Puglia Basilicata

Guided By David Tordi

Down the heel of the boot.

Two weeks in Bari, Matera, a countryside estate, Monopoli, and Lecce.

“I grew up visiting the deep South of Italy each summer, loving its language, music, and people” —David Tordi

Puglia Basilicata

13 Days & 12 Nights
15 Travelers max

$6695 per person
+$1500 single supplement
$1000 deposit reserves each spot
Full balance 90 days before

March 14 — 26, 2027
* New * Book Now

March 31 — April 12, 2027
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Highlights

Polignano a Mare

Castel del Monte

Handmade pasta!

Alberobello

Southern Italian Color

Learn traditional methods

Meet & Engage

Monopoli

Trani

Itinerary

The Sassi of Matera

Tour begins in Bari, Italy and ends in Lecce, Italy (airport Brindisi).

Day 1. Welcome meeting in our Bari hotel at 4pm, followed by an introduction to Puglia and an orientation walk of Bari. 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). Rest of the afternoon and evening are free for you to explore more of the historic center.
Day 3 - Day trip to Trani, where we will explore this stunning beach town. After lunch on our own, we will continue to visit the UNESCO site of Castel del Monte, the castle of Frederick II (King of the Holy Roman Empire and Sicily). Return to Bari and enjoy some free time and dinner on your own.
Day 4. We leave Bari and drive into the Basilicata region. After an exploration of the town of Melfi, we continue to a local winery to taste the local Vulture Aglianico wines and enjoy a wine tasting lunch. In the afternoon, after an archaeological stop in Venosa, 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 Martinafranca, for some self exploration of this wonderful Baroque town. After lunch on our own, we continue to our next home: an Apulian “masseria” farmhouse, where we will enjoy a cooking class and a group dinner.
Day 7. Today we drive to the stunning Grotte di Castellana, an ancient geological cave network. After lunch on our own on the road, we will return to our masseria for some down time and agroup dinner.
Day 8. We leave Matera and head to Alberobello, to learn all about this wonderful UNESCO site, home to the unique "trulli" conic shaped houses. After a quick stop in Polignano a Mare for lunch on our own and a good gelato, we will continue further into Puglia, arriving in Monopoli, where we will check in and have agroup dinner.
Day 9. Today we will explore Monopoli with our local guide, a spectacular coastal town in Puglia, and enjoy some free time. At the end of our walking tour, weather permitting, we will take a boat ride with an aperitivo. The rest of the day and dinner are on your own in town (today chance for beach time).
Day 10 - A day out exploring wonderful Ostuni "the white town” and its architecture. Here we will learn about the town and enjoy some free time and lunch on your own before arriving in Lecce, our next home for three nights. Group dinner in Lecce.
Day 11 - Today we will have a walking 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.” After that, you will be free to explore more of Lecce. Lunch and dinner are on your own.
Day 12 - Today 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.

Tour itinerary subject to change.

What’s Included

Bari Old Town

Included:

A small group experience of 10-15 people
Twelve nights accommodation, including all breakfasts
Six group dinners & four group lunches, drinks included (reasonable limits)
Winery visit & tasting
All group sightseeing activity entrances and local guides
Transport by private vehicle
All tips for guides, hotels, restaurants, and drivers.
Pre-tour travel consultation with David

Not Included:

Airfare & airport transportation
Activities not included with the tour
Hotel extras and room service
Extra wine at group meals
Travel insurance

Conditions:

Tour itinerary and What’s Included details subject to change. Future substitutions will be approximately equal or better in value.

FAQ

Lecce & Southern Baroque

The weather in Puglia is most pleasant in April and October, with daytime temperatures in the 70s and typically sunny skies.
Bari’s Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) Airport is accessible from major hubs throughout Europe. As well, there are fast trains to Bari from Rome, Naples, and Bologna.
From Lecce it’s a breeze to reach Brindisi Airport, a 35-minute drive away. You can also use fast train service to reach other Italian cities.
We stay in comfortable and where possible, culturally interesting, 4-star hotels. Our hotels are all located close to the historic center of each town so we’re right in the middle of the action.
This tour has moderate walking, sometimes over cobblestone streets. Be prepared to walk up to three miles per day and be able to stand in place for stretches of time while engaging with local guides.
Free time is an essential part of our tours. Most days have significant free time to explore further on your own, relax, or just clear your mind. Half the meals are together with the group and half are on your own, often with the option to join others from the group.