Highlights
- Enjoy wine tastings and learn how burrata cheese is made
- Visit the UNESCO Heritage Site of Matera and its famous Sassi cave network
- Explore the charming village of Alberobello and its Trulli houses
- Discover the historic areas of Ostuni, Otranto, and Lecce
- Stay at a farmhouse and enjoy an olive oil tasting and cooking classes
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Salento - Olive Oil Tour and Tasting | Andrano |
| Day 2 | Guided Tour of Lecce - Visit a Pasta Factory in Maglie | Andrano |
| Day 3 | Visit the Turquoise Waters of Otranto | Andrano |
| Day 4 | Visit the Scenic Towns of Alberobello and Ostuni | Andrano |
| Day 5 | Enjoy Cooking Classes and a Burrata Tasting | Andrano |
| Day 6 | Day Trip to the Seaside - Transfer to the UNESCO Town of Matera | Matera |
| Day 7 | Experience the Archeological Wonders of Matera | Matera |
| Day 8 | Depart Italy |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Salento - Olive Oil Tour and Tasting
Welcome to Southern Italy! After arriving at the airport, your driver will transfer you to your accommodation in the quaint town of Andrano, where you'll sleep soundly in a historic farmhouse set in an olive grove. Settle into your room and enjoy a tour of the farm's charming property.
If your flight arrives early enough, the tour of the farm will include the unique process of making olive oil (seasonal from October to January). You'll visit the mill where your host, Emilio, will explain the traditional procedure still used by the farm today. Following your tour, a delicious tasting of organic olive oil awaits.
Return to your room for a little relaxation before enjoying dinner at the farmhouse. Your hosts will serve you typical food from the Salento region, including organic produce directly from the farm. Your meal will be expertly cooked by Chef Emilio himself, ensuring the perfect taste of the traditional dishes.
Day 2: Guided Tour of Lecce - Visit a Pasta Factory in Maglie
After breakfast at the farm, your driver will take you on an excursion to the city of Lecce, which is often called the Florence of the South. A professional guide will lead you on a walking tour of the city, one of Italy's official capitals of Baroque architecture. Several stone gates lead you into the historic old town, which is brimming with monuments. Start in the Piazza del Duomo, which is surrounded by the Catholic churches of Campanile and Church of Saint Mary of the Assumption.
Stroll down the main street, admiring the buildings until you reach the Roman amphitheater, which was built in the 2nd Century. Peruse Sant'Oronzo Square and the Lecce Castle before meandering the side streets for lunch. Afterward, enjoy some time relaxing in the old town, stopping into the many quaint shops.
You'll then visit an authentic pasta factory in the town of Maglie, where you'll learn about the factory's origins and purchase some freshly-made pasta.
The drive back to the farmhouse is quite scenic, following a coastal route along the Adriatic Sea. Your driver is happy to show you several viewpoints overlooking the rocky coastline and the turquoise waters. You'll return just in time for a hosted dinner at the farm, featuring traditional seafood dishes.
Day 3: Visit the Turquoise Waters of Otranto
Your hosts will provide another delicious, farm-fresh breakfast for you to enjoy. This will be the perfect fuel for your day sightseeing along the coast. Your driver will take you to the scenic seaside town of Otranto, where an English-speaking guide will lead you through the historic old quarter. Spend some time at the Aragonese Castle and the Church of Saint Peter.
Your guide will also show you the unique beach and natural pools of Marina Serra, a rocky, cave-like cove that provides excellent opportunities for sunbathing and swimming.
Your next stop is the seafood market in Porto Badisco, another great town for swimming. Here you can break for lunch before returning to the farmhouse. In the late afternoon, Chef Emilio will host a cooking class. He'll teach you all about the preparation of the traditional dish, pasta salentina.
After your cooking class, you'll enjoy your masterpieces, along with some fresh fish, for dinner with your hosts.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Visit the Scenic Towns of Alberobello and Ostuni
In the morning, you'll enjoy a farm-fresh breakfast at your accommodation. Then you'll prepare for a day trip to two of the most popular towns in Puglia: Alberobello and Ostuni.
Your first stop is Alberobello, the famous village with traditional, white-colored Trulli houses. These 14th-century homes are made of limestone and constructed with prehistoric building techniques, meaning no mortar is used. A private guide will lead you through the town, where you can learn about the unique history of both Alberobello and the surrounding region.
After your tour, you'll break for lunch and enjoy some free time to peruse the charming shops in the town. In the afternoon, you'll head to Ostuni, known as the "White City" due to its white-washed facades. The city has been inhabited since the Stone Age, and creates quite the dramatic scene as it sits atop a high hill overlooking the sea.
After your time in Ostuni, you'll return to the farmhouse to enjoy dinner with your hosts, prepared by Chef Emilio, of course.
Day 5: Enjoy Cooking Classes and a Burrata Tasting
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast on the farm before meeting your driver for a day trip to the small town of Maglie. Maglie hosts one of the most important agro-food artisan workshops in the area, including a chocolate workshop. You'll learn about the typical Salento cuisine and how it's traditionally prepared, trying your hand at a few techniques and enjoying the tastes.
After your food workshop, you'll visit a mozzarella cheese factory where the famous burrata cheese is made fresh each and every day. Of course, you'll be able to enjoy the taste as you learn about the production process.
In the afternoon, you'll have plenty of free time to enjoy lunch in Maglie, as well as the charming streets and unique shops, plus a wine tasting in a historic cellar to try some of the famous white wines of Salento. Upon returning to the farm, you'll join another cooking class, this time with Chef Emilio.
Relax on the property before enjoying your farewell dinner with your hosts.
Day 6: Day Trip to the Seaside - Transfer to the UNESCO Town of Matera
After your final farm breakfast, you'll bid farewell to your hosts and the beautiful farmhouse and head out for a scenic drive to the eastern coast of Puglia. Here you'll enjoy a a guided tour of the picturesque, seaside village of Castro. Your guide will show you the beloved coastline, with its dramatic, rocky cliffs that drop down into the turquoise surf. There are many natural caves that line the coast, as well as excellent places for swimming.
You'll then head northwest to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Matera, a splendid city that earned the European Capital of Culture in 2019. It's one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, a maze of twisting streets and narrow alleys. The 12th-century Cathedral of Saint Mary sits atop of the city's hill, its bell tower dominating the skyline for miles in each direction. Matera is the perfect city in which to simply wander and get lost, happening upon its quaint shops and cafes at your leisure.
Your accommodation is set in the Sassi area. Settle into your room and relax before enjoying a hosted dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 7: Experience the Archeological Wonders of Matera
Awake for a leisurely breakfast at your accommodation, then meet your guide for a private transfer to Murgia Timone. This amazing, rocky landscape is made of limestone and provides easy walking paths and incredible archeological sites. A private guided tour will help you discover sites such as the cave churches of San Falcione and the villaggio trincerato (entrenched villages).
Afterwards, you'll visit the National Archaeological Museum in Matera to learn more about the unique terrain and its dwellings, such as the famous rock chapel of San Vito. You'll enjoy the rest of the day in Matera, where you can meander the gorgeous stone streets, the historical sites, and charming shops. Lunch and dinner will be on your own at your leisure. Enjoy the traditional tastes of the region, including the famous, rustic "Matera bread".
Day 8: Depart Italy
It's time to say goodbye to beautiful Southern Italy. After breakfast at your accommodation, your private driver will take you to the airport in time to catch your flight home, or onto your next destination.