Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival
You'll arrive at your 4-star hotel and get settled into your room. Your hosts have arranged a welcome aperitif dinner to kick things off, so this first evening sets the tone for the week ahead.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome aperitif dinner prepared by hosts)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Masseria Relais Santa Teresa)
Included Activities
- Welcome aperitif dinner
- Day 2
Cooking Lesson and Gallipoli
After breakfast, you'll join a cooking lesson with a local chef who focuses on traditional Salento dishes using seasonal ingredients. You'll get to taste what you've made for lunch. In the afternoon, head to Gallipoli where you can swim in the clear water or walk through the charming old town. The day wraps up with dinner and gelato.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Dishes prepared during the cooking lesson), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Masseria Relais Santa Teresa)
Included Activities
- Hands-on cooking lesson with local chef focusing on typical Salento dishes
- Lunch of prepared dishes from cooking lesson
- Visit to Gallipoli Old Town
- Swimming in Gallipoli
Landmarks Gallipoli - Day 3
Castro Boat Tour and Otranto
Starting after breakfast, you'll travel to Castro and board a private boat to explore sea caves and the coastal area for a couple of hours, with swimming as an option. A light lunch follows, then you'll head to Otranto, Italy's easternmost coastal town, to check out the historic architecture and white sand beaches. You'll have free time before dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Light lunch), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Masseria Relais Santa Teresa)
Included Activities
- Private boat tour of Castro's sea caves and surroundings
- Swimming during boat tour
- Visit to Otranto
Landmarks Castro Otranto - Day 4
Market Visit, Pasta-Making Class and Galatina
After breakfast, walk through a local farmers market with your hosts and a chef to see how locals shop. You'll pick up ingredients, then return to the villa for a pasta-making class with a local Mamma teaching traditional Orecchiette from scratch. Later, visit the beautiful Baroque town of Galatina in the afternoon, followed by a Puglia-style dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Puglia style dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Masseria Relais Santa Teresa)
Included Activities
- Visit to local farmers' market with local chef and hosts
- Hands-on pasta-making class with local Mamma
- Learning to make Orecchiette pasta from scratch
- Visit to Galatina Baroque town
Landmarks Galatina - Day 5
Wine Tasting and Lecce
This morning you'll head to a local winery to taste Salento wines, including Primitivo and Negroamaro varieties. Then travel to the seaside villages of Santa Caterina and Santa Maria al Bagno near Porto Selvaggio for a light beach lunch. In the afternoon, take a guided walk through Lecce's baroque center, then have free time for shopping, a spritz, or gelato. Dinner features local specialties like ciceri e tria and fave e cicoria, followed by drinks at gay-friendly bars.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Light lunch by the sea), Dinner (Dinner in Lecce historic center featuring local produce and typical dishes such as ciceri e tria and fave e cicoria)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Masseria Relais Santa Teresa)
Included Activities
- Wine tasting at local winery
- Visit to Santa Caterina and Santa Maria al Bagno villages
- Beach time at Porto Selvaggio Natural Reserve area
- Guided walk in Lecce historic center
- Dinner in Lecce historic center with local produce specialties
Optional Activities
- Shopping in Lecce
- Spritz or gelato in Lecce
- Drinks at gay-friendly bars in Lecce
Landmarks Lecce Porto Selvaggio Natural Reserve Santa Caterina Santa Maria al Bagno Nardò - Day 6
Olive Oil Experience and Farewell Barbecue
After breakfast, you'll visit a traditional Frantoio farm that produces organic extra virgin olive oil. Learn about the history of ancient olive groves planted by Romans and taste the oil. Head back to the hotel for pool time, then enjoy a barbecue farewell dinner in the evening. You'll have the option to visit Gallipoli's gay bars for drinks afterward.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Barbecue farewell dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Masseria Relais Santa Teresa)
Included Activities
- Visit to traditional Frantoio organic olive oil farm
- Olive oil tasting and education
- Farewell barbecue dinner
Optional Activities
- Drinks at gay bars in Gallipoli
Landmarks Gallipoli - Day 7
Departure
It's time to depart. Your Gay Singles' Week adventure comes to an end.
