Puglia and Matera

Your journey begins with arrival into Bari by air or rail, where a private driver will be waiting in the arrivals area holding a sign with your name. If you are already staying at a hotel in Bari, pick-up will be arranged directly from there. From Bari, you’ll transfer to Vieste, a charming seaside village surrounded by white cliffs and emerald water, checking in to Hotel Sciali (or similar) for the first of two nights. Check-in is generally available from 12:00, though if you arrive earlier your luggage can be left at reception while you begin exploring.

With no scheduled activities today, the afternoon and evening are entirely your own – time to soak up the beauty of the harbour and wander the picturesque narrow streets at your own pace.

Pre- and post-tour nights can be added directly with us, so you won’t need to change hotels too often.

After breakfast, the group meets at the Vieste harbour at 9:00 AM and boards at 9:30 AM for a morning boat excursion to the spectacular Gargano sea caves. The morning is spent exploring natural arches, hidden caves and crystal-clear waters along one of the most scenic stretches of coastline in Southern Italy, before returning to Vieste at 12:30 PM. The afternoon is free to relax on the beach or explore the surrounding area at your own pace.

After breakfast, the group meets the driver at 9:00 AM for the transfer to Trani, the pearl of the Adriatic. The journey includes stops along the way at Monte Sant’Angelo, home to the UNESCO-listed Sanctuary of Saint Michael, and San Giovanni Rotondo, a place of deep spirituality and devotion. Arrival in Trani is expected at around 4:30 PM, where the group checks in to Palazzo Paciotti (or similar) for a two-night stay. The remainder of the day is free.

The day begins at 10:00 AM at Piazza Re Manfredi, at the entrance of the Swabian Castle, where you will meet your guide for a morning transfer to Castel del Monte, the legendary octagonal castle built by Frederick II and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will return to Trani at 1:00 PM with free time to find lunch at your leisure.

The afternoon picks up again at 5:00 PM, back at Piazza Re Manfredi, for a guided tour of Trani taking in its magnificent sea-facing Cathedral and the medieval charm of its Jewish Quarter. The day closes with a panoramic sunset aperitif at 7:00 PM, where your guide will lead you to a spot perfectly placed to toast the beauty of the day over local specialities. The evening is then yours to enjoy freely.

After breakfast and check-out, luggage is loaded and the group departs from the hotel lobby at 8:45 AM for a morning dedicated entirely to the flavours of Puglia. First stop is a traditional Apulian dairy farm, where you will get hands-on and learn to make mozzarella and burrata yourself. This is followed by a visit to the Confetti Museum, a delightful journey through the region’s confectionery traditions and creative heritage. The morning rounds out with a tour of a working olive oil mill, where a guided tasting reveals all the secrets behind Puglia’s famous liquid gold.

The group then departs for Bari, arriving around 4:00 PM. Check-in at Hotel Boston (or similar) follows for a three-night stay, with the rest of the afternoon and evening free.

After breakfast, the group meets at 9:00 AM in front of the Teatro Petruzzelli on Corso Cavour in Bari, where your driver will be waiting to depart for Matera. Upon arrival at 10:30 AM, a local guide meets the group at Piazza Vittorio Veneto in front of the Banco di Napoli for a guided tour of this extraordinary city. Matera, the city of the Sassi and a European Capital of Culture, is a place where every alleyway tells centuries of history. Free time for lunch follows at 12:30 PM.

At 2:00 PM the group meets the driver at the same drop-off point for the return transfer to Bari, arriving back in the city in time for a street food tour departing from Piazza Federico II di Svevia at 5:00 PM. For two hours you will taste your way through Bari’s historic centre, sampling focaccia, panzerotti, sgagliozze and other local specialities, before the evening is left to you.

After breakfast, the group meets at 9:00 AM in front of the Teatro Petruzzelli on Corso Cavour for the transfer to Alberobello. At 10:30 AM a local guide meets the group at Via Indipendenza in front of Ristorante Terra Mossa for a guided visit of Alberobello, including an olive oil tasting that brings to life the charm and traditions of its iconic trulli. At 12:00 PM the group transfers to Polignano a Mare for a short walk to take in its stunning clifftop views, with free time for lunch.

At 2:00 PM the group departs from the same drop-off point, arriving back in Bari at around 3:00 PM. The evening is yours to enjoy at leisure.

After breakfast and check-out, luggage is loaded and the group departs from the hotel lobby at 8:45 AM, heading first to Ostuni, the dazzling “White City” known for its labyrinthine alleys and sweeping views over the Itria Valley. At 10:30 AM a local guide meets the group at Piazza Sant’Oronzo in front of the Church of San Francesco for a guided tour lasting until 12:00 PM.

From Ostuni the group transfers to Lecce, checking in to Hotel President (or similar) for a four-night stay. The afternoon brings your first taste of Lecce, the “Florence of the South,” a city celebrated for its extraordinarily ornate baroque architecture. At 5:00 PM a guide meets the group at Piazza Sant’Oronzo in front of the statue of the saint for a guided tour of the city, ending at 7:00 PM with a well-earned aperitif in the heart of the historic centre. The evening is then free.

After breakfast, the group meets at 9:00 AM at the hotel for the transfer to the Adriatic coast. The first stop is Otranto, where a 45-minute tuk tuk tour winds through the town’s cathedral, castle and the deeply moving stories of its martyrs, with free time to follow.

At 11:00 AM the group meets the driver at the same drop-off point for the transfer to Gallipoli, arriving in time for a 50-minute tuk tuk tour of this beautiful town perched above the Ionian Sea, taking in its ancient bastions, harbour and the ever-present sea breeze. Free time for lunch follows before the group departs at 2:30 PM for the return transfer to Lecce, where the evening is yours.

After breakfast, the group meets the driver at the hotel at 9:00 AM and departs for the Abbey of Santa Maria di Cerrate, a Romanesque jewel nestled in the Salento countryside, where a guided visit brings to life the rich medieval history of the region. At 11:30 AM the group continues to Brindisi, a port city with a thousand-year history and a strong Mediterranean identity. A short panoramic tour of the city is followed by a seafood aperitif in a charming restaurant overlooking the harbour. The group returns to Lecce at around 3:30 PM, with the rest of the afternoon and evening free.

After breakfast, the group meets the driver at the hotel at 9:00 AM and departs for Manduria, where a visit to a traditional winery includes a guided tour and tasting of the area’s celebrated Primitivo wine. From Manduria the group continues to Taranto for a visit to the MArTA Archaeological Museum and the Aragonese Castle, two landmarks that together reveal the ancient soul of Magna Graecia. The group returns to Lecce at around 3:30 PM, with the evening free.

After breakfast and check-out, the group meets the driver at 10:00 AM for the transfer back to Bari, with arrival expected at around 12:00 PM. If this timing suits your onward travel, the driver can take you directly to Bari airport or the train station at no extra cost.

If your departure is later in the day, luggage storage and an additional transfer to the airport can be arranged for a supplement of 60 euros.