Apulia – Food, sea and the typical white villages

Arrival of customers at Bari or Brindisi airport, transfer by private car with driver to the hotel in the Monopoli area. After settling in the hotel we will have the afternoon free to enjoy the local beaches such as Porto Bianco, Cala Susca and Cala Verde by car. Night in a hotel near Monopoli.

Together with a local guide and our private driver we will go to visit the wonderful villages of the Itria Valley and Central Puglia. Alberobello is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its characteristic Trulli, limestone houses, extraordinary examples of dry stone buildings, famous all over the world for their white color and the cone-shaped gray stone roof. We will then move to Locorotondo, a white city perched on a hill overlooking the Itria Valley, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. A relaxing walk with our guide will make you appreciate the beauty of the place even more in detail. We will then move on to Martina Franca, where picturesque streets intersect with splendid squares, such as that of the Plebiscito. Finally we will visit Ostuni, a wonderful hilltop village overlooking the Adriatic Sea, a white triumph in its downtown alleys, full of trendy places to have aperitifs or dine. On the way back from Ostuni we will stop at a local farm to discover the production of the famous Apulian oil: we will be lucky enough to enjoy a visit where we will admire historic underground oil mills dating back thousands of years, with a tasting of local oil at the end. Afterwards, return to the hotel.

This day will be entirely dedicated to appreciating the wonderful Adriatic coast of central Puglia. With our private driver we will move to Polignano a Mare, a beautiful village built on a cliff overlooking the sea; panoramic caves are hidden on one part of the cliff and are home to excellent restaurants. After a free walk in the town, also an excellent destination for shopping, with our car we will move just outside the town to enjoy a half-day boat ride (on request it is also possible to do a fishing or snorkeling trip or a tour by kayak) that will make us admire the town from the sea, together with all the picturesque coast up to the other pearl of the area, Monopoli. We will end our boat ride here, after enjoying an aperitif in the middle of the sea, and we will walk freely through this pretty fishing town. With our private driver we will return to the hotel in the afternoon.

With a private car we will move north to visit the Apulian capital, Bari with our guide. Undisputed masterpieces of the city are the Cathedral of San Sabino and the Basilica of San Nicola, together with the Norman-Swabian Castle. Intense experiences will also be the visit of the old port, where we will see the fishermen at work, and the Via delle Orecchiette, where the elderly local ladies engage daily in the preparation of this delicious pasta. From Bari we will move to Trani to admire the wonderful cathedral a stone's throw from the sea shore. We will finish the day by visiting Castel del Monte, a 13th century Swabian fortress shrouded in mystery. A true masterpiece with a very particular shape and a function never clearly understood… our guide will be able to provide us with interesting details about it. Return to the hotel in Monopoli in the late afternoon.

With a private guide and car we will start the day with a visit to a farm in the area that will reveal the production of typical Apulian cheeses: a tasting of mozzarella and burrata, local specialties exported all over the world, will be the best way to appreciate the quality of these excellences. Speaking of excellence, we will not forget to let you taste the famous Altamura bread, in this interesting historic city near the Murge plateau, where a local baker will reveal the secrets of his work. After visiting the majestic cathedral of the city, we will go to enjoy the unique beauty of Matera, a romantic and enchanted city, a film set for memorable films such as Mel Gibson's “The Passion of Christ”. We will get lost in its “stones”, the historic houses that have been perfectly restored in recent decades, discovering how the inhabitants of the city lived in their daily lives up to about half a century ago. Matera will surely thrill us with its triumph of stone houses and churches close to the bare pristine valleys. Return to the hotel in Monopoli.

We will leave our hotel to move to a new hotel in Salento. Free day to enjoy the Adriatic beaches near Otranto, such as San Foca, Baia dei Turchi, Torre dell’Orso and Torre Sant’Andrea. At the end of the day, return to the hotel.

On this interesting day we will leave with our guide and private car to discover the pearls of Salento. We will start from Otranto, one of the major cities overlooking the Adriatic Sea. We will not miss the beautiful Norman cathedral, with a Byzantine mosaic floor, inspired by Jewish art; an impressive work of art full of symbolism that our guide will thoroughly reveal. The second stop will be Lecce, a marvel of Apulian Baroque with its cathedral, Santa Croce and Santa Chiara. Of course, we will also visit the important Roman theater and amphitheater (on request it will also be possible to enjoy an aperitif at the home of a local nobleman or explore the local craftsmanship by getting to know local artisans). After lunch (not included) we will head to Brindisi, a port on the Adriatic sea where the ancient Roman Appian Way ends and a massive column recalls the important past of this city, where we will discover hidden artistic treasures. At the end of the visit we will drive back to the hotel.

This day will start in the sweetest way possible: by private car we will move to Galatina to taste the exquisite "Pasticciotti", typical sweets made with cream and shortcrust pastry, in the city where they were invented. In Galatina we will meet our guide who, in addition to explaining the birth of these sweets known throughout Italy, will reveal the church of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria, an undisputed masterpiece of 14th century art. Its interior will leave you speechless as it is completely frescoed in every corner by artists who were inspired by the great Giotto. We will then go to Gallipoli, with its picturesque old town that stands on a limestone island, admired since the times of Magna Graecia. We will visit the Aragonese Castle, the Cathedral and walk through the small streets of the center. The afternoon will be free to enjoy the beaches of the Ionian coast near the city, such as Rivabella, Punta Pizzo and Lido Conchiglie. Finally, we will return to the hotel.

Check out from the hotel and departure by private car to Brindisi or Bari airport. Possibility, on request, to have an Apulian cooking lesson with final lunch.