Discover charming countryside, beautiful coastline and the magical cave city of Matera

Personalised journeys from start to finish

Every trip helps support Conservation

Every detail taken care of

  • Personalised journeys from start to finish

  • Every trip helps support Conservation

  • Every detail taken care of

Suggested places to visit

Itinerary highlights

  • Discover the charming and unique trulli houses of Alberobello
  • Learn the secrets of making burrata cheese with a local expert
  • Explore an olive oil estate, tasting some of the region's finest varieties
  • Spend two days in the stunning ancient town of Materia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Go hiking through the stunning gorges that surround Matera

What's included

  • Private tours and experiences focused around Puglia's history, culture and nature
  • Luxury accommodation throughout
  • Private transfers
  • Full support from your Travel Designer and Concierge before, during and after your trip
  • Our help with restaurant recommendations and reservations
  • Expert guides in each destination
Use this itinerary to inspire your bespoke journey

At a glance

The heel of Italy’s boot is a charming mix of pretty coastal towns, whitewashed hilltop villages and endless olive groves, as well as some of the country’s best food – something you’ll come to discover during your time exploring Puglia’s beautiful coast and cities.

Your Puglian adventure starts near Fasano, a wonderful base from which to explore the nearby towns and coastline. You’ll discover the quirky conical trulli houses of Alborabelo and cycle through the countryside to Locorotondo with its labyrinth of white alleys, as well as the elegant town of Martina Franco. You’ll also visit a local cheesemaker and learn the secrets of making the region’s famous burrata. the white city of Ostuni follows, with its shimmering buildings reminiscent of a Greek village. After winding your way through its charming streets, you’ll head out to an olive oil estate and learn what goes into making what is the base of practically all Italian dishes.

The beautiful baroque city of Lecce is up next, which sits almost at the very bottom of the heel and is one of Puglia’s most elegant cities. From your gorgeous hotel you’ll explore a nearby winery and head out to the fishing towns of Gallipoli and Galatina where colourful boats bob on the turquoise water. You’ll the spend two days relaxing at the beautiful Palazzo Margherita, near Bernalda, before heading to the city of Matera in neighbouring Basilicate. Matera is famous for its ancient cave dwellings stacked up on the hills, peering out over a dramatic gorge littered with intriguing Rupestrian churches. In 1993, Matera was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and many of the caves have been turned into boutique hotels and restaurants, breathing life back into this once derelict city.

Example trip itinerary

Days 1-4

Fasano

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel near Fasano

Accommodation in Fasano

Three nights near Fasano Three nights near Fasano

Our beautiful properties in Fasano lie between the town itself and the Adriatic Sea. This part of the country is a wonderful base from which to explore Italy's 'boot' with charming countryside and coastline all within easy reach. Rows of knarled olive trees lead down to the sea, Inland there are the pretty towns of Alberobello, Locorotondo, Cisternina and Martina Franca. Further north are the seaside towns of Monopoli and Polignano del Mara and to the south, the magical white city of Ostuni.

When you're not out exploring Puglia, your masseria is the perfect place to relax and enjoy wonderful Italian food, wine and hospitality.

bari-pasta-making
Bari Vecchia Bari Vecchia

Enjoy a quick tour of the enchanting old city of Bari Vecchia. Here you will see local ladies who still make pasta by hand outside their homes. Their speed and precision is incredible.

Discover Alberobello's trulli houses Discover Alberobello's trulli houses

Visit Puglia's famous trulli houses in Alberobello where there are over 1,000 of these unique dwellings. Trulli houses are dry stone huts with conical roofs that were originally used as field shelters and storehouses as well as permanent dwellings for agricultural workers.

mozzarella-making
Making burrata Making burrata

Discover the secrets of cheese making and the ancient traditions of Puglia. You will meet a local cheese artisan at their farm, where they will demonstrate the art of making fresh burrata and let you try twisting a knot of mozzarella or two.

Locorotondo and Martina Franca by bike Locorotondo and Martina Franca by bike

This cycling tour takes you deep into the Itria Valley, through lovely countryside and to two of Puglia's most charming towns. Locorotondo was built on a circular plan with narrow concentric streets lined with white terraced houses. This round layout is what gave the town its name. The historic centre is characterised by a labyrinth of white alleys where the houses end with unusual pitched roofs called 'cummerse', a feature typical of the town. It has also earnt itself the nickname, 'citta del vino' on account of the dry white spumante wine made from the local verdeca grapes.

Martina Franca has a wonderfully intact historic centre, beautiful baroque architecture and a stunning basilica, as well as benefiting from beautiful natural surroundings.

ostuni-southern-italy
Ostuni tour Ostuni tour

Visit the magical white city of Ostuni, an imposing citadel overlooking the olive plains all the way to the Adriatic. The tiny winding streets of the oldest quarter are known by the Arabic term, the 'casbah' and look more Greek or eastern than the typical piazzas of northern Italy. You'll explore this charming city with your guide and enjoy lunch at a Pugliese restaurant.

olive-harvest-italy
Tour of ancient olive oil estate Tour of ancient olive oil estate

Puglia is covered in olive groves and today you'll visit a beautiful estate filled with trees dating back to Roman times. You will see the ancient mill where olive oil has been produced for thousands of years and meet the family for whom oil is not just a way of life but a passion. Enjoy tasting the organic olive oils that are made on the estate, learning what gives them their unique and special flavour.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel in Lecce

Days 4-6

Lecce

Accommodation in Lecce

lecce-puglia-italy
Two nights in Lecce Two nights in Lecce

Lecce is arguably Puglia's most handsome city, with imposing baroque architecture and a grand, stately feel. Although it is one of the region's biggest cities, it still has plenty of charm and lots of hidden corners to discover.

Tour of Li Veli winery Tour of Li Veli winery

Visit one of Puglia's most renowned wineries, Li Veli and enjoy a fascinating tour and tasting of their beautiful wines.

Lecce tour Lecce tour

Lecce is the capital of the Salento province and has earned itself the title 'the Florence of the south'. The city is filled with amazing baroque architecture and your tour will reveal millennia of fascinating history.

gallipoli-puglia
Gallipoli and Galatina Gallipoli and Galatina

Head south to Gallipoli and visit the famous fish market and its charming old centre on the Ionian Coast. You will also stop at Galatina to explore the Basilica di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria where you'll see frescoes depicting biblical stories including the life and passion of Christ and the martyrdom of Santa Caterina. You will also have the chance to learn all about the legend of the tarantella dance, renowned throughout the Salento province.

italian-ceramics
Ceramic artisans of Grottaglie Ceramic artisans of Grottaglie

The town of Grottaglie is famous for its ceramics. You'll visit the workshops of the artisans and watch as they show you how the beautiful ceramic pieces are made, painted and decorated.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel in Bernalda

Days 6-8

Bernalda

Accommodation in Bernalda

palazzo-margherita-archway
Two nights relaxing at Palazzo Margherita Two nights relaxing at Palazzo Margherita

Palazzo Margherita is the perfect spot from which to explore the hilltop town of Bernalda. Whether you choose to hop on a bike and explore the pretty streets, relax at the private beach club, take a cooking class or simply sit back and enjoy delicious Italian food and aperativo in the garden, you'll be utterly charmed by this historic property.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel in Matera

Days 8-9

Matera

Accommodation in Matera

Matera, Italy skyline
One night in Matera One night in Matera

Matera is a UNESCO World Heritage site, perched high on a beautiful hillside and characterised by cave dwellings. The town is divided into two sections, Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso; sassi means stone in Italian and refers to these clusters of stone dwellings. At first sight, the town looks like a jumble of faded stone huts but behind the facades are simple caves, inhabited since Paleolithic times. You'll also come across lots of churches, known as rupestrian churches, carved into the rock face and used by Basilian monks fleeing persecution during the reign of the Byzantine Empire.

Hiking in the gorges of Matera Hiking in the gorges of Matera

Enjoy a trek through the wild and stunning gorges surrounding Matera. Your guide will bring the landscape to life as you explore ravines and old cave dwellings.

Evening free in Matera Evening free in Matera

Matera is particularly magical at night, when the stones of the sassi take on a soft golden hue. Wandering through the winding lanes on your last night is the perfect way to end your trip.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to Bari airport

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Puglia's Beautiful Coast and Cities

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