Discovering the best of Puglia in a Small Group 6 Days 5 Nights

Day 1 Bari

1. 1

   Citta Vecchia - Bari

   1 hour

   Bari is a large coastal city with a thriving port and both a historic and a modern centre. It is the capital of the Puglia region of Southern Italy. It has an attractive old town known as the Bari Vecchia. This is a maze of streets with various historic monuments and plenty of lively bars and restaurants.

2. 2

   Basilica San Nicola

   5 min

   The Basilica di San Nicola is the most important of the two and this 11th century Romanesque church was built to bury some of the remains of Santa Claus! These relics of Saint Nicolas (Sant Claus) are still in the crypt today and the Basilica is an important Catholic and Orthodox Christian pilgrim destination.

3. 3

   Piazza Mercantile

   5 min

   The square is surrounded by buildings belonging to ancient families of Bari, and the Palace of the Seat of the Nobles, ancient meeting place of the noble people of Bari.
   Icon and symbol of the square is the famous column "of justice", once used to bind and expose to the public fraudulent debtors.
   Today Piazza Mercantile is one of the most popular and active squares in the city.

Day 2 Bari > Trani > Castel del Monte > Alberobello

1. 1

   Cattedrale di Trani

   10 min

   The Trani Cathedral a miracle between heaven and earth. It was was built “where the Adriatic is already a promise of the Ionian Sea, and surrenders its acidic green to a warm, intense blue” in 1099.

2. 2

   Castel del Monte

   10 min

   Castel del Monte is situated on a small hill close to the monastery of Santa Maria del Monte, at an altitude of 540 m. When the castle was built, the region was famously fertile with a plentiful supply of water and lush vegetation.It lies in the comune of Andria, province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, occupying the site of an earlier fortress of which no structural remains exist.

3. 3

   I Trulli di Alberobello - World Heritage Site

   30 min

   UNESCO site.
   Alberobello is a fascinating place to visit, above all because of the trulli, the traditional dome shaped buildings made from the local stone. The town is surrounded by the olive groves and vineyards typical of the Pugli region.
   Trulli is a word that derives from the Greek "tholos" (trans: "dome"), the typical shape of the buildings. Each whitewashed “trullo” is built without an lime or cement, and has a conical roof on the outside, .

Day 3 Alberobello > Matera > Alberobello

1. 1

   Sassi di Matera

   1 hour

   It’s one of the most unique and spectacular place in Italy or anywhere in the world (UNESCO – WORLD HERITAGE SITE SINCE 1993). Out of time! It is a paradox for a city having such a complex history: border town, characterized by contrasts, competition and fusion of different landscapes, civilizations and cultures.
   Matera is the capital of European Culture 2019.

Day 4 Alberobello > Locorotondo > Ostuni > Lecce

1. 1

   Centro Storico Locorotondo

   30 min

   The beauty of the historic centre is represented by this labyrinth of white alleys where the houses end with the unusual pitched roofs called "Cummerse", a feature typical of the historical centre of Locorotondo.
   The Locorotondo historic centre is part of an exclusive club, 'The most beautiful villages in Italy' founded in 2001.

2. 2

   Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta

   30 min

   It is a genuine and charming example of Mediterranean architecture.
   The city of Ostuni is a series of levels, staircases, small roads, alleys, arches. Hints of the Middle Ages are at hand in every corner, in every view to the sea, in the portal of a palace, in the walls of a convent or the front of a church.

3. 3

   Centro Storico, Lecce

   30 min

   Lecce is often nicknamed the Florence of the South owing to its large amount of beautiful historical buildings and its location in the “Dog Leg” of Italy. Lecce has an extensive history and has been inhabited since the times of Emperor Hadrian and the Roman Empire. Today Lecce is a popular tourist destination and is seeing a surge in popularity as people recognize its fantastic potential.

Day 5 Lecce > Otranto > Dinner at the “Masseria L’Uliveto” > Lecce

1. 1

   Centro Storico Otranto

   30 min

   Lecce is renowned for its beautiful historical structures such as the Basilica di Santa Croce, the Porta Napoli and the Duomo. Furthermore, Lecce has a favourable location and is within a stone’s throw of some charming and interesting coastal destinations such as Gallipoli. If you are looking for something different, and wish to experience a less well-known part of Italy, Lecce and Apulia region is an amazing place to visit.

2. 2

   Cattedrale di Santa Maria Annunziata

   30 min

   Otranto is one of the most picturesque towns on Puglia’s Salento Peninsula. Its pedestrian streets and small alleys are lined with whitewashed buildings reminiscent of Greece. Most of the old town is still partially enclosed within the medieval walls with a castle at one end. In the center of town be sure to visit the Cathedral to see the stunning floor mosaics and unusual chapel of skulls. The mosaic is one of the most important examples we have of 12th-century art.

3. 3

   Agri Resort Masseria L’Uliveto

   2 hours

   There are places where you can breathe history. You hear it, you see it, you live it. And sometimes you taste it.
   you will have dinner at the “Masseria L’Uliveto”. Visit this ancient farm, learn about the history and culture of Puglia. Dinner with typical meals and products from the region.

Day 6 Lecce

1. 1

   Cattedrale Maria Santissima Assunta e S.Oronzo

   2 hours

   Lecce: Santa Croce
   Lecce is a riot of cherubs; the Baroque masterpiece of southern Italy. Sometimes described as the 'Florence of the Baroque' or the 'Rome of the South', Lecce is really the only city destination in mainland Italy south of Naples which is appealing enough to attract large numbers of tourists. The fulcrum of the religious life of Lecce is located in Piazza Duomo, in the heart of the Old Lecce just a few steps from Piazza S. Oronzo. Piazza Duomo includes a series of monuments that all overlook the splendid Piazza: the Cathedral of the Duomo, the palaces of the Bishop's Palace and the Seminary, the Campanile.