Itinerary
- Day 1
Matera
You'll arrive in Matera, a hilltop town famous for its ancient Sassi cave dwellings carved into the hillside. This UNESCO World Heritage Site from 1993 serves as your starting point, and you'll have time to settle in and get familiar with the town before the trek begins.
Landmarks Matera Sassi - Day 2
Matera to Montescaglioso
Start hiking out of Matera through a rock-cut passage with views of the ancient Sassi from the trail. You'll walk along the Matera Gorge edge where Roman-era cave dwellings and churches line the landscape, then head through olive groves and wheat fields toward Montescaglioso. The hike covers about 19km over 5 hours with 442m of climbing.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided walk through Matera Sassi UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Walking along Matera Gorge edge with cave dwellings and Roman churches
Landmarks Matera Sassi Matera Gorge 
- Day 3
Montescaglioso to Ginosa
Leave Montescaglioso and its Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo on a panoramic forest path that descends the mountain. You'll walk through rolling hills with wheat fields, oak and pine woods, and Mediterranean shrubs, passing gorge areas where you can see Ginosa's famous Thinking Sage Olive Tree. Expect about 15km over 4 hours with 303m of ascent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo in Montescaglioso
- View Ginosa's Thinking Sage Olive Tree
Landmarks Abbey of San Michele Arcangelo Ginosa's Thinking Sage Olive Tree - Day 4
Ginosa to Laterza
Hike from Ginosa toward Laterza, exploring the cave villages of Il Casal and Rivolta with their multilevel cave dwellings connected by stairs and paths. These settlements were inhabited until the early 20th century and show how people lived traditionally. You'll finish at Laterza in the gorge bottom through wild terrain, covering roughly 14km over 4 hours with 223m of climbing.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore cave villages Il Casal and Rivolta with cave dwellings
Landmarks Il Casal Rivolta - Day 5
Laterza to Castellaneta
From Laterza, known for its traditional maiolica and bread, you'll hike along an impressive path above the Laterza Gorge, one of Europe's largest with 200m-high walls. Pass through Monte Camplo nature reserve with its Macedonian oak and pine trees, then reach Castellaneta perched on a 145m-deep gorge. This day is about 24km over 4 hours with 457m of ascent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike along Laterza Gorge edge
Landmarks Laterza Gorge Monte Camplo nature reserve Castellaneta Gorge - Day 6
Castellaneta to Mottola
Head toward Palagianello and you'll encounter the rock church of San Nicola, a Medieval gallery of Apulian folk art. Follow an old sheep trail through cave settlements including Casalrotto, a village of several hundred rock-carved caves, and Sant'Angelo, Italy's only two-storey cave church. Finish by climbing to the hilltop town of Mottola, covering about 17km over 5 hours with 374m of ascent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit rock church of San Nicola
- Explore cave settlement of Casalrotto
- View Sant'Angelo two-storey cave church
Landmarks San Nicola rock church Casalrotto cave village Sant'Angelo cave church - Day 7
Mottola to Massafra
Begin in Mottola, called the 'Ionian Spy' for its hilltop position overlooking the Gulf of Taranto and Calabrian mountains. You'll descend through the rock church of San Gregorio with its Christ Pantocrator frescoes, then walk through ancient olive groves and cultivated fields to reach Massafra. This major cave civilization center sits between two gorges with thousands of years of underground history. The hike is roughly 19km over 5 hours with 143m of ascent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit rock church of San Gregorio with frescoes
Landmarks San Gregorio rock church Massafra - Day 8
Massafra to Crispiano
Head from Massafra toward the 15th-century Masseria Amastuola, a fortified farm with vineyard grounds designed by landscape architect Fernando Caruncho. You'll continue via a path at the bottom of the Triglie gorge through Mediterranean vegetation and past the equestrian villages of San Cipriano and San Michele to reach Crispiano. This day covers about 14km over 4.5 hours with 374m of climbing.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Masseria Amastuola 15th-century fortified farm with vineyard
Landmarks Masseria Amastuola Triglie gorge - Day 9
Massafra to Crispiano
Depart Massafra heading toward the 15th-century Masseria Amastuola with its vineyard designed by Fernando Caruncho. Travel via a path along the bottom of the Triglie gorge through Mediterranean maquis vegetation and past the equestrian villages of San Cipriano and San Michele to reach Crispiano. This longer route covers about 28km over 8 hours with 462m of ascent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Masseria Amastuola 15th-century fortified farm with vineyard
Landmarks Masseria Amastuola Triglie gorge - Day 10
Martina Franca to Alberobello
Start in Martina Franca, a baroque town in Valle d'Itria. Walk along paths bordered by dry stone walls surrounded by wheat fields, olive groves, vineyards, and traditional masserias. You'll pass through Bosco Selva, remnants of an oak forest that once covered the area, then reach Alberobello, the UNESCO-listed capital of the trulli. The entire old town consists of these unique cone-shaped stone houses. The hike is about 16km over 5 hours with 234m of ascent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walk through Valle d'Itria rural landscape
- Visit Alberobello UNESCO World Heritage Site trulli town
Landmarks Martina Franca Bosco Selva Alberobello trulli town - Day 11
Departure
Have breakfast and depart from Alberobello. Your trek through Puglia concludes here.
- Meals
- Breakfast
