Colors of Puglia

Day 1: Arrival, dinner. (D)

will pick up the tour group mid-afternoon from the arrival destination. From there you will We be taken to the hotel where you will get settled. We’ll kick off our colorful week with a welcome dinner at our hotel.

Your accommodations for this glorious tour are more than just a pivot point! Your lodging is an experience unto itself. Nestled deep within the heart of Puglia, this hotel celebrates the history,, the agriculture, the simple elegance that is the very essence of this delightful and diverse regional culture.

Drawing on the gifts of nature-to taste, to see, and to dazzle all the senses-your home away from home will immerse you in la dolce vita as it truly is in Apulia. There is an art to offering renewal to the soul and this hotelier is a master.

Day 2: Monopoli, Polignano, Savelletri  (B,L,D)

After you’ve enjoyed breakfast we will convene at your hotel at 9:00 am to begin our full day of immersion in the Colors of Puglia.

We’ll take a stroll through the town of Monopoli, a picturesque seaside village that is known for the stunning Baroque Monopoli Cathedral, which features a lofty bell tower.  Monopoli is also the location of two rather notable homes, the 16th-century Castle of Carlo V, a heavily fortified structure, complete with a stone portal, and the Palazzo Palmieri, unique for it’s frescoed exterior, built by a wealthy family in the latter 1700’s.

The next stop along our way is the tranquil coastal town of Polignano a Mare. A stroll through the old centre of Polignano a Mare, which rests high atop a limestone cliff, 65 feet above the Adriatic Sea, will surely leave you awestruck. The views are spectacular, said to be among the very best in Italy. The crystal clear cerulean sea shines in brilliance against the stark white and gradient grey of the limestone. On our visit to Polignano a Mare also includes a boat tour of this stunning coastline.

Lunchtime will find us in Savelletri, a quiet beach resort and fishing village along the emerald coast of the Adriatic Sea. This laid-back village is the quintessential fishing hamlet and the ideal spot for a mid-day pause. Seafood lovers are sure to delight in the day’s choicest catch.

Our dinner this evening will be back at our hotel.

Day 3: Alberobello, Locorotondo, Winery, Cooking (B, L,D)

Today we visit the town of Alberobello. As we walk along paths trod for centuries, we’ll stop to view the remarkable Trulli, unique cone-roofed houses with quite a colorful back story. The homes, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996, were erected completely without mortar. Dating back to the 15th century, these buildings were constructed of dry stone, ironically, so that they could be easily demolished. They remain today, an example of the diverse architecture abundant in the region of Puglia.

Next, we will enjoy some free time and stroll around the pretty little town of Locorotondo. We’ll stop to tour a winery. Our tour is so much more than a simple narration of the process of winemaking. These proud vintners will share with us their knowledge of the grapes that fill their vineyard, and tantalize us with a taste of the finished product.

After our immersion into the wine-culture of the region we gather with our chef-instructor for a cooking class in a family owned trulli hotel. There, we’ll laugh and learn, inspired by our warm and witty chef, as well as the unique, historical atmosphere.  Our cooking class will be followed by the sumptuous meal we’ve helped to create.

Day 4: A day trip to Matera (B,L, D)

After a fortifying breakfast we will gather to embark on a color-FULL day! Wear your comfortable shoes!

Our first stop is Altamura. This millennia-old town is tucked into a hillside, deep in the heart of the region of Puglia. This ancient city is considered a significant part of the traditional agricultural center of Italy, and is home to the Altamura Cathedral, built around 1232. The duo-towered facade was added in the 14th century and is carved with scenes from the New Testament. A rose window was added in the 16th century. Inside the cathedral are many other examples of mid-millennia art and architecture which will surely impress.

We’ll meander from Altamura to the neighboring town of Matera. As you take in the sites of this amazing city, you may catch the tantalizing aroma of fresh baked bread carried on the breeze. Matera is known for the delectable breads, baked in communal wood-fired ovens, which speak to the overwhelming sense of community and camaraderie in this lively region. We’ll follow our noses to one of the most famous bakeries in the region, where we’ll sample some of the finest-and most celebrated-breads in all of Italy.

But, as the saying goes, man cannot live by bread alone, so we’ll tour this fascinating and ancient city. There are two neighborhoods of ancient stone dwellings, or sassi, as they are known, carved right into the rock. These communities enabled ancient dwellers to share resources while living side-by-side. These remarkable neighborhoods date back to 15,000 B.C. (The Paleolithic Period) and are the second oldest continuously inhabited community in history. Many famous movies were filmed in Matera, including 2004’s The Passion of The Christ.

After our busy day we will return to our hotel where we’ll enjoy a lovely dinner.

Day 5:  Cheese farm, Cisternino (B, L, D)

In contrast to yesterday’s event-filled itinerary, today will be more easy going. Our morning departure will be a bit later than the previous days’. We will convene at 11:30 and make our way to a cheese farm. There we will be hosted for a luscious lunch of cheese-tasting. Of course we will be enlightened in the art of this ancient practice, and our friendly hosts and cheese artisans will guide us through every turn in the process.

Next, it’s on to one of the prettiest small towns in Puglia! Cisternino is a jewel in the crown that is Puglia. Houses, whitewashed and dazzling in the Southern Italy sunshine, dot the shady streets, alongside elegant homes, stately public squares, (piazza), and churches of historical note. Panoramic vistas spill forth from the piazzas as if to boast of the stunning Valle d’Itria. Countryside, lush and lovely with rolling hill-upon-hill, is artfully speckled with truly, and stone walls. To stroll the streets of Cisternino and gaze upon the beauty of the Valle d’Itria is a magical experience.

But the magic doesn’t stop with the view! We will be fortunate to partake in a local dining experience called Fornello Pronto. This Cisternino tradition involves the butcher in the preparation of your dinner. We will select our food, and the butcher will grill it according to our preference. We can choose to await our delicious dinner in the way of the locals, with a jug of wine shared among friends.

Day 6: Lecce, Wine tasting lunch (B, L, D)

By now you appreciate the Puglia notion of beauty, as you find each town a breathtaking example of art, architecture, and an overall atmosphere of friendship, amicizia. It’s no different today as we journey to Lecce. Lecce is known as “The Florence of the South”, due to the heavy presence of rich Baroque architecture.

Strolling the streets of Lecce is akin to a walk through history. First conquered by the Romans in 3rd century B.C. this lively city was ruled by more than a few who saw it’s worth. Churches and grand structures display many different influential periods of art, and architecture, the most extravagant being the church of Santa Croce.

It’s not all ancient-or even not-so-ancient-history in Lecce. There are streets filled with stores selling many of the goods and products for which Lecce is recognized. There are also museums, and more than a few wine bars.

And speaking of wine, no visit to this area would be complete without a tour of a local winery. We’ll then be fortunate enough to sample some of the locally grown, and produced, wines. After our wine tour and tasting we’ll be ready for lunch!

As we wind up our immersion in the colors of Puglia we will take part in a cooking class at our hotel. Our home-away-from home is celebrated for their outstanding and unique approach to creating luscious meals using locally-sourced foods. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed the delicious and decadent dinners here and what better way to take home a taste of life in Puglia than to learn how to prepare some of the dishes we’ve enjoyed?

Day 7: Departure

Early group departure to Bari airport.

The time has come to say “ciao” and “until we meet again” as our tour of The Colors of Puglia has come to an end. But rest assured this bejeweled kaleidoscope of one of Italy’s most vibrant regions will remain in your heart for many years to come.