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The road less travelled...by tourists

You will be part of a small, intimate group travelling through the south eastern coastal lands where Romans, Greeks, Turks, and Spaniards have all left their mark on what is now Puglia (Apulia), Italy "the heel of the boot".

Your 7 days will be guided by local, native Italians speaking fluent English. By day you will immerse in the historical, wonderous architecture, local cuisine, wine, art and culture. Your 8 nights will be restful in 4-star accommodation.

Focus: Wine, Food, Architecture

We begin by the sea.
4 Nights in Polignano a Mare

We’ll arrive in Bari and transport to our home base for 4 nights, in the village of Polignano a Mare. We’ll be greeted at the airport by our Italian tour guide and welcomed with a reception and dinner, for our group of 12, at the gourmet restaurant of our hotel which offers terrace seating and panoramic views, and specializes in fresh seafood and delicious regional cuisine.

Located on the coast between Bari and Brindisi, Polignano a Mare features a lively and well-preserved historic center characterized by charming homes with balconies offering panoramic sea views.

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Day II: Subterranean City, Walking Tour, Cooking Class, and Dinner al Fresco

The ancient subterranean city of Matera is a remote and timeless corner of Italy, just West of Puglia in the Basilicata region. It remains one of Europe’s hidden gems. Well known for its historical center, the "Sassi di Matera" (meaning "stones of Matera") are houses dug into the calcareous rock, and originate from a prehistoric (troglodyte) settlement. Suspected to be some of the first human settlements in Italy, they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and have been featured in films such as Christ Stopped at Eboli and in The Passion of the Christ.

After lunch we’ll arrive at a beautiful country house estate and working farm (masseria) where we’ll roll up our sleeves for a hands-on cooking lesson led by two professional chefs, who will guide us in the preparation of typical Apulian dishes including: panzerotti, doughnut stuffed with small tomatoes; ricotta forte, pasta with the local traditional pesto made with ricotta, almonds and baked tomatoes; vegetable quiche with gratinée vegetables; and pasticiotto, a typical cake filled with cream and black cherries.

Following our cooking class, we will enjoy dinner al fresco in the courtyard of the masseria, and then make our way back to our accommodations by the sea in Polignano a Mare.

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Day III:
Baroque Architecture, Palaces, and Ancients Towns from 600 B.C.

We’ll make our way with our local guide through the Itria Valley with its enchanting landscapes and centuries old white, dry-stone trulli that feature conical roofs made of limestone slabs from the surrounding area. These dwellings are found only in the southern region of Apulia and were built using prehistoric building techniques still employed today.

We will first visit Alberobello, where nearly 1,000 trulli dwellings cluster the cobblestone streets.  A UNESCO world heritage site since 1996, Alberobello is a picturesque architectural gem.  In Alberobello we will be guided on a private walking tour of the neighborhoods of Aia Piccola and Rione Monti where we will find some of the oldest dwellings, still preserving the original features of construction.

Following lunch and wine tasting at a prestigious winery, we'll make our way through the countryside to the Baroque village of Martina Franca, and the ancient village of Ostuni, nicknamed "the White City", and one of the most beautiful cities in Apulia with its stunning views of the country side and the Adriatic Sea.

Day IV: Roman Castles, Wine Tasting, and Free Time

Throughout this tour we’ll visit all three of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in the South East of Italy. We’ll be immersed in history and the deep rooted philosophies that still guide the way of life and culture of Italian people today.  Castel del Monte will be our morning visit on day five, followed by lunch and wine tasting at a winery and then an evening on our own back at our home base in Polignano a Mare.

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Day V: Food, Wine, Art, and The Florence of the South

Salento was a land of conquest with the Romans, Greeks, the Byzantines and the Barbarian pirates, the Spaniards, the Turks, all having had dominance over the area and each having left their mark. The area is considered part of Magna Grecia, where you will find magnificent examples of Greek art and architecture. The area is also rich in Leccese Baroque masterpieces, history and tradition, and renowned for its natural and architectural beauty, its hospitality, its magical atmosphere, its delicious regional food, warm sun, crystalline sea, and its dreamlike coast.

Far off the beaten track for most of Italy's art-loving visitors, Lecce sits on the southeast tip of Italy's boot, waiting to demonstrate its little-known magnificence. Following our lunch at a magnificent winery in Salice Salentino, we will drive to meet our private guide in Lecce, also known as the "The Florence of the South," for a walking tour of the historic center.

After leisure time we will journey to our next accommodation: a 4 star Masseria in the countryside. Surrounded by olive trees, the masseria offers a comfortable retreat with a relaxed ambiance where you can enjoy a true taste of Apulia. This evening we will enjoy a Welcome Dinner hosted at the restaurant of the Masseria.

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Day VI: Olive Groves, Cathedrals, and Cheese

Picture centuries-old olive groves, rich red-colored fields, and small Baroque villages rich in art treasures. Otranto, also called "The Door to the Orient," is an ancient maritime city that sits on the eastern most point of Italy. Of Greek origin, and an important embarkation point to the East during Roman rule, Otranto offers its visitors interesting sites like the Cathedral, which opened to prayer in 1088, and has one of the best preserved Christian-Byzantine floor mosaics in Italy. Otranto is also home to the Aragonese castle with its towers, bastions, and fortified walls.

Following our visit to Otranto we will drive to an authentic cheese farm situated on a breathtaking location on the Adriatic coast. Here we will enjoy a tour and a light lunch and tasting of delicious local products, including cheeses and cured meats.
In the afternoon we will drive through the enchanting Salento countryside and visit the charming village of Specchia, recognized as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.

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Day VII: Pasta and Wine Production

Today is a full day excursion to two gourmet temples of Italian food and wine. First we will visit an ancient pastificio or pasta factory in Maglie, where the orchiette pasta is still prepared and dried according to ancient methods.

Our next visit will be to an award-winning winery, for a tasting and light lunch of typical regional favorites in the small village of Minervino di Lecce. After lunch we will visit another flagship winery,  where will have a private cellar tour and wine tasting.

On this our final night, we will enjoy a final dinner together at a seaside restaurant in Marina di Novaglie, where our private table on the terrace overlooking the sea awaits.

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Included in your tour:

All excursions as featured 
4 nights at the 4 star hotel in Polignano a Mare
3 nights in the charming 4 star Masseria 
Private transfers and excursions by minibus as per program, including airport transfers
3 half day guided visits: Matera, Alberobello and Lecce
4 dinners, drinks included (on days 1, 2, 5, 7)
2 lunches, drinks included (on days 6 and 7)
Cooking lesson 
Cheese tasting
Visits to the wineries and wine tastings as per program
Our Italian tour leader from day 1 to day 8

Price Range: $3,400 to $4,500pp