Puglia: Discover the Heel of Italy

What's Included

• Airport transfers for group flights

  Airport transfers are provided for group flights.

• All breakfasts, 1 lunch/cookery class, 1 wine tasting

  All breakfasts, one lunch with a cookery class, and one wine tasting are included.

• All accommodation

  All accommodation is included, featuring stays in traditional buildings, trulli houses, and modern hotels.

• London flights (if booking incl. flights)

  Flights from London are included if the booking includes flights.

What's Not Included

• Local city taxes (approx. €15)

  Local city taxes, approximately €15, are not included.
  
  

• Travel insurance

  Travel insurance is not included and must be arranged separately.
  
  

• Single accommodation

  Single accommodation is not included and may incur additional costs.
  
  

• Visas or vaccinations

  Visas or vaccinations are not included and must be arranged separately.
  
  

Accommodation

We mostly stay in renovated traditional buildings, which give a real taste of Apulian architecture. Below are the hotels normally used:



Matera: Hotel Sassi or Le Dodici Lune (nights 1-2)







Opened in 1996, Hotel Sassi (above) took over a series of dwellings, some of which date to the 1500s. There’s an Italian spread for breakfast (most of the produce locally sourced) and wonderful views of Matera from the terrace. Alternatively, we stay in Le Dodici Lune, where 10 rooms are carved into the old city walls. Right in the Sassi district, it’s an excellent place to stay if you want to explore.



Alberobello: Trulli houses or Apulian resort (nights 3-4)







In Alberobello, we either stay in trulli houses (above) or a traditional resort, depending on the departure. Both provide us with a taste of authentic Apulian hospitality, while also putting us close to the historic centre of town.



Ostuni: Hotel La Terra (night 5)







In the White City, we stay in Hotel La Terra. La Terra (above) takes over a 13th-century building in the historic centre. This unique property offers a bar and restaurant on site but is also close to all of the sights that Ostuni has to offer.



Lecce: Eos Hotel (nights 6-7)







Our final two nights are spent at this contemporary 30-room hotel. It has a bar for a pre-dinner drink or final night toast and the main Lecce highlights (plus some excellent bars and restaurants) are around a 20-minute walk or 10-minute taxi ride away.

Food

All breakfasts, one lunch/cookery class and one wine tasting



A selection of food on offer includes: bread from the Murge; durum wheat pasta; olives; the pasta delicacy orecchiette, which is served with a sauce of turnip-tops or fresh tomato and sheep’s ricotta-cheese; cavatelli with pulses; aubergine (eggplant) and parmesan bake; grilled fish and seafood; burrata (soft mozzarella and cream cheese); plus excellent wines.



This region is a food lover’s paradise and the abundance of delicious vegetables makes it a perfect destination for vegetarians. On this trip, there will be many opportunities to taste local specialties, in particular during the produce and wine tasting, cookery class and the traditional lunches included in the itinerary.

Mode of Transport

The tour includes private transfers between destinations, starting from Matera and ending in Lecce. There are stops at various towns and attractions along the way, including Polignano a Mare, Alberobello, Ostuni, and Otranto.