Tours of Puglia - Welcome to the Heel of the Italian Boot: Guided Tours and Shore Excursions of Puglia and the Mediterranean

The Most Famous "Best of Puglia", A Full Immersion of Italy's Heel

Special Inclusion:
1st option - Private Biking Tour on the ancient Trajan Way (3-4 hours);
2nd option - Authentic Cooking Class.

A full immersion in Puglia including 2 days exploring Matera. The itinerary would not be complete without staying a few nights in a typical Trullo Dwelling and an authentic Stone House:

Day 1 - Welcome to Puglia (2 Nights Stay in Authentic Stone House of Matera or Hotel Stay in Bari)
- City Tour of Bari, Puglia's Capital;
- Photo stop at the Park of the Rupestrian Churches, Mel Gibson set for "The Passion of Christ";
- Trattoria Lunch or Dinner.
(if you choose Hotel Stay in Bari instead of Matera, Day 2 and Day 3 will be switched - the choice must be confirmed at the time of booking)

Day 2 - Matera, European Capital of Culture 2019
- Guided Walking Tour of Matera (UNESCO World Heritage Site);
- Visit one of the typically furnished cave-houses;
- Visit a rupestrian church built by Oriental Monks;
- Free Afternoon to explore the Sassi district on your own;
- Pizza Lunch or Dinner.

Day 3 - Trani/Castel del Monte (3 Nights Stay in Original Trullo Dwelling or Farm Stay)
- Explore the charming coastal town of Trani;
- Visit Castel del Monte (UNESCO World Heritage Site);
- Masseria Dinner (or Lunch), supper in a family-run fortified farm.

Day 4 - Alberobello/Polignano a Mare/Castellana Grottos/Itria's Valley (Locorotondo/Cisternino)
- Walking Tour of Alberobello, (UNESCO World Heritage Site), just be amazed about it;
- Visit the church of Sant'Antonio, the only one with a Trullo shape;
- Taste Typical Local Appetizer inside a Trullo (taralli, almonds, regional sweets and drinks);
- Polignano a Mare, a beautiful balcony on the Mediterranean;
- Guided Tour of Castellana's Grottos (not private), the longest underground tunnels of Italy;
- Locorotondo, time to explore one of the most beautiful villages of Italy;
- Butchery's Dinner in Cisternino (famous for meat lovers who dine inside Real Butcheries).

Day 5 - Ostuni/Ancient Trajan Way's Bike Tour (or Authentic Cooking Class)
- Olive Oil Farm Visit and Olive Oil tasting;
- Ostuni, Walking Tour of the "White Lady";
- Regional Meal;
- Private Organized Biking Tour through the Ancient Trajan's Way.
Highlights include:
- Ancient Trajan way
- Montalbano Dolmen (4000 years old)
- Fortified farms
- Ancient olive trees
- Saracen tower visit
- Natural Park of Dune Costiere
- Evening At Leisure.
(you can choose to take part to a Private Cooking Class instead of the bike tour - you will therefore stay 2 nights in Trullo/Farm and 3 nights in Historical Palace and have your meal at the class instead of the regional meal - eat what you cook!)

Day 6 - Brindisi/Lecce (2 Nights Stay in Historical Palace)
- Drive off the beaten paths through the Ancient Olive Trees Road;
- Natural Reserve of Torre Guaceto (beach time, weather permitting);
- Wine Tasting and Local Cellar Visit;
- City Walk of Brindisi;
- Guided Walking Tour of Lecce, (includes Cathedral and famous Santa Croce Basilica);
- Fishermens' Lunch.

Day 7 - "The Heel" and the Adriatic Coast (or Otranto/Gallipoli in one day)
- Otranto, Walk the historical centre, right on the ancient walls;
- Visit the unusual Cathedral with its Stunning Floor Mosaic and the Skulls of the Martyrs on display;
- Photo Stop by a bauxite lake - area of a former open sky mine;
- Punta Palascia's lighthouse - the Italian easternmost point;
- Santa Cesarea Terme - be captivated by amazing rocky cliff, overlooking the clear emerald sea;
- Drive along the Adriatic sea and reach Castro - you are now in the heart of the Salentina peninsula;
- Beach Time (if needed);
- Ponte del Ciolo, from where you can bathe or snorkel in the crystallin water of the Adriatic sea or simply enjoy locals diving from 20 meters high - we may do a short trekking to reach a seclude spot;
- Santa Maria di Leuca (Caput Mundi) - end of the tip, where the Adriatic meet the Ionian Sea;
- Sunset Boat Ride by the 'Heel of Italy's Boot' and the many grottos around it (weather permitting);
- Night out at local "sagra" (fair) in one of the many villages of Puglia - each sagra is famous for one unique regional food product and it is often accompanied by folk concerts or dance exhibitions.
(please note: these events are organized in summer months only, usually between mid-June and mid-September. The official calendar is updated weekly. If no sagra is available you will be taken to lunch or dinner instead)
You may also decide to visit Otranto and Gallipoli instead of the itinerary above.

Day 8 - Arrivederci Puglia
- Transfer to the airport/rail station or combine it with a tour of Sicily, the gem of the Mediterranean.

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