Best of Puglia Tour

Day 1 - Arrival

Upon arrival at Brindisi or Bari airport you will be welcomed by our local English speaking assistant and driver who will transfer you to your hotel situated in the heart of Lecce.

Day 2 - Lecce and Otranto

A full day dedicated to the discovery of the gems of the Salento peninsula. The morning will be spent on a guided walking tour of Lecce, which is called the Florence of South Italy for the richness of its monuments and the abundance of churches and noble palaces. In the heart of Lecce a private noble palace of the 15th century will open its doors exclusively for you: here you will enjoy an exclusive guided tour of the palazzo and a wine aperitif together with the owner in his private apartments. During the walking tour of Lecce, your guide will also lead you to an artisan workshop, where you will observe artisans at work while they create papier-mache' objects. After lunch you will depart with your local guide and driver to the Adriatic coast for a visit to the village of Otranto, also known as the door to East.

Day 3 - Gallipoli and Santa Maria di Leuca

After breakfast you will meet your driver and local guide for a full day tour exploring the Ionian coast, until the end of Italy's boot. Your first stop will be Gallipoli, the charming city. This fascinating small town will capture your attention because, besides the main sights of the old city centre you will also be able to enjoy several scenes of local everyday life which are typical of a small sea-town in southern Italy. After lunch we will proceed to Santa Maria di Leuca, the southernmost point of Apulia. This small white fisher village was called in the past finibus terrae (the end of the world) for its position: from here, in fact, you will be able to enjoy a wonderful view, that of the Adriatic sea merging together with the Ionic sea.

Day 4 - Apulia countryside and Ostuni

After breakfast check-out and departure to Ostuni with your driver. On the way to your next accommodation you will stop for a visit to one of Apulia's oldest and most famous wineries. After the visit to the interesting wine museum, you will enjoy a wine tasting with typical Apulian bakery products. Proceed to Ostuni. Before reaching your hotel, you will stop in a Masseria for a unique experience. Once you arrive, you will be escorted on a guided tour of this charming farm-house. At the end of the tour you will be invited to enjoy an olive-oil tasting and lunch.Early in the afternoon check-in into your hotel. In the evening you can enjoy a relaxing walk in Ostuni, also called the white lady for the blinding light of its whitewashed buildings: do not miss the cathedral in Apulian Romanesque style with its beautiful rose-window, and the stunning view on the Adriatic coast from which Ostuni is separated by an ocean of centuries-old olive trees.

Day 5 - Alberobello, Locorotondo and Martina Franca

This morning, after breakfast, together with your driver you will head towards Alberobello, a small fairy-tale village known all over the world for its cone-shaped buildings and included into the list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. You will enjoy here a wine- and food-tour on board a vintage FIAT 500 car which includes: a guided walking tour of Alberobello with visit to some trulli-houses and to the olive-oil museum, visit to a winery, visit to a cheese factory and to an oil-mill. You will enjoy various tastings during the tour, together with a panoramic tour of the wonderful countryside around Alberobello and final lunch based on local products. After lunch, with your driver and local guide, you will continue with your discovery of the Itria Valley, visiting the picturesque village of Locorotondo with its iron-wrought balconies and whitewashed buildings, as well as the small town of Martina Franca with its palaces and churches in Baroque and Rococo' style.

Day 6 - Castellana Grotte and Egnazia

This day will be dedicated to the wonders of Nature and to the treasures of archaeology: in the morning you will visit the Castellana Grottoes which have become one of the most important cave complexes in Italy thanks to their spectacular natural galleries and crystalline concretions. The afternoon will be dedicated to the discovery of Apulia's most famous archaeological site: the town of Egnazia. You will admire here traces of the most important civilizations which occupied the territory of the heel of Italy, such as remains of Roman houses, of the Via Traiana, Messapian tombs, traces of Hellenistic period.

Day 7 - Matera

Breakfast in hotel and departure with your local driver to Matera, the famous town of sassi. After check-in you will meet your local guide who will show you the peculiarities of Matera, a unique town which has been included into the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites for its old centre, where dwellings and churches were amazingly carved into the rock. The guided tour of Matera also includes a kind of small rural museum called Casa Grotta (where you will observe how the inhabitants of Matera used to live in the past in their houses carved into the rock) and a rupestrian church with impressive frescoes realized on the rock surface. After the guided walking tour, you will have lunch with typical local specialities in a cosy restaurant carved into the rock.

Day 8 - Castel del Monte and Trani

A full day dedicated to the discovery of the traces of Imperial Apulia and to Apulian Romanesque art: the highlights of today are the octagonal Castel del Monte and the charming town of Trani. The first stop will be the imposing Castel del Monte, built in 1240 under the reign of Frederick II: this is the most enigmatic and mysterious monument of south Italy, also called the stone crown of Apulia for its particular position and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Together with you guide and driver you will head on to Trani, a charming small town with a picturesque harbour, an imposing Norman castle and one of the most beautiful cathedrals of Apulia built by the sea in a wonderful Apulian Romanesque style.

Day 9 - Altamura and Bari

After breakfast, departure with your driver to Altamura, where you will visit a local bakery: here you will be able to taste the typical Altamura bread together with some Apulian bakery products. The day continues with the capital of Apulia, the lively city of Bari. You will visit the Norman-Swabian castle, the old town with its picturesque narrow side streets, the Basilica of St. Nicholas and the Cathedral of St. Sabin.

Day 10 - Departure

After breakfast check-out and transfer to Bari or Brindisi airport with your English speaking assistant.

Accommodations

Lecce Hotel Patria Palace (or similar)

Ostuni Hotel Ostuni Palace (or similar)

Matera Hotel In Pietra ( Or similar)

Sightseeing

Lecce guided Walking tour

Half day excurison to Otranto with English speaking guide

Full day excursion to Gallipoli and Santa Maria di Leuca with English speaking guide

Half day tour of Alberobello in a vintage 500

Half day excursion to Locorotondo and Martina Franca with English speaking guide

Full day excursion with English speaking guide to Castellana Grottoes ( including entrance fee) and Egnazia

Half day walking tour of Matera with English speaking guide

Full day Excursion to Castel del Monte and Trani with English speaking guide

Guided tour of Bari with English speaking guide

Transfers

All transfers are private from and to airports with assistance

Private car with driver for excursions and tours

Optional private car transfers can be arranged from the airport or rail station

Private car or rail transfers can be arranged from other points in Italy

Meals

Breakfast at hotel daily

Aperitif in a private "Palazzo" in Lecce

Wine tasting in a winery near Lecce

Wine and food tour in Alberobello

Bread tasting in Altamura

Lunch in a "Masseria" near Ostuni (including with olive oil tasting and water &wine during lunch)

Lunch in Matera ( beverage not included)

Services

Assistance from our Road to Italy office in Rome and local representative offices throughout Italy

Local emergency contact number daily

Entrance fees to archaeological sites and museums

Does not Include

Tips and gratuities

Porterage / luggage handling

Meals other than breakfast daily at hotels or as specified in inclusions list

Airfare(s)

Travel Insurance (highly recommended)

Expenses of a personal nature

Items not explicitly specified in the inclusions list

1) Consult with our tour designers

Contact our office by phone or e-mail and speak to one of our tour designers who will answer any question you have about our suggested tour. They will listen attentively to your ideas and plans and suggest changes to personalize the tour based on your interests and budget.

Tel: 416 964 7600
Toll: 1-800-848-8163
reservations@roadtoitaly.com

2) We send you a Proposal

Shortly after your initial contact with our tour designers, you will receive a draft proposal based on your earlier discussions, normally within 2 business days. This proposal is a no obligation draft for your review and comments. Any additions or modifications will be implemented and a new proposal will be forwarded to you for approval.

3) You like what you see!

Upon meeting your requirements and expectations, you will be requested to send a deposit in the amount of 25% of total. Final Payment is due 45 days prior to scheduled departure date.

4) Buon viaggio!

Approximately, 2 weeks prior to departure you will receive a personalized and detailed day by day itinerary booklet and the necessary vouchers for the services to be provided, along with a general information section on the various regions of Italy.

The booklet and vouchers will include all the important information; addresses, phone & mobile numbers for all your service providers, hotels as well as the phone number of our office in Rome.