Day 1. Welcome celebration near the Bari hotel, orientation walk, group dinner.

Day 2. Walking tour of Old Bari with our local expert, who will show us this wonderful old city and its artistic and food treasures (including an Orecchiette pasta demo & group lunch). The rest of the afternoon and evening are free for you to explore more of the historic center.

Day 3. Day trip to visit the UNESCO site of Castel del Monte, the castle of Frederick II (King of the Holy Roman Empire and Sicily). Then we will continue to Trani, where we will explore this stunning beach town. After lunch on our own in Trani, we will return to Bari and enjoy some free time and dinner on your own.

Day 4. We leave Bari and drive into the Basilicata region. We will stop at the Ancient Roman-Medieval archaeological site in Venosa. After our visit, we will continue to a local winery to taste the traditional Vulture Aglianico wines and enjoy a wine tasting lunch & experience. After lunch, we arrive in Matera. Dinner on your own in Matera.

Day 5. Walking tour of Matera, with its UNESCO site district called Sassi, one of the most ancient human settlements in the world. After that, we will enjoy a group lunch in town, followed by a free afternoon and evening to explore more of Matera. Dinner on your own.

Day 6. Today we leave Matera and head towards Alberobello, to learn all about this wonderful UNESCO site, home to the unique “trulli” conic shaped houses. After lunch on our own, we continue to our next home: an Apulian “masseria” country hotel, where we will enjoy a cooking class and a group dinner.

Day 7. Today we drive to Martina Franca, for some self exploration of this wonderful Baroque town. After lunch on our own, we will drive back to our country hotel for some relaxation, followed by pizza night together.

Day 8. We leave our country hotel and head to Polignano a Mare to explore this beach cliff town, enjoy lunch on our own and a good gelato. After lunch, we will continue further into Puglia, arriving in Monopoli, where we will have an orientation walk, check in and have a group seafood dinner.

Day 9. Today we will enjoy a free morning (possible beach time) and lunch on your own in Monopoli, followed by an afternoon boat ride along the Apulian Adriatic Coast. After that, the rest of the evening and dinner are on your own in town.

Day 10. This morning we are leaving Monopoli and heading towards Ostuni, “the white town”. Here we will have some free time to explore before arriving at a local farm. Here we will enjoy a group country lunch, and learn about the local olive oil and other traditional specialties. The day continues arriving in Lecce, our next home for three nights. Dinner on your own in Lecce.

Day 11. Today we will have a walking art & food tour of breathtaking Baroque Lecce with a local expert who will show us the many hidden gems of this unique city, also called “the Southern Florence.” During the tour, we will taste some local delicacies. After that, you will be free to explore more of Lecce. Dinner is on your own.

Day 12. We visit the nearby town of Otranto, made famous by Horace Walpole’s novel (The Castle of Otranto) and by the Ottoman’s conquest in 1480. Here we will have a walking tour of town, followed by some free time and lunch on your own in Otranto. In the afternoon, we will return to Lecce, where we will enjoy some free time, followed by our farewell dinner.

Day 13. Tour is over after breakfast.