A Taste of Puglia & Basilicata

Upon your arrival, you will be greeted at the airport and transferred to our hotel via coach. We will be staying at the five-star Risorgimento Resort in Lecce for three nights. This modern hotel is centrally located and boasts a rooftop restaurant with panoramic views of Lecce, as well as a bar and spa for you to unwind during your downtime.

After you've settled in, you are invited to enjoy a welcome drink at the hotel this evening. This will be a great opportunity to meet and get to know your fellow travellers better. 

Lecce, often referred to as the ‘Florence of the South,’ truly lives up to its name with an abundance of astonishing architecture and captivating sites at every turn.  

Our tour kicks off at the grand Porta Napoli, where we meet our local expert guide in a small group of your fellow travelling companions to explore this captivating city. From there, we delve into the bustling Jewish quarter and marvel at the Basilica di Santa Croce. This impressive Baroque masterpiece boasts an elaborate façade filled with intricate details in its stone carvings, drawing you in for a closer look. As we wander through the historic Old Town, we take a moment to appreciate a bank with a fascinating past—it was once a storage site for olive oil rather than currency. A visit to the alluring Piazza Sant’Oronzo reveals another gem: the remains of a Roman amphitheatre from the 2nd century, where over 25,000 spectators once enjoyed various performances. The sight of the well-preserved stone seating evokes the lively, bloodthirsty crowds that filled the space centuries ago. Continuing our journey, we stroll down lively streets lined with shops to reach the grand Piazza Duomo. Here, the cathedral, constructed in 1144, stands majestically. Its striking façade is rivalled only by the interior that boasts twelve side chapels adorned with works from various renowned artists. 

Spend the afternoon exploring Lecce at your leisure. Follow the lively sounds echoing through its quaint streets, where you can enjoy cosy cafes and delightful boutiques while admiring the ornate Baroque architecture. 

This evening, we dine in an exquisite restaurant that in a past life was a Roman granary. We will indulge in local cuisine while enjoying a musical performance and Pizzica dancing—a popular Italian folk dance that originated in the Salento Peninsula and is now celebrated in various regions of Italy. 

Today, we will head to the coast to visit the town of Otranto. Overlooked by the Castle of Otranto and offering beautiful views across the Adriatic, this small harbour town lies just north of the easternmost point of the Italian mainland. In Roman times, when it was a city, Otranto served as a crucial point of embarkation under the Roman Empire due to its short distance to Albania.  

You will have free time to explore the narrow streets, enjoy lunch with mesmerising views of the sea, or visit the town's cathedral. This fascinating example of Romanesque architecture features Byzantine and Baroque influences and is home to one of the best-preserved and largest medieval mosaics in Europe—the cathedral floor. You may also wish to visit the Aragonese Castle of Otranto, which is surrounded by a moat. The castle is a symbol of the town and the setting for ‘The Castle of Otranto,’ a novel written by Horace Walpole in 1764, which is considered the first-ever Gothic novel.  

Before returning to Lecce we have a unique experience at a local masseria allowing you feel at home in a traditional working, family farmhouse. We begin with a tour of the venue, exploring the underground olive mills and soaking up the rustic atmosphere brought to life by colourful clusters of tomatoes and chilli peppers hanging from the ceilings and stone walls before enjoying lunch together. All the food served will have been homemade and ingredients grown on site allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the local culture.

After our trip to the Masseria we will return to Lecce. 

On our drive to Alberobello, we call at a historic masseria, once a stable, where you can feel at home in a traditional, family-run farmhouse. Uncover the history of this impressively restored farmhouse and tuck into a lunch featuring homemade dishes made from ingredients grown directly on the farm (including the wine and olive oil). This is a wonderful opportunity to fully immerse yourself in local life.  

As we continue our journey, you'll start to see charming white stone huts topped with conical roofs—these unique structures are known as trulli and are iconic landmarks in the Puglia region. The landscape here is adorned with clusters of oak trees and divided by traditional dry stone walls, evoking a sense of rural Tuscany. Upon reaching Alberobello, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site, you’ll be amazed to find that certain areas are predominantly filled with these trulli, giving it a fantastical ambience reminiscent of a 'hobbit' village. This exploration is often regarded as one of the tour's highlights, allowing us to delve into the construction methods of trulli, their fascinating histories, and the various Christian, Pagan, or celestial symbols that embellish them. Our adventure continues as we make our way to Matera, where we’ll stay for four nights. 

We begin our day in Matera, exploring in a small group led by a local expert guide. This UNESCO World Heritage site is famous for being among the earliest places in Italy with permanent inhabitants. At the core of the city are ancient troglodyte cave dwellings that continue to be lived in today, dating back 9,000 years. Over the years, the rest of the city has transformed, featuring shops, churches, and artisan workshops all skilfully carved from the surrounding rock. Can you think of another place where you can stroll along a street that sits atop a house below?

Once the tour is finished, it's time to head to a rooftop terrace for a refreshing aperitivo whilst soaking up the spectacular views of the Sassi of Matera with your fellow travellers. 

You will have the freedom to spend the afternoon as you wish. You might decide to head back to the hotel for some relaxation, or continue discovering more of Matera. If you need suggestions for noteworthy attractions, our knowledgeable Tour Manager is ready to provide recommendations, including the exquisite 13th-century Romanesque cathedral, which should not be missed. 

Nestled along the Adriatic coast, Bari has a rich history as a bustling walled port even prior to the arrival of the Romans and once served as the capital of Byzantine Italy. In the era of the Normans, it was regarded as nearly as important as Venice.

Today, we will embark in small groups on a guided tour of the old town with a local expert, where a wealth of discovery awaits. Highlights include the striking medieval fortress and the grand Romanesque cathedral adorned with 11th-century frescoes. Opera enthusiasts may be familiar with Bari’s renowned Teatro Petruzzelli.

However, for many visitors, the main attraction is the Basilica di San Nicola, home to the 900-year-old vaulted crypt that holds the remains of Saint Nicholas, the Patron Saint of Russia, famously known as Santa Claus. 

This afternoon is free for you to wander through Bari at your own pace. As you stroll through the narrow alleys, take a moment to glimpse into side streets where traditional life unfolds. You may encounter shops featuring freshly caught seafood like sea bass, cuttlefish, and lobster, as well as stalls laden with locally sourced olives, tomatoes, and peppers. Don’t be surprised to see families dining with their doors and windows open or matriarchs seated outside, hand-rolling and cutting pasta, a tradition that has stood the test of time. After our time in Bari, we will return to Matera.

To conclude our action-packed day, we’ll enjoy regional specialities during dinner at a restaurant located in Matera’s Old Town. 

The day is yours to enjoy as you like. Discover the beauty of Matera and its unique attractions, including the exquisite architecture that has earned it UNESCO World Heritage status and its intriguing historical background. Enjoy some time at a local café, observe the lively atmosphere around you, explore the subterranean side of Matera, or unwind at the hotel for a day of relaxation.  

Need some recommendations? Our friendly and knowledgeable Tour Manager is happy to provide insights on how best to spend your final day in this unspoilt region.  

Dinner is included at the hotel tonight so you can refuel after a day of exploring.