Undiscovered Puglia

Begin your journey with arrival into Bari Airport. Our driver will welcome you and provide a private transfer to your hotel in Lecce, the “Florence of the South,” known for its elegant baroque churches and historic sites dating back to Roman times. After getting settled in and refreshed, you might want to take a stroll to beat jet lag, enjoying a preview of this beautiful city and its enticing mix of old and new. Perhaps stop to unwind with a glass of wine and then pop into an eatery to sample orecchiette pasta, Puglia’s most iconic food. For those who still have the energy, this city offers lively nightlife too.

Our local guide will bring you on a tour of Lecce’s many highlights, including impressive baroque architecture which led to its nickname, “The Florence of the South.” It’s like an open-air museum, with many magnificent palaces and churches. Dating back to Roman times, traces of its past can be seen in a 2nd-century Roman amphitheater with columns marking the end of Appian Way. Marvel at Santa Croce Basilica, built between 1353 and 1549, with a stunningly decorated façade and large rose window. You’ll see the former convent of Celestine monks, now the Government Palace, and enjoy about 90 minutes of free time in Piazza Duomo.

Join our driver/guide for a private tour of Otranto, a historic town that lies along the Adriatic coast. It offers an intriguing mix of history, architecture, and picturesque views, with its top attraction the 12th-century mosaic floor in the Romanesque cathedral that was consecrated in 1088. It also boasts a rose window, an interior featuring columns that are said to come from a temple of Minerva, and a crypt with 42 marble columns. A Chapel of the Dead with the 800 skulls of martyred citizens who were beheaded for not renouncing Christianity when Turkish pirates invaded in 1480 is a secret that lies within. After touring, enjoy 2.5 hours of free time for shopping, a cappuccino, or lunch on your own.

Get your bags packed and ready for a private transfer to Monopoli with a stop in Ostuni. Often referred to as the “White City,” the walled hilltop town stands out with its hilltop perch overlooking centuries-old olive tree groves that spread out toward the Adriatic Sea in the distance. Reminiscent of a Greek village, the whitewashed buildings are splashed with vibrant blue and green doors while bougainvillea hangs from windowsills. Continue to Monopoli, a city with Greek origins as its name belies. While it has a modern side that sprawls along the coast, it also has a charming historic center and long fishing tradition. After checking into your hotel, you’ll have the rest of the day to enjoy at your leisure. We’d highly recommend a stroll along the lungomare, a paved promenade running along the coast, edging the Old Town. From the old defensive tower, enjoy an awe-inspiring view and then head to one of the waterfront restaurants, many of which focus on fresh fish and seafood.

This morning your private driver/guide will bring you to picturesque Polignano, a coastal town built on top of limestone cliffs dotted with spellbinding sea caves. Many come to leap off into the Adriatic, a scene that’s mesmerizing to witness. You’ll get to stroll through to view the spectacular panorama of terraces and a lovely square with a clock tower and church. Enjoy free time before continuing to Bari to marvel at its famous Norman castle, a medieval structure surrounded by a moat that was filled and turned into a street. Also don’t Strada delle Orecchiette women skilfully creating “Ears” (orecchiette) pasta in front of their homes.

Enjoy a three-in-one that starts by visiting Alberobello with your private driver/guide. Upon arrival to this famous town known for its trulli, whitewashed buildings with stone cone-shaped roofs built without mortar, you’ll meet a local guide for an inspiring tour. Discover this fairytale-like place where the locals constructed these temporary dwellings to avoid taxes as they could easily be knocked down at inspection time. Step inside one, visit a Trulli-style church and enjoy lunch at a unique Trulli-style restaurant. Continue to Martina Franca with its memorable maze of winding alleyways, whitewashed simplicity, and baroque extravagance. Discover more beauty in the hilltop village of Locorotondo, renowned for its winemaking and baroque architecture.

This morning you’ll be met by your private driver for transfer to the unique town of Matera, nestled among the cliffs in the Basilicata region. The “Sassi ” area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with cave-like homes, hotels, and restaurants carved out of limestone rock, it’s the world’s oldest continuously inhabited settlement behind only Petra in Jordan. After checking into your accommodation, you can give your legs a workout by climbing the steep streets and stairways for a preview of the Sassi’s unearthly, ancient beauty. If it looks familiar, that might be because it was used as a film setting for Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ.”

Today you’ll get an insider’s look at the Sassi de Matera and its unique homes, including the opportunity to step inside Casa Grotta to witness firsthand how the early settlers lived. Believed to be some of the very first human settlements in Italy, dating back as far as 15,000 BC, for thousands of years there was no running water, let alone sewage or electricity. See the animal stables, a kitchen, and bedroom, along with a cave church. With so many steep steps to climb, you’ll appreciate the grand finale – a 30-minute Tuk Tuk tour that will allow you to discover more sights while giving your feet a rest.

After more than a week of exploring some of the best of Southern Italy, it’s time to get your bags packed and ready to begin your journey home or for further travels elsewhere. If you haven’t made plans but aren’t ready to return, our travel experts will be happy to create a bespoke addition to your itinerary. Otherwise, you’ll be met by our driver for a private transfer to the airport in Bari where you’ll catch your flight.