Perfect Puglia

Welcome to Bari, capital of the Puglia region of southern Italy, located in the 'heel' of Italy's 'boot'! You will be met by a driver at Bari airport and transferred to our hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

After breakfast meet your Tour Leader at the hotel for a morning tour of Bari. We discover the charming narrow alleyways of the historic city centre, and admire the Basilica of San Nicola, an important pilgrimage destination for Christians. We also see the 12th-century Norman-Swabian Castle, surrounded by a moat and known for its impressive Aragon walls. We'll see the castle from the outside and there is free time to explore inside the castle and enjoy the panoramic views offered if you choose (castle entry at your own expense). We continue to Piazza Mercantile and see the ancient Column of Justice. After our morning tour there's free time to enjoy a leisurely lunch and independently explore. Dinner is included at the hotel this evening.

Bari - Trani - Castel del Monte - Alberobello. After breakfast at the hotel, we leave Bari by coach and travel to Trani, known as the 'Pearl of Puglia'. We'll explore the vibrant Jewish Quarter and see the historic 12th-century cathedral, made from beautiful white stone.

After our stop in Trani we continue to Castel del Monte, a 13th-century citadel and UNESCO World Heritage Site. This octagonal castle features on the Italian one-cent coin and is shrouded in mystery, as its exact historical purpose remains unknown.

Our final destination today is Alberobello, best known for its traditional conical houses made from local limestone - these are called Trulli. The village has a true fairy-tale feel! Upon arrival at the hotel, enjoy a welcome toast with a glass of local white wine and a taste of the famous Apulian taralli.

We visit another UNESCO World Heritage Site today with a day trip to Matera. The historic centre of this city is known as Sassi di Matera and is unique due to the large number of cave dwellings that were carved into the canyon created by the Gravina River, around 9,000 years ago! In this long history, Matera has been occupied by Romans, Byzantines, Saracens, and many other groups.

Many of the caves are still used today, as houses, pubs, hotels, and other businesses. We'll enjoy sightseeing with a local guide to take in the best of the cave dwellings. And we will also see the Roman Catholic cathedral which overlooks the city. We then transfer back to Alberobello for dinner.

Alberobello - Locorotondo - Ostuni - Lecce. Today we visit two of the iconic 'white towns' of Puglia. Our first stop is Locorotondo, a town of around 14,000 people perched on a hill. There's free time to explore this small town and enjoy the view over the surrounding countryside.

Then we travel on to Ostuni, a coastal town popular with Italian tourists in summer. Ostuni is known for its ancient olive trees as well as its whitewashed buildings - many of the trees have been carbon-dated and are known to be more than 3,500 years old. Despite this age, they still produce the famous Ostuni olive oil. If you find a restaurant for lunch, you are sure to be served dishes that use this delicious local product!

After visiting these two towns, we reach Lecce, in the heart of the Salento region.

This morning we enjoy a 3-hour guided sightseeing tour of Lecce with an expert local guide. Known as the 'Florence of the South' thanks to its treasure trove of Baroque architecture, highlights of our tour include the historic Old Town and the 12th-century cathedral. We also see the beautiful Basilica di Santa Croce and Piazza del Duomo, the city's main square.

After our tour we depart for Otranto, a city known to have been ruled at times by the Greeks, Romans and Turks. Because of this, Otranto has a wonderfully diverse mix of cultures, and there is free time to explore the town and find somewhere for lunch. We recommend visiting the iconic cathedral to see its well-preserved mosaic floor, and the bones of 813 martyrs eerily displayed behind the altar.

As it is the last evening of our tour, a special dinner takes place tonight in the town of Maglie. We will be dining at Masseria L’Uliveto, a rustic farm and restaurant that is Puglia at its finest. Learn more about the food and history of the region before enjoying a dinner made using the finest local produce. Then it's back to Lecce for the final night of our trip.

Lecce - Martina Franca - Monopoli - Bari. After breakfast, we make our way back to Bari, driving through the unique Murge plateau. En route we visit Martina Franca, an elegant Baroque village with churches, noble buildings, and squares. Enjoy free time in the village and see Piazza Plebiscito, the Cathedral, Ducal Palace, and Torre dell’Orologio. Our journey continues through Valle d’Itria, a rural area of olive trees and vineyards. We enjoy lunch and olive oil tasting at a masseria, where organic food and excellent extra virgin olive oil are produced.

This afternoon, we stop to explore Monopoli, a fortified citadel overlooking the sea. Then it's a short drive back to Bari for our final night.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Depending on your flight schedule, take advantage of any last-minute free time for shopping or sightseeing before an included transfer to the airport.