Discover southern Italy's beauty and charm on this Puglia 8-Day Tour. You'll visit remarkable locations such as Bari, Lecce, Alberobello, and Matera.
Puglia 6 Day Tour
Day 1: Bari
We'll pick you up at the Bari airport to take you to a central hotel in the city, where you'll have the rest of the day off.
Day 2: Bari
After breakfast at the hotel, we'll visit the historic centre of Puglia's capital and explore the alluring narrow streets. This will take us to the San Nicola Basilica and the Normanno-Svevo Castle, built in the 12th century by the Norman King Roger II and reconstructed by Frederick II. From here, we'll admire impressive views of Bari.
Following on, we'll wander through the Piazza Mercantile and see the ancient Column of Justice. Later, we'll have dinner and head back to the hotel.
Day 3: Bari - Trani - Castel del Monte - Alberobello
After breakfast, we'll board a bus towards Trani, a medieval city known as the "Pearl of Puglia" and discover the Jewish quarter as well as its marvellous white stone cathedral. Later in the afternoon, we'll go to Castel del Monte, one of the most visited locations in the south of Italy. It boasts a fortress with remarkable geometry and hidden secrets.
The tour will continue on to Alberobello, named a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its "trulli" (the 14th century whitewashed stone huts with cone-shaped roofs). You'll feel like you're in a fairytale as you walk through the small village. As the sun sets, we'll spend the night and have dinner in a traditional "trullo."
Day 4: Alberobello - Matera - Alberobello
In the morning, we'll make our way to Matera. Here you'll be surprised by the intriguing architecture of the "sassi di Matera." These ancient cave dwellings were first used as homes over 9,000 years ago. We'll also visit the Romanesque Cathedral from which you'll admire spectacular views of the "sassi." In the evening we'll go back to Alberobello.
Day 5: Alberobello - Locorotondo - Ostuni - Lecce
On the fifth day, we'll discover two charming villages. The first stop will be Locorotondo, where you'll have free time to explore another "white city" in Puglia.
Afterward, we'll go to Ostuni, which dominates the coastal plain and stands out in the centuries-old olive trees valley. You'll have the opportunity to enjoy the city and sample some local products at your leisure, such as olive oil.
Later, we'll get back on the bus towards Lecce, where we'll have dinner and stay the night.
Day 6: Lecce - Otranto - Lecce
We'll have breakfast and spend the morning enjoying a guided tour of Lecce, located in the heart of the Salento region. The tour will take us through the old town and its symbolic landmarks, including the 12th-century Cathedral, the Santa Cruz Basilica, and the Duomo Square.
Next, we'll head to Otranto, which you'll be free to explore at your own pace. You'll find remains of different villages, including Greek, Roman, and Turkish. We recommend stepping inside the cathedral to admire the mosaics that rival those of Ravenna in terms of wealth. In the afternoon, we'll make our way to Supersano, where the day will end with a dinner in the "Masseria le Stanzie." Then, we'll go back to Lecce.
Day 7: Lecce - Monopoli - Bari
After breakfast, we'll head to Bari along the Altopiano delle Murge. We'll visit Martina Franca, an elegant Baroque town with its Piazza Plesicito and the Palazzo Ducale, where you'll have free time. We'll then continue toward the Itria Valley until we reach the Masseria Montenapoleone. Here, you'll learn how to prepare fresh pasta, such as orecchiette, cavatelli, and strascinate. We'll enjoy a lunch with the food we made and local specialties. In the afternoon, we'll explore Monopoli, a fortified citadel with an oriental charm and narrow streets. Did you know the Crusaders departed from its port? Afterward, we'll return to Bari for the night.
Day 8: Bari
After breakfast at the hotel, you'll have free time until we pick you up to take you to the Bari Airport.
Tour Accommodation
On this 8-day tour, you'll stay in the following 4-star hotels:
- Bari: Excelsior Hotel Bari or similar
- Alberobello: Grand Hotel La Chiusa or similar
- Lecce: Hotel Delle Palme or similar
