Best of Puglia Tour 2025

We meet in Bari at 1 p.m. Bari is the main city of Puglia, and from here we start our discovery of the region.

Our first stop is Polignano a Mare, a town situated on the coast, 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 centered around the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele. The town was on the ancient Roman Trajan’s Way, and you can still see the remains of this route.

Towards evening, we reach the town of Ostuni, where we stay for the next six nights. We stay in the historic center 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. 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!

Tonight we dine together, having our first introduction to the cuisine of Puglia. Throughout the week, meals are in restaurants designed to showcase the region’s cuisine, with the specific venues all carefully selected by us to provide a variety of food styles over the duration of the tour.

Note: For those tours based in Polignano a Mare, the afternoon visit will be to the town of Ostuni.

Meals: Dinner (4 courses including wine)

Today we travel to Lecce, 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.

We take a private tour around Lecce with a local expert guide to have the key sights explained to us. The baroque style here is distinct from that in other parts of Italy, both stylistically and in the use of the beige-colored 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 town. We find that Lecce gives people the perfect combination of artistic and historical interest, a good range of cafes to relax in, and the elegance of the town.

After some free time in central Lecce, we have lunch in a local restaurant, where we dine on the food specific to this part of Puglia, called ‘the Salento’.

After lunch, we visit Monopoli, a vibrant town on the coast. Monopoli has a long history, established in the Bronze Age and fortified since Roman times. The current walls surrounding the town were built by the Spanish in the 16th century, as was the castle. Monopoli is centered around a fishing port, with small wooden fishing boats heading out each day and then selling their catch on the pier. Life carries on as it has for many generations – fishermen mending their nets after docking with the catch. We show you around Monopoli and leave you some free time to explore things that catch your interest.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (3 courses including wine)

We depart for our 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. By walking along its narrow streets, you will be fascinated by the magical and fairytale atmosphere of this place. We explore this town together and learn about why and how these dwellings were built, and about the cryptic symbols painted on the roof-cones.

Before lunch, you have some free time to browse the shops of Alberobello and wander around.

After our lunch in a countryside trattoria, we visit a ‘masseria’. A masseria is a historic farm center, 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. This land has been worked for thousands of years – we are shown the remnants of the ancient Roman agricultural production here, along with items from habitation from the Middle Ages through until modern times.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (3 courses including wine)

This morning we travel to the town of Matera in the neighboring 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, with cave dwellings dating back to the Bronze Age. The town consists of houses carved out of the rock face along the side of a steep ravine.

We meet with a local guide here who gives us an interesting insight into life in Matera, both now and in the past. In fact, his grandparents lived in these caves. We visit the ‘sassi’ cave area and enter one of the typical houses built into the rock, showcasing the challenging existence in these conditions. We also explore a cave church hewn out of the rock, featuring Byzantine frescoes and with fascinating histories as their usage has evolved and adapted over the years. Matera’s unique atmosphere was captured in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” – you’ll quickly understand why it is so easy to imagine Matera as being completely removed from the modern age.

Since we are in the Basilicata region, our lunch here focuses on specialties from this inland area.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (4 courses including wine)

Today we have a day split into two parts – history in the morning and relaxation in a lovely coastal town in the afternoon. Our first visit takes us to the ancient site of Egnazia. This was an early settlement of the Messapic people, one of the early tribes in Puglia, dating back to before Greek settlement. Later, Egnazia became a crucial stop on the Roman road Trajan’s Way, an important route to the Near East during ancient times. Egnazia remains significant today, with many reminders of its past importance spanning several epochs. Particularly noteworthy are the structures and artifacts from the Messapic people, unique to this region of Italy.

Continuing our journey, we arrive in the town of Trani, a favored summer destination for Italians and a highlight for our tour participants. We begin outside the stunning Romanesque cathedral, situated right on the waterfront. Our exploration takes us to key locations associated with the Knights Templar, including the site where this intriguing order once based themselves. Originally, this was their departure point for missions to the Near East.

Walking through Trani’s old Jewish quarter provides insights into the town’s historical life, especially witnessing the evolution of its synagogues over the centuries. Today, Trani’s harbor remains a bustling fishing port, surrounded by waterfront restaurants where local fishermen sell their fresh catches each morning. We enjoy lunch at a seaside restaurant, savoring dishes made from the day’s freshest seafood.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (4 courses including wine)

This morning begins with a visit to the weekly market in Locorotondo, where you’ll experience firsthand how locals shop for fresh produce, cheeses, and seasonal fruits and vegetables. It’s a vibrant scene that offers insights into daily life in this picturesque town.

After exploring Locorotondo, renowned for its beauty and voted one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, we continue our journey to a family-run winery. Here, dedicated to traditional varieties like fiano minutolo and susumaniello, we delve into the art of winemaking. You’ll have the opportunity to walk through the vineyards, taste a selection of wines, including some rare varieties that have only recently become commercially available.

Later today, we immerse ourselves in the cultural heritage of Puglia with a private performance of the local folk dance, the ‘pizzica’. This dance is specific to the region and offers a glimpse into its rich traditions. Enjoy this unique experience accompanied by a glass of prosecco, soaking in the lively atmosphere.

In the evening, we culminate our week-long journey with a special cooking lesson led by a local chef. Here, you’ll deepen your understanding of Puglia’s culinary traditions, learning about the ingredients and techniques that define its cuisine. From seasonal vegetables to focaccia and other regional breads, Puglia’s food is rooted in simplicity and quality, highlighted by the abundant use of extra virgin olive oil. You’ll be hands-on in preparing a series of dishes, followed by a delightful dinner where we enjoy the fruits of our labor together.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner (4 courses including wine)

Note: The pizzica dance performance is subject to availability and group size, and is held only in favorable weather conditions.

By now you know the local barista by name – and he knows which coffee you order – but we must say ‘arrivederci’.

We organise transport for you to your departure point in Bari and bid you “buon viaggio”. The tour finishes in Bari at 11 a.m. Meals: Breakfast I Locorotondo Cooking dinner The pizzica dance The local orecchiette pasta

Physical Requirements – While this is not a strenuous tour, we do require that tour participants are able to undertake a level of physical activity that enables the itinerary visits to be completed. Tour participants should satisfy the following criteria:

• Be able to be on your feet (intermittent walking) for the duration of the visits.
• Guided visits can last up to 2 hours. A standard walking pace is used.
• Have sufficient stability and mobility to be able to walk on uneven surfaces and unpaved paths.
• Be able to handle walking on inclines, declines and steps (both ascending and descending).
• Be able to tolerate varied weather conditions (heat, wind, etc.)
• We would expect that you are currently living an active lifestyle.
• This may include daily walks or similar physical activity.

Should you be unable to maintain the pace of the group you may be required to skip a certain visit. Sometimes this is due to an issue that arises during the week.