DISCOVERY OF PUGLIA Small Group Tour 8 Days 7 Nights

DISCOVERY OF PUGLIA Small Group Tour 8 Days 7 Nights

Operated By GoinItaly

For those who want to travel through history, GoinItaly's eight-day small group tour of Puglia 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.

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

Itinerary

Day 1: Bari - Matera - Alberobello

Pass By: Matera, Matera, Province of Matera, Basilicata
Benvenuto! Welcome to Apulia!

We depart Bari to begin our full-day journey and visit a vineyard in Basilicata wine country. The vineyard’s stunning Crypt of the Original Sin has frescoes dating back to the ninth century and we will have a short guided tour of the crypt. Afterwards, we enjoy lunch with locally-sourced food paired with wine produced at the vineyard.

Following lunch, 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.

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 GoinItaly tour leader will recommend restaurants to savor more regional specialties and wine.

Included Meals: Lunch with Wine

Meals included:
• Lunch: We visit a vineyard where we will have an included lunch paired with a selection of local wines.
Accommodation included: Overnight in a "trullo", a conical, stone-roofed limestone building unique to Alberobello.

Day 2: Castellana Caves - Alberobello

Pass By: Grotte di Castellana, Piazzale Anelli, 70013 Castellana Grotte Italy
Included visit to the nearby Castellana Grottoes, for a two-hour guided walking tour inside the caves.

Stop At: Alberobello, Alberobello, Province of Bari, Puglia
After breakfast, we meet our expert local guide to start our in-depth walking tour of Alberobello followed by some free time to explore, shop, and enjoy lunch.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner: Included group dinner at a trattoria to enjoy traditional Murgia cuisine and wine.
Accommodation included: Overnight in a "trullo", a conical, stone-roofed limestone building unique to Alberobello.

Day 3: Martina Franca - Lecce

Stop At: Martina Franca, Martina Franca, Province of Taranto, Puglia
Depart Alberobello for a short drive to Martina Franca to visit the Palazzo Ducale and the Cathedral. We then have another short drive to a local masseria (dairy farm) where we enjoy a cheese tasting with lunch.
Duration: 2 hours

Pass By: Lecce, Lecce, Province of Lecce, Puglia
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.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Lunch is a selection of cheese, cold cuts, bread, and tomatoes. All sourced locally and from the farm. Wine is included.
Accommodation included: Five-star hotel located in the heart of Lecce's historical center.

Day 4: Otranto - Lecce

Stop At: Otranto, Otranto, Province of Lecce, Puglia
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 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.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch with Wine
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Four-course lunch at a restaurant renowned for fresh seasonal local produce to complement wines from their own vineyard.
Accommodation included: Five-star hotel located in the heart of Lecce's historical center.

Day 5: Galatina - Gallipoli - Lecce

Stop At: Galatina, Galatina, Province of Lecce, Puglia
In the morning we drive to one of Puglia’s hidden gems in Galatina: the extraordinary 14th-century Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Gallipoli, Gallipoli, Province of Lecce, Puglia
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.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: An included lunch at a local seafood restaurant in Gallipoli.
Accommodation included: Five-star hotel located in the heart of Lecce's historical center.

Day 6: Ostuni - Polignano a Mare - Bari

Stop At: Ostuni, Ostuni, Province of Brindisi, Puglia
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.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Polignano a Mare, Polignano a Mare, Province of Bari, Puglia
Afterward, 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.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: We will have an included gourmet lunch at a restaurant located in a 15th-century Aragonese donjon with panoramic views.
Accommodation included: Four-star hotel located within a short walking distance of Bari's Old Town.

Day 7: Castel del Monte - Trani

Stop At: Castel del Monte, Castel del Monte, Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo
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.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Trani, Trani, Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, Puglia
Short drive to Trani to check 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.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner: Included dinner at a seafood restaurant.
Accommodation included: Four-star hotel located within a short walking distance of Bari's Old Town.

Day 8: Bari

Pass By: Bari, Bari, Province of Bari, Puglia
This morning take breakfast at your leisure. Your tour leader can assist you with additional tours, post-tour accommodation, and transfers.

Included Meal: Breakfast

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.