5 Senses of Puglia - 8-Day Small Group Tour in a Italian Villa

CIAO, PUGLIA! ARRIVAL

You will be greeted in the beautiful city of Bari and whisked away via our provided transportation to officially begin your Puglian adventure. First things first, we’ll drive through Puglia’s spectacular countryside called the Valle d’Itria and head to your beautiful accommodations, so you can get settled in after your travels. Immersed in an ancient olive grove of 2,600 centuries-old-trees and 10 hectares of peaceful farmland, this Masseria is a Masseria that we simply adore, perfectly located just a few miles from the Adriatic Sea. This traditional farmhouse is managed by our wonderful friends, an Italian-Canadian family, whose self-proclaimed mission is to “make guests feel at home.” The famous Pugliese hospitality will start immediately upon arrival with some light refreshments. One of Puglia’s love languages is delicious food which you will experience all throughout our week together.

This afternoon is yours to relax, to unwind, and to settle into what will be your new Puglia home for the week. Feel free to explore the ancient olive groves on the property or take a dip in the lovely pool. Tonight, we will head into town together and share our first traditional Pugliese dinner complete with local wines. We’ll also give you an overview of all the exciting activities that await you this week.

LA CITTÀ BIANCA: OSTUNI & THE ART OF OLIVE OIL

This morning we will be exploring the incredibly beautiful hilltop city of Ostuni, also known as la citta bianca, the white city, via a guided walk by one of our trusted local guides. Known for its whitewashed buildings and white stone streets, this charming medieval city with its fascinating history, glows day and night. Ostuni is a delightful city to wander, and we’ll meander through its incredible maze of narrow streets and visit some of its iconic architecture. After our guided walk, you’ll be free to explore this city on your own and enjoy a lovely lunch. We love Ostuni and we’ll have lots of recommendations for you about our favorite places to lunch, to shop, and to experience the awe- inspiring panoramic views of the both the sea and surrounding valley. Due to its elevated location, Ostuni is truly an amazing place to simply stop and enjoy the view.

After lunch, we will take a short drive along peaceful country roads into the beautiful green valley to visit, one of the oldest olive oil producers in Puglia. Both an ancient olive oil mill and fortified farmhouse, this Masseria is surrounded by majestic olive groves filled with trees that are thousands of years old. The natural beauty of this property is extraordinary and after our tour, we’ll do a tasting of the superior extra virgin olive oil that is harvested and produced here from its ancient olive trees that were said to be planted during the Roman times. After our unforgettable oil tasting, we’ll make our way back to our accommodations where you can enjoy some leisure time at the Masseria. This evening, we will dine together at one of our favorite local restaurants nearby to enjoy more incredible Pugliese cuisine and wine.

EXPLORING MYSTICAL MATERA

Early this morning, we are going to travel just outside of Puglia into the Italian region called Basilicata which is home to the wonderous and magical city of Matera. Upon our arrival in this sweepingly beautiful and unique hilltop city, which has been used as a backdrop for numerous iconic films, we will have a quick coffee before meeting our friendly and knowledgeable local guide. Our guide will lead us on a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage site, Sassi di Matera, the fascinating ancient cave dwellings that were inhabited for over 2,500 years until the end of the 2nd World War. Our tour will last approximately 1.5 to 2 hours and after that you will be free to explore this very special city, named the 2019 European Capital of Culture, on your own. From incredible religious architecture, local artisan street stalls, to mouthwatering local cuisine, there is so much to see and do in this culturally and historically rich city. As always, we will be happy to share our favorite dining and shopping recommendations.

Late that afternoon we’ll head back to our Masseria where you can enjoy some free time. This evening’s dinner will be a traditional home cooked Pugliese meal made for us by our wonderful accommodation’s hosts and sourced with ingredients from the farm property. Don’t forget the local wine!

CHEESE & CULTURE: MOZZARELLA MAKING, MARTINA FRANCA & ALBEROBELLO

This morning we’ll take a leisurely drive through the tranquil countryside and make our way to the local working farm and Caseificio, which is situated amidst the beautiful twelve hills of the Valle d’Itria. We will be given a tour of this beautiful agricultural property, surrounded by peaceful greenery and sprawling woodlands, and then we will learn how to make fresh mozzarella cheese by one of their expert dairymen. We will then be served an incredible “Rural Apulian Tasting” lunch featuring all of their own products along with fresh seasonal ingredients from their gardens and typical local wines.

After lunch we’ll drive to the largest town in Valle d’Itria, the lovely Martina Franca, for a stroll and perhaps a gelato. Later that afternoon, we’ll head into Alberobello, the city known for its iconic white conical trulli homes and protected by UNESCO for the past 25 years. There is something a bit fairytale about this white city which is now bustling with local stores, bars, and eateries. We’ll learn all about this historic town on a guided tour before we indulge in an amazing dinner together at one of our favorite local restaurants.

BY THE SEA: MONOPOLI & POLIGNANO A MARE

This morning we’ll be making our way to the beautiful, fortified seafront town of Monopoli which is located on the Adriatic coast and offers a castle, a bell tower, a cathedral, a working harbor, and incredible views of the sea at every turn. During our guided walk we’ll learn about Monopoli’s history and see some of its most interesting architecture. You’ll then have some free time to explore Monopoli on your own. Perhaps you’ll want to take stroll along the seaside promenade or enjoy a bit of shopping. Next, we’ll be visiting one of our favorite seaside dining spots to indulge in an incredible seafood lunch al mare with stunning views of the Adriatic.

After lunch, we’ll move on to Polignano a Mare, a charming cliff-top town which is perched directly on the Adriatic Sea and known for its ancient caves, picturesque swimming spots, and panoramic vistas. Poliganano a Mare has a fascinating history and the ruins of four watchtowers, which used to overlook this region for hundreds of years, spanning the Spanish, Byzantine and Norman periods, still remain. We’ll take a guided walk to learn more about this lovely town which is called the “Pearl of the Adriatic.” You’ll then enjoy some free time where you can choose your own Polignano a Mare adventure—be it shopping, swimming, or perhaps a gelato with an epic view of the sea

LECCE & COOKING EXPERIENCE

Today we will be visiting the stunningly beautiful Baroque city, Lecce. Known as the “Florence of the South,” Lecce is a city celebrated for its incredible art and uniquely ornate limestone and sandstone architecture. We will start with a coffee before we embark on our guided walk of Lecce which boasts a 2,500-year-old history that includes many contributions by the Romans, including its fortification walls and ancient amphitheater. After our walk, you’ll have free time to explore Lecce and to have a delicious lunch on your own. As always, we’ll be thrilled to share our Lecce recommendations for food, shopping, or museums.

Later in the afternoon we will head back to our Masseria where we will learn how to cook a fresh and delicious traditional Apulian meal using fresh produce straight from the farmhouse gardens and typical local products from the region. This cooking experience will literally be “farm-to-table.” Tonight’s dinner will be both relaxing and delicious: a home-cooked Pugliese meal and local wine enjoyed at the Masseria.

DOLCE FAR NIENTE: FREE DAY

Today is entirely yours to do as much or as little as you desire. Whether you enjoy this day relaxing at one of our favorite beach clubs, taking a bike ride through the countryside, or exploring a nearby town, we’ll be here to help you craft and curate your very best free day in Puglia. After this lovely free day, we will regroup for our final dinner this evening and head to a local town to visit one of our favorite restaurants for our farewell dinner.

ALLA PROSSIMMA: DEPARTURE DAY

It is time to say not goodbye, but Arrivederci, until we meet again, to Puglia. After enjoying one last epic breakfast spread at the Masseria and perhaps one last dip in the pool, we will escort you to the Bari Airport or Train Station