Discover Puglia

Itineraries

• Day 1 UK – Bari
• Today you’ll fly toBari, and on arrival, we’ll transfer you to your hotel near thehistorical town of Ostuni.Get to knowyour travelling companions over a drink before dinner this evening.
• Day 2 Ostuni – Cisternino
• Our day begins with a visit to the beautiful town of Ostuni, whichdatesback to the 1st century AD, when it wasan important Greco-Roman city.It’s a lovely place to visit and is a picture-perfectApulian town, with its whitewashed houses, meandering lanes and a colourfully tiled Gothic cathedral at itsheart. We’ll visit an olive-oil producer andsee how the oil is made before sampling thefinal product.Then we’ll head to the town of Cisternino, which boasts awell-preserved charming Old Town.
  Explorenarrow, shady streets lined bywhitewashed houses, historic churches and the elegant centralpiazza, whichopens out onto a series of panoramic viewpoints from which youcan take in exceptional views ofrolling hills, dry stone walls and white-tipped conical trulli roofs dotting the landscape.
• Day 3 Locorotondo & Masseria lunch
• After amorning visitto the town of Locorotondo,we will head to the beautiful five-star Masseria Torre Coccaro, where you will be served a delicious meal – the philosophy of the masseria means that produce is always sourced locally. The setting for this fortified manor house is spectacular, as the scenery stretches out across the bourgainvilia-adorned terraces to miles of idylliccountryside.
• Day 4 Matera
• Matera is a fascinating city, famous for the Sassi stone houses that decorate the landscape. Carved directly into the calcarenitic rock, these ancient cave dwellings, thought to house some of the earliest human settlements in Italy, were originally home to Turkish monks. To learn more about these fascinating houses we take a walking tour through. You will be accompanied by a knowledgeable Local Guide, who will be able to tell you more about the history of the area and answer any questions you may have.
• Day 5 Alberobello & Martina Franca
• The fascinating Valley of Itria presents plenty of opportunities to see the attractive Trulli houses that epitomise the region. Cylindrical in shape and topped by a conical roof, these ancient buildings line the streets of Alberobello,one of the towns we visit today. We will alsodiscover the narrowlanes and whitewashed buildings of hilltopLocorotondo and Martina Franca, an evocativetown filled withmedieval palaces, churches and balconied houses.

  This evening enjoy an al fresco dinner under the stars in the rustic setting oflocal farm & restaurant Masseria Madonna dell’Arco, nestled within 23 hectares of fields, vineyards, olive groves, pastures and woodland. The majority of produce served at the restaurant comes directly from the farm, includinga variety of meats, cheeses and vegetables. You will be treated toa mozzarella-making demonstration before dinner, and there is a farm shop where you can purchase produce.

• Day 6 Ostuni – at leisure
• The pretty coastal town of Monopoli is just a short distance from our base in Selva di Fasano, so why not join an optional excursion here. With its medieval centre, pretty Baroque cathedral, bustling market square and inviting beach promenade, it’s sure to bea truly memorable visit.
• Day 7 Ostuni – at leisure
• Today you are freeto explore at leisure,or maybe you’ll choose toenjoy the hotel’s facilities and the glorious Italian sunshine.Alternatively, you can join an optional tour to Lecce witha Local Guide. It is a charming town with a wealth of history, fine architecture, high-end boutiques and sophisticated cafs.The Roman amphitheatre is particularly notable –it was excavated in the 1930s and hasseating forup to 15,000 spectators. We will also seethe intricately carved facade of the Church of Santa Croce, which features gargoyles, dragonsand a large rose window adorned withsculptures of flowers and cherubs. It isa fine example of the town’simpressive Baroque architecture, which has given rise to its nickname ‘The Florence of the south’. This evening we will meet at the hotel for a farewell get-together.
• Day 8 Bari – UK
• We’ll transfer to the airport for our return flight to the UK today.