A five day discovery of Puglia. Puglia is a region with so much to offer even seasoned travellers. Puglia offers unique sights, such as the trulli conical stone houses, and the nearby cave town of Matera. Stunning landscapes, such as the very photogenic town of Polignano A Mare which is poised on the rocks high above the turquoise sea.
Visit the fascinating town of Matera, with houses carved into the rock wall and cave churches covered with Byzantine-style frescoes. See the famous baroque centre of Lecce, and the whitewashed hilltown of Ostuni.
This itinerary can be arranged at a time to suit you. We organise the guided visits and the activities, accommodation, and a driver to take you to all the destinations. We provide detailed information on the locations that are self guided. We also we provide on-call support, in English, both before and during the trip.
Puglia Highlights
- The UNESCO World Heritage sites of Alberobello (with its conical trulli houses) and Matera (with its cave houses)
- The baroque city Lecce
- Visit Polignano A Mare, in a stunning clifftop coastal location
- Visit the whitewashed hill town of Ostuni
- Winetasting and vineyard visit
- Visit to an olive oil estate
Puglia Highlights Itinerary
Day 1: Polignano A Mare and Ostuni
You will be picked up in Bari from your arrival point and taken first for a visit to the town of Polignano a Mare.
Polignano a Mare is an impressive town clinging to a promontory suspended above the Adriatic’s turquoise waters. With a history spanning back to the 4th century BC as a Greek settlement, Polignano A Mare is a charming town centred around the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele – the perfect place for a coffee or aperol spritz. The town was on the ancient Roman Trajan’s Way, and you can still see the remains of this route. Polignano A Mare encircles a pebble beach, which is popular for swimming.
Next your driver will take you to the town of Ostuni, where your accommodation is. Your hotel is the historic centre of town, where the piazzas have the traditional ‘passeggiata’ in full swing each evening. Over the next few days you’ll have plenty of time to explore the town at your own pace.
Ostuni, known as “la città bianca” (the white town). Ostuni is a cluster of whitewashed buildings perched on a hilltop overlooking the coast. Walking through the narrow streets of Ostuni is like being in a forgotten time, evocative and ancient, looking out over an expanse of olive trees. We advise keeping your camera at the ready!
Day 2: Alberobello and a wine tasting
You will be picked up and driven to your first stop, Alberobello. The picturesque Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a unique town with streets lined with ‘trulli’. In fact it is known in Italy as the “Capital of trulli”. Trulli are small stone houses with a distinctive conical roof, built 300-400 years ago. You will be fascinated by the magical and fairytale atmosphere of this place. A guide will spend 45 minutes showing you around Alberobello and explaining the background, after which you will have time to wander around independently.
Moving on to the nearby winery that produces wines that are are unique to the Valle d’Itria subregion of Puglia. The winery is family run, and focussed on making quality wines expressive of the area. The traditional varieties that are grown include minutolo and susumaniello. You will be shown through the vineyard. The terroir provides the basis for these excellent wines – deep limestone soils combined with cooling breezes. You taste their range of wines following the visit.
Day 3: Lecce and Olive Oil
You will be picked up and driven to Lecce. Lecce is a city that flourished in the 17th century when extravagant and elegant baroque buildings were built by the ruling classes. The baroque style features ornate decorations covering the facades of churches and palaces.
In Lecce you will meet a local expert guide to have the key sights explained during your private two hour walking tour. The baroque style here is distinct from that in other parts of Italy, both stylistically and in the use of the beige coloured local stone.
As well as the architectural and historical features, Lecce is an elegant town in which to indulge in more modern pleasures. There are many interesting boutiques and cafes, and the piazzas are full of life in this important southern Italian centre.
Your driver will then take you to visit a ‘masseria’. A masseria is a historic farm centre, originally with all the estate’s workers living in the fortified buildings. Nowadays some of these estates are still agricultural enterprises, while others have been converted into boutique lodges. The masseria that we visit still produces organic extra virgin olive oil from trees that are many centuries old. We are shown around the estate and taste a range of olive oils. This land has been worked for thousands of years – we are shown the remnants of the ancient Roman agricultural production here.
Day 4: Matera
You will be picked up and driven to the town of Matera in the neighbouring Basilicata region. Visiting Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is like a step back in time. In fact this is one of the oldest continually inhabited settlements in the world. The oldest cave dwellings go back to the Bronze Age. In Matera you will meet a local expert guide to have the key sights explained during your private two hour walking tour. The town consists of houses carved out of the rock face along the side of a steep ravine.
Visit the ‘sassi’ cave area, and enter one of the typical houses built into the rock, showing the difficult existence in these conditions. Also visit a cave church hewn out of the rock, featuring Byzantine frescoes and with interesting histories as their usage has evolved and adapted over the years.
Day 5: Arrivederci Puglia
Today is your last day in Puglia, we organise private transfers for you to your departure point in Bari.
Puglia Highlights Accommodation
Accommodation Option A: Ostuni
For our Ostuni based tours you stay in the Hotel Primo, a 4 star hotel from which you can walk into the centre of Ostuni to enjoy the evenings.
The historic centre of Ostuni is lined with elegant old buildings, evocative lanes amongst the whitewashed buildings, and piazzas with the traditional ‘passeggiata’ evening stroll in full swing each evening.
Ostuni offers many opportunities for eating out, wandering through the back streets, and finding stunning views out to the coast.
Accommodation Option B: Masseria Salamina
During this tour you stay in traditional ‘massseria’ accommodation. A ‘masseria’ is a large farmhouse, and previously these were fortified, largely self-contained rural centres. The masseria where you will stay, Masseria Salamina, has been tastefully renovated as a boutique hotel.
They have their own excellent restaurant, which includes many of the products grown on their farm.
Puglia Highlights Cost and Inclusions
- All accommodation, including breakfast.
- All transport during the tour is included. Travel is with a professional driver and is solely for your party (no other passengers).
- We provide transport to all the destinations as detailed in the ‘Itinerary – Puglia Highlights’.
- We include guided visits in Alberobello, Lecce and Matera.
- In other locations that are self guided we provide information, maps and details of the place visited.
- Vineyard visit and winetasting
- Visit to a historic olive oil estate
- Italy With Pleasure provides on-call support for the duration of your time in Puglia.
PUGLIA HIGHLIGHTS PRICE: €2250
The price is based on double occupancy.
Puglia Highlights Reviews
L Z, CANADA 
Italy With Pleasure curated an amazing itinerary and ultimately, experience in Puglia for our group of 7. Mark, our incredible tour guide, shared the history, highlights, and hidden gems in each glorious location. Daily, we shared delicious meals, all local recipes, made with fresh ingredients from the region…a true highlight of the entire experience. Each day had the right balance of group and free time and while I may be biased, I think our group was the best…a shared experience with amazing people from around the world!
This was the first time I joined a tour and it will not be the last. I have my eye on Sicily next! My entire experience with Italy With Pleasure was superb and I highly recommend them for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the beauty and culture of Italy.
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P B, AUSTRALIA
I can't thank the small tour group, Italy With Pleasure, enough for a fantastic trip to Puglia. The group size was perfect and our guide, Anita, was amazing, knowledgeable and so caring of everyone. This area of Italy for non-Italian speaking guests was the absolute best way to visit. I was amazed at the beautiful cultural sites in all the towns AND the fabulous late luncheons featuring the local specialties. Spectacular! I have never had such great food on a tour or anywhere.
Thanks again and I have already shared our great experience with a number of my friends and family.
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J I, AUSTRALIA
The tour was first class, excellent in every way. An amazing way to see & learn about Puglia. The accomodation, sightseeing, superb food & mini van with great driver and Anita leading the group was sensational.
We highly recommend this is the best way to see and learn about Puglia.
Click here to see full review
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