Itinerary
- Day 1
Bari
You'll arrive at either Bari or Brindisi Airport or Station and transfer to your hotel in Bari. Once you check in, a guide takes you through the city starting with the Murat district and then into the old city where you'll see the Norman-Swabian Castle, the Romanesque Cathedral of San Sabino, and the Basilica of San Nicola. Later on, you'll sample street food around the city to get a real sense of Bari's food culture.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Bari including Murat district and old city
- Street food tasting in Bari (fried polenta, focaccia barese, panzerotti)
Landmarks/POIs Norman-Swabian Castle Cathedral of San Sabino Basilica of San Nicola - Day 2
Ruvo di Puglia - Trani
After breakfast, you head out to Castel del Monte for a tour of this UNESCO octagonal castle that Frederick II built centuries ago. From there you move to Ruvo di Puglia to see its ceramics heritage and the Romanesque cathedral. Next comes Trani where you'll walk around the Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino, the Swabian Castle, and the historic Jewish neighborhood. The day ends with a Moscato wine tasting.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Castel del Monte (UNESCO Heritage site)
- Visit to Ruvo di Puglia and Romanesque cathedral
- Guided tour of Trani including Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino, Swabian Castle (exterior), and Giudecca Jewish neighborhood
- Tasting of Moscato wine
Optional Activities
- Lunch (not included)
Landmarks/POIs Castel del Monte Cathedral of Ruvo di Puglia Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino Swabian Castle, Trani - Day 3
Martina Franca - Cisternino
This morning you start in Alberobello, a UNESCO site with about 1,500 trulli (those cone-roofed traditional houses). You'll take a 2-hour walk through Rione Monti and Aia Piccola, check out the trullo-shaped Church of Sant'Antonio, and go inside a traditional trullo to see how people actually lived. Later you head to Martina Franca to see its Baroque architecture and the Cathedral of San Martino. An olive mill visit comes next where you learn how they make extra virgin olive oil and taste it with local bread. By evening you're in Cisternino having dinner at a braceria steakhouse with meat cooked over hot coals.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at traditional Braceria in Cisternino featuring local specialties from Valle d'Itria cooked on hot coals (bombette, gnumeredd, braciole al sugo), accompanied by starters including Capocollo di Martina Franca, salami, local hams, Ricotta and Mozzarella cheese)
Included Activities
- 2-hour guided walking tour of Alberobello including Rione Monti and Aia Piccola districts
- Visit to Church of Sant'Antonio (trullo-shaped church)
- Visit to a traditional Trullo
- Visit to Martina Franca with Baroque architecture viewing
- Guided tour of olive mill with extra virgin olive oil tasting and Apulian bread
- Visit to Cisternino
- Dinner at traditional Braceria in Cisternino with local specialties and drinks
Landmarks/POIs Alberobello Church of Sant'Antonio Cathedral of San Martino Cisternino - Day 4
Polignano a Mare
After breakfast you visit a family winery that's been operating since 1795, tasting their wines and local products while exploring cellars with wooden barrels dating back to the 1600s. Then you head to the coast near Monopoli for a boat trip along the water from Polignano a Mare, viewing bays, coves, and sea caves like the famous Grotta Palazzese. You might see fishermen and dolphins, and there's a chance to swim if you want. Later you check into accommodation in the Itria Valley for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Winery tour with wine and local product tasting at family-run winery (established 1795)
- Cellar exploration including historic wooden barrels from 1600s
- Boat tour along coast from Monopoli to Polignano a Mare viewing bays, coves, and sea caves
- Visit to Grotta Palazzese with opportunity to swim and relax
Optional Activities
- Swimming and diving at Grotta Palazzese
Landmarks/POIs Polignano a Mare Grotta Palazzese Lama Monachile - Day 5
Ostuni
You spend this day in Lecce, which people call 'The Florence of Southern Italy,' walking through the narrow alleys and visiting the Cathedral of Santa Croce and Piazza Duomo. You'll see Charles V's Castle from outside, walk around the Roman amphitheater, and check out Piazza Sant'Oronzo. There's time to try pasticciotto leccese, a local sweet pastry. After that you continue to Ostuni, known as 'The White City' because of its whitewashed buildings on three hills. There you tour the 15th-century Romanesque Gothic Cathedral and see Piazza Beato Giovanni Paolo II with the 18th-century Palazzo Vescovile and Seminary.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided walking tour of Lecce including Cathedral of Santa Croce and Piazza Duomo
- Visit to Castle of Charles V (exterior viewing)
- Visit to Roman amphitheater
- Visit to Piazza Sant'Oronzo
- Tasting of pasticciotto leccese (traditional Salento sweet)
- Visit to Ostuni with old town exploration
- Visit to Ostuni Cathedral (15th-century Romanesque and Gothic)
Landmarks/POIs Cathedral of Santa Croce Piazza Duomo Castle of Charles V Roman amphitheater Piazza Sant'Oronzo Cathedral of Ostuni Piazza Beato Giovanni Paolo II - Day 6
Departure
You have breakfast at the hotel and check out when ready. If you've arranged it, you can get a transfer to either Brindisi or Bari Palese Airport for your return flight.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Transfer to Brindisi or Bari Palese Airport
