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Puglia Tour

Name: Puglia Tour
Brand: Elife Travel
Price: 4950.22 USD
Availability: InStock

Country:

Italy

Flight:

Not included

Favorite

Tour id:

130509

Operator:

Go in Italy Ltd
Length:

8 days
Group size:

15 pax
Age:

18 to 85
Difficulty:
Difficulty levels:
- Relaxing
- Easy
- Moderate
- Serious
- Heart-pumping

Itinerary

For those who want to travel through history, our eight-day small group Puglia tour offers a wide range of places that testify to the ancient origins of this land: from prehistory to Magna Graecia, from the Imperial Age to the Renaissance, and the Baroque splendor of Lecce.

Puglia is full of surprises and delights: fabulous food, historic towns, beautiful beaches, and gracious residents.

This is a FOOD & WINE TOUR: we go to Premium Restaurants to give you a full experience of the produce and wine that the region offers.

Highlights:

- Visit three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Alberobello, Castel del Monte, and Matera.

- Savor the flavors of Puglian cuisine and wine.

- Admire the beautiful Baroque architecture of Lecce.

- Spend two nights in a traditional “trullo” in Alberobello.

- A Pasta-making demonstration to learn how to make fresh pasta.

- Tour Otranto, the “heel” of Italy, and visit a cathedral renowned for its collection of mosaic scenes.

Check out the full itinerary and what's included.

Tour program

Day 1

Bari - Matera - Alberobello

Benvenuto! Welcome to Apulia!

We depart Bari to begin our full-day journey and we arrive in the heart of the incredible UNESCO World Heritage site of Matera and start our walking tour. We will explore the narrow streets that wind their way through the Sassi to discover the ancient homes and churches carved from tufa rock. This town has been used as a movie-set for several italian movies; by Mel Gibson, for The Passion of Christ, and for the last James Bond movie.

We, then, have a short drive to a local vineyard, in Basilicata wine country, for our lunch with locally-sourced food paired with wine produced at the vineyard.

After lunch we move to the vineyard's stunning Crypt of the Original Sin, with frescoes dating back to the ninth century and we will have a short guided tour of the crypt.

After our tour, we have a one-hour drive to Alberobello, where you will spend the next two nights sleeping in a traditional “trullo”. The Trulli of Alberobello, thanks to their unique characteristics and historical signiﬁcance, are one of Puglia’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Enjoy a free evening to relax or explore Alberobello at night. Your tour leader will recommend restaurants to savor more regional specialties and wine.

Meals Included: Lunch with Wine

Start point

Hotel Oriente, Corso Cavour 32, Bari, Bari 70121, Italy

08:15 - 08:30

Day 2

Alberobello walking tour - Pasta making demonstration

After breakfast, we meet our expert local guide to start our in-depth walking tour of Alberobello followed by an Extra Virgin Olive Oil tasting; then, free time to explore further, shopping time, and enjoy lunch on your own.

You will have time, also in the afternoon, before we reach a local family-owned Masseria, where we are going to have a Pasta making demonstration. At the end we are going to have dinner with the fruits of our labor, paired with wine, of course!! Return to Alberobello.

Group dinner at a Masseria to enjoy traditional Murgia cuisine and wine.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3

Cheese demonstration class - Walking Tour of Lecce

Depart Alberobello for a short drive nearby Martina Franca, to reach a local masseria (farm), where we are going to have a Cheese class demonstration hands-on, to learn all the secrets to make cheese, mozzarella & burrata. Lunch with local produce, paired with home-made wine.

After lunch, we transfer to Lecce, the artistic and cultural capital of Puglia.

Upon arrival in Lecce, we settle into our centrally located hotel before meeting our expert local guide for a walking tour to discover the architecture, culture, and history of Lecce. Lecce will be our base for the next three nights.

Free night to relax and dine on your own.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch with Wine

Day 4

Otranto - Lecce

Today we drive to Otranto, the heel of the Italian boot, and visit a cathedral famous for its magnificent Tree of Life mosaics. Enjoy a stroll around Otranto with some free time to explore or shop for local handicrafts.

We then drive to a Premium restaurant renowned for serving fresh seasonal local produce, to complement wines from their own vineyard.

Return to Lecce and free time to further explore the historical center of Lecce on your own.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch with Wine

Day 5

Gallipoli - Galatina - Lecce

In the morning we drive to one of Puglia’s hidden gems in Galatina: the extraordinary 14th-century Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria.

Afterwards, we drive for 30 minutes and arrive in Gallipoli, “beautiful town” in Greek, where we visit a stunning cathedral and the Frantoio Ipogeo – an ancient underground olive mill carved from stone.

Enjoy an included lunch in Gallipoli’s historical center at an osteria that specializes in seafood.

Return to Lecce and enjoy a free evening to dine and drink at your own pace.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6

Ostuni - Polignano a Mare - Bari

We depart Lecce today and drive to Ostuni, “La Città Bianca,” one of the most beautiful hilltop towns in all of Italy. Stroll through a maze of narrow streets with a visit to a small museum exhibiting the 25,000-year-old fossilized remains of Delia, “La Donna di Ostuni.”

We then arrive at a restaurant located in a 15th-century Aragonese donjon with panoramic views for a gourmet lunch.

In the afternoon we visit a family-run olive oil business to learn more about olive oil production in the Puglia region. Here we have an opportunity to taste diﬀerent types of olive oil and purchase local products at their small shop.

Afterwards, we drive to Polignano a Mare and visit the charming historical center. We will try the famous coﬀee invented here, Caﬀè Speciale di Polignano a Mare, and view a statue of Domenico Modugno, the composer and singer of Volare.

Short drive to Bari and check in to our hotel. Free evening to further explore the nearby bars and eateries.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7

Castel del Monte - Trani

After breakfast we visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Castel del Monte for a guided tour of the Swabian Castle. Known for its octagonal shape, the Castel del Monte is a masterpiece of medieval architecture.

Short drive to Trani to visit the Cathedral of Trani, built on the edge of the sea, and an option to have lunch at a restaurant. We then return to our hotel in Bari.

Farewell group dinner at a restaurant where we will enjoy a delicious hearty meal and raise one last toast to our Puglian adventure.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8

Bari

Tour ends after breakfast. Your tour leader can assist you with additional tours, post-tour accommodation, or transfers.

Meals Included: Breakfast.

End point

Hotel Oriente, Corso Cavour 32, Bari, Bari 70121, Italy

09:00

Tour Details

accommodation

Two nights in a traditional "trullo" in the center of Alberobello.

Three nights in a 5+star hotel in Lecce, located in the historical center where there are plenty of shops, restaurants, and cafes.

Two nights in a 4-star hotel in Bari, located just 5 minutes walking distance from the Old Bari.

flights

International flights are NOT included

guide

An award-winning local English-speaking tour leader will accompany the group throughout the tour.

Local expert Guides will be used at Alberobello. Lecce, Otranto, Galatina, and Castel del Monte.

insurance

Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered.

meals

Meals included: 7 Breakfast, 5 Lunches, and 2 Dinners.

optional

Other activities and services are not included

others

Pasta Making demonstration hands-on.

Cheese demonstration class hands-on.

All entrance fees to sites included in the itinerary,

Alcoholic drinks are NOT included in meals.

transport

Private transportation is included throughout tour.

Good to know

Currency

€

Euro

Italy

Plugs and adapters

Plug type L

Customer reviews

Overall

Itinerary

4.8

Guide

Transport

Accommodation

Food

Operator

Faq Tour

How can I book a tour?

You can order a tour on our website by selecting the desired dates and clicking the “Confirm dates” button. You can also contact our sales department by phone or email.

Which payment options are available?

We accept credit cards, bank transfers and other popular payment methods.

Can I change or cancel my reservation?

Yes, changes or cancellations are possible, however penalties may apply depending on the time before the tour starts.

What documents are required to participate in the tour?

You will need a passport with a valid visa (if required) to visit countries along the tour route.