from remilled durum wheat semola. We continue towards the coast to Bari, the capital of Puglia. Enjoy a private guided walking tour including the Palazzo Normanno, San Sabino Cathedral, San Nicola Cathedral, the Opera House, the colorful fish market, and don’t miss the streets of the old city where local women make pasta by hand. Here we will sample the local focaccia bread at an artisan shop in old Bari. Of final stop of the day is Polignano a Mare, a stunning Cliffside town overlooking the sea. Check in and room assignment at your centrally located hotel. Enjoy an afternoon walking tour of Polignano a Mare and stop at a historic cafe’ for their signature coffee blend. Balance of the afternoon at leisure.
DAY 8 –POLIGNANO A MARE
Breakfast/Optional Private Grotto Boat Excursion
Buffet breakfast at hotel and enjoy a full day at leisure to relax, unwind and perhaps enjoy a beach day or partake in an optional two hour private glass bottomed boat excursion to visit the grottos and caverns along the coast, such as the Grotta edelle Rondinelle or the Caverna dei Colombi.
DAY 9 -DEPARTURE
Buffet Breakfast
Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out. Private car transfer to Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport for your return flight to the US or extend your stay!
Accommodation, Departure Dates and Prices
FIRST CLASS PACKAGE
Grand Hotel Lecce in Lecce
L'Hotel in Pietra in Matera
Covo dei Saraceni, Cala Ponte in Polignano
Or similar
PRICING PER PERSON, DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
VALID FOR TRAVEL MARCH 1, 2021 - October 31, 2021*
PARTY SIZE FIRST CLASS PACKAGE
2 Participants $3,499.00
3 Participants $3,149.00
4 Participants $2,499.00
6 Participants $2,099.00
8 Participants $2,049.00
Single Supplement $2,950.00
*Easter departures are available for a supplement.
Extra nights at any of the included hotels are available upon request at a supplementary cost based on travel dates. Vacation may be personalized to suit. Larger parties welcome. Please contact us for a price quote and details.
Puglia is a land of art and culture, rich in treasures waiting to be discovered. It has been the cradle of many ancient civilizations and located in a strategic position in the southeastern corner of Italy, amid ancient archaeological sites from Magna Graecia. Puglia is a treasure chest of art, history, nature, and gourmet cuisine. Basilicata, also known as Lucania offers breathtaking mountains, verdant forests as well as a rich cultural and gastronomic heritage. Both regions abound in Unesco World Heritage Sites. Come experience the wonders of these two regions firsthand.
Featuring Lecce (4 nights), Matera (2 nights) Polignano a Mare (2 nights) with visits to Locorotondo, Ostuni, Martinafranca, Alberobello, Castel del Monte, Trani, Altamura, and Bari
Included Features
- Private car, van transfers with English speaking driver on arrival, departure, and throughout the package as indicated
- Eight nights' accommodation in select centrally located hotels
- Buffet Breakfast daily, hotel taxes, and service
- Wine tasting in Lecce at a renowned Enoteca
- Guided walking tours of Lecce, Locorotondo, Ostuni, Alberobello, Matera, Castel del Monte, Polignano a Mare and Bari
- Mozzarella and capocollo tastings in Martinafranca
- Lunch in Castel del Monte at a panoramic masseria with wine
- Bread tasting in Altamura at a historic bakery
- Focaccia tassting in Old Bari
- Coffee stop at a historic cafe' in Polignano a Mare
Itinerary
DAY 1 – BRINDISI/LECCE
Independent arrival at Brindisi Papola Casale Airport. Private car transfer with English speaking driver to the beautiful city of Lecce, affectionately known as the “Florence of the South.” Lecce will take visitors from prehistoric civilizations through Medieval architecture to the masterpieces of Baroque architecture. Check in at your centrally located hotel in Lecce. Time to relax and unwind. Overnight in Lecce.
DAY 2 – LECCE
Breakfast/Wine Tasting
Buffet breakfast at hotel and soon after, meet your English speaking guide/lecturer in your hotel lobby for a private two hour walking tour of the city. Enjoy highlights such as the Piazza Sant’Oronzo, the Basilicata of Santa Croce, and the Duomo. At the end of the tour, enjoy a wine tasting of Manduria or Primitivo wines at a renowned enoteca of the city. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight
DAY 3 – LECCE/LOCOROTONDO/OSTUNI/MARTINAFRANCA/ALBEROBELLO/LECCE
Breakfast/Mozzarella and Capocollo tasting
Buffet breakfast at hotel and depart for a full day excursion to explore Puglia’s hidden treasures. Our first stop will be in Locorotondo, a circular shaped village with unique little churches and residences along the winding white roads. Enjoy a guided walking tour with the Chiesa Madre of St. George, the Bernardi Palace, and the historic Greek Church. Continue to Ostuni, the “white city” with its whitewashed cluster of homes and palaces.. Enjoy a guided walking tour with the co-cathedral of St Mary of the Assumption, the Church of St. Francis, and the old city. We proceed by private car to Martinafranca where we will stop for a guided walking tour of this lovely Baroque treasure. Enjoy a tasty mozzarella and capocollo tasting at a local artisan. Our final stop for the day is in Alberobello, a Unesco World Heritage Site, for a guided walking tour of this one of a kind village made with cone-shaped homes, called “trulli”. Enjoy a private guided walking tour with entrance to visit the interior of a trullo. Return to Lecce in the late afternoon.
DAY 4 – LECCE
Breakfast/Optional Excursion to Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca and Gallipoli
Buffet breakfast at the hotel and enjoy a full day at leisure to explore this magnificent city at your own pace. For the more adventurous, take part in an optional excursion to Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca and Gallipoli, with its magnificent beaches and historic fortified town. Our first stop is in Otranto. Visit 15th-century Aragonese Castle and 11th-century Otranto Cathedral. Proceed to Santa Maria di Leuca with its rupestrian settlements, crypts, churches, castles, hundred-year-old olive trees, hidden coves and inlets, and a sea that is blue like no other. From the port of Leuca perhaps set sail for the nearby grottoes – dei Giganti, del Presepe, del Diavolo and del Drago – they were actually settlements in the Neolithic Era. View the Due Mari where the Adriatic Sea meets the Ionian Sea. Visit Gallipoli with St. Agatha’s Cathedral, the Church of St. Mary of Purity, the Gallipoli Castle with its imposing Rivellino Tower. Return to Lecce for overnight.
DAY 5 – LECCE/MATERA
Breakfast
Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out. Private car transfer to Matera, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Enjoy a guided walking tour of “I Sassi”, ancient cave dwellings inhabited since the Paleolithic period represent an outstanding example of urban settlement carved from rock, as if continuing a Paleolithic tradition in modern times. Entrance to the Casa Grotta and Chiesa Rupestre included. Following the visit, check in and room assignment in a stunning cave hotel. Balance of the day at leisure.
DAY 6 – MATERA/CASTEL DEL MONTE/TRANI/MATERA
Breakfast/Masseria Lunch with wine
After breakfast, enjoy a full day excursion to Castel del Monte and Trani. Our first stop will be in Casteldemmonte, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Stop for a guided tour of the 13th-century citadel and castle situated on a hill in Andria. It was built during the 1240s by the Emperor Frederick II. A unique piece of medieval military architecture, Castel del Monte is a successful blend of elements from classical antiquity, the Islamic Orient and north European Cistercian Gothic. Following the visit, proceed to a panoramic masseria for a country lunch with local specialties and wine. We continue to Trani. Enjoy a private guided tour of this stunning fishing village known for the breathtaking views from its St. Nicholas Cathedral. Stroll along the promenade and admire the local fishermen unloading their daily catch. We return to Matera in the late afternoon.
DAY 7 – MATERA/ALTAMURA/BARI/POLIGNANO A MARE
Breakfast/Bread Tasting/Focaccia Tasting/Coffee
Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out. Depart by private car and driver to Altamura, an ancient settlement from the Megalithic Period that borders with Basilicata. Stop to visit a bread artisan shop to taste the famous Pane di Altamura, a naturally leavened bread made from remilled durum wheat semola. We continue towards the coast to Bari, the capital of Puglia. Enjoy a private guided walking tour including the Palazzo Normanno, San Sabino Cathedral, San Nicola Basilica, the Opera House, the colorful fish market, and don’t miss the streets of the old city where local women make pasta by hand. Here we will sample the local focaccia bread at an artisan shop in old Bari. Of final stop of the day is Polignano a Mare, a stunning Cliffside town overlooking the sea. Check in and room assignment at your centrally located hotel. Enjoy an afternoon walking tour of Polignano a Mare and stop at a historic cafe’ for their signature coffee blend. Balance of the afternoon at leisure.
DAY 8 –POLIGNANO A MARE
Breakfast/Optional Private Grotto Boat Excursion
Buffet breakfast at hotel and enjoy a full day at leisure to relax, unwind and perhaps enjoy a beach day or partake in an optional two hour private glass bottomed boat excursion to visit the grottos and caverns along the coast, such as the Grotta edelle Rondinelle or the Caverna dei Colombi.
DAY 9 -DEPARTURE
Buffet Breakfast
Buffet breakfast at hotel and check out. Private car transfer to Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport for your return flight to the US or extend your stay!
Accommodation, Departure Dates and Prices
DELUXE PACKAGE
Risorgimento Resort in Lecce
Palazzo Gattini in Matera
Borgobianco Resort in Polignano
Or similar
PRICING PER PERSON, DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
VALID FOR TRAVEL MARCH 1, 2021 - October 31, 2021*
PARTY SIZE DELUXE PACKAGE
2 Participants $4,199.00
3 Participants $3,649.00
4 Participants $3,199.00
6 Participants $2,799.00
8 Participants $2,749.00
Single Supplement $3,800.00
*Easter departures are available for a supplement.
Extra nights at any of the included hotels are available upon request at a supplementary cost based on travel dates. Vacation may be personalized to suit. Larger parties welcome. Please contact us for a price quote and details.