Highlights of Apulia and Matera

7 days/6 nights

* DISCOVER THE APULIAN COUNTRYSIDE AND ITS CHARACTERISTIC VILLAGES WHERE THE SCENT OF TRADITIONAL DISHES SPREADS THROUGH THE ALLEYWAYS

* MATERA ENCHANTS AND SURPRISES WITH THE ATMOSPHERE OF PAST TIMES OF WHICH IT RETAINS THE AUTHENTICITY, AT THE TABLE AND BEYOND

* FROM WINE TO OIL, FROM CHEESE TO BREAD, PASSING THROUGH GRILLED MEATS, THIS ITINERARY WILL DELIGHT ALL GOURMETS.

More info

Day 1 - The charm of Old Bari
There is a very interesting way to get to know Bari Vecchia, and that is by wandering through its alleys and discovering the many shops and kiosks that display “provola” as large as melons and sell all kinds of delicacies: focaccia, popizze, sgagliozze and much more! A stop in via delle orecchiette, a type of pasta prepared by the local housewives in front of your eyes, is not to be missed
Day 2 - The Altamura Bread and Matera
Visit a traditional bakery in Altamura where you will taste baked products including the traditional bread, made of a crunchy crust, a soft, dense and velvety crumb, and straw-colored. Reach Matera where it is beautiful to get lost in its ancient streets, admire the rock churches and finally enjoy dinner in a typical trattoria with the view gazing over the “Sassi”
Day 3 - The Primitivo Wine and the Pearl of the Ionian Sea
Embark on a fascinating journey into the heart of the Primitivo di Manduria tradition to relive the history of a millenary vine. The visit of the cellar is followed by wine tasting, accompanied by tarallini, cheese, salami and almond sweets. Continue to Gallipoli, the pearl of the Ionian Sea, where you can wander through the alleys and lime-painted houses with small balconies and then find yourself inside courtyards adorned with flowers. To perceive the essence of the town, it is a must to head towards the port for a taste of fresh fish at the kiosks of the fish market, and to circle the promontory on which the old town stands: it will leave you breathless!
Day 4 - Otranto, the door to the East
To see the cheesemaker in action you have to reach the farm in the morning and discover the secrets of the production of the “burrata” cheese and other excellent products of the Apulian dairy tradition. Continue to Otranto with the historic center enclosed by its walls and countless beaches, one more beautiful than the other. Visiting Otranto is a fascinating experience, from the Torre Matta to the walls and on to the Cathedral, where the relics of the martyrs murdered during the capture of Otranto by the Turks are kept
Day 5 - Facets of Apulia: Lecce and Ostuni
Lecce is an ancient town with a lively and engaging character that will win you over with the richness of the Baroque. The historic centre, strictly to be explored on foot, is made up of alleys with houses built with the Lecce stone and ancient buildings with carved windows, cornices and balconies, which are true masterpieces. Going north, you will find Ostuni, known as the white city. In the surrounding countryside you will visit an ancient farm with a monumental olive grove and you will discover the oldest olive trees with fascinating sculptured forms and the history of olive cultivation in Apulia. The visit will continue to the underground oil mill, one of the oldest in the region, and to the historic premises of the farm, where the story of olive processing and of life in the fortified farm is told

Day 6 - The Itria Valley
The Itria Valley is a magical land reminiscent of silent villages, arid countryside with dry stone walls and expanses of olive trees. You will be fascinated by the villages of the Itria Valley, by the trulli of Alberobello and the “cummerse” of Locorotondo. An itinerary in the Itria Valley is also a feast of local and authentic flavours such as the "bombette" that you will taste in Cisternino
Day 7 - Monopoli and Polignano
A stop in Monopoli is a must: the town has a beautiful historic centre built around the port, and which maintains a very strong link with its sea. It is characterized by many blue fishing boats in the Old Port and by historic buildings facing the sea that make it a unique place. Polignano a Mare is a village of pure poetry with its terraces overlooking the sea, the poems painted in the historic centre and the breathtaking views. Explore the less visited streets full of fragrant flowers, the secret courtyards of the houses and reach Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II with the Cathedral of Polignano and the Clock Tower Palace