11 Days/10 Nights (2 Nights in Bari + 1 Nights in Matera + 4 Nights in Lecce + 3 Nights in Masseria)*
Starting at USD 8,450 per person. Call for early-bird pricing and other promotions.
Those who love traveling to Italy and have been yearning to experience the authentic lifestyle need to look no further. Here, far away from crowds, you'll see places where traditions are kept at the forefront of daily life, and meal preparation is a ritual to be respected and appreciated every day, with friends, and family. Wander through the maze of cobbled stone streets of charming white-washed towns like Ostuni, Locorotondo, and Otranto, a photographer's delight, where quaint courtyards, ornate staircases, and balconies overflowing with flowers will surprise you at every corner.
If you yearn to discover an Italian region that’s barely untouched by time, you can most benefit from our Puglia tours in 2021. And this is because a trip to this Italian region will expose you to a myriad of historical sites, authentic Italian traditions, and equally authentic Italian food and wine.
While here, you’ll learn about plenty of customs that are practiced nearly every day including the art of papier-mâché and the traditional Southern Italian dance of “Taranta”. Such customs are an integral part of this Italian region, which is why it’s a Puglia must see for tourists. You’ll also be able to experience and witness up close many of the historical buildings that occupy this Italian region as some are adorned with accessories that highlight their beauty even to this day. But most of all, of course, you can indulge yourself in amazing food and wine. But more so, you can even immerse yourself in the food and wine culture as you witness the practice of Italian cuisine in person.
Our authentic Puglia tours are a definite must for anyone and anybody who wants to learn and even see in person what authentic Italian culture is like.
All staff members and parties that are involved in the operations of our escorted tours of Puglia are well-versed and deeply knowledgeable about Italian culture.
It’s easy for any tourist to get lost or even feel unsafe during international travel. But rest assured, while you’re traveling through this Italian region, your Puglia tour operator will ensure you are kept safe at all times and will take you on a planned trip designed for you to experience Puglia to the fullest. More so, thanks to their knowledge of Italian culture, your Puglia tour operator will be more than happy to answer any inquiries you may have about Italian history, lifestyle, and much more. And when you’re free to indulge in food of your own purchase, you can especially expect your tour operator to inform you of the best local restaurants you can dine in.
Our Puglia tour operators are unlike any other and are able to provide you the most high-end services.
Our Puglia guided tours are designed so that all willing patrons are able to experience this Italian region to the fullest extent. And they are designed as such because we want you to be exposed to an authentic Italian lifestyle that is virtually untouched by time.
The staff of Nada’s Italy possesses a deep understanding of the various cultures and regions that reside in Italy. Which is why they concocted this tour package when they were thinking of ways to immerse tourists into some of the oldest Italian traditions.
Puglia is much more than just a place where historical buildings still stand to this very day. It’s also a place where many of the citizens have a profound respect for customs that are somewhat lost in other regions of Italy that have adopted modernity.
In Puglia, old customs and traditions are still practiced to this very day. And through our guided tours of Puglia, you’ll be able to witness them in person.
We dub our Puglia tours as authentic because we can promise you that there’s no other Italian region where the locals still practice old traditions. But other than witnessing old and authentic Italian traditions, we dub Puglia as one of our “authentic tours” because it’s optimized for patrons to learn about a deep and rich history that the region possesses.
Puglia is a region that’s full of many must see places and must do activities. An absolute must-see Puglia landmark that all tourists should visit is the Castel del Monte - a fort that is appreciated far and wide by numerous theology aficionados. There is also the Romanesque-Gothic Basilica of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, another Puglia must see for those who appreciate art.
During your time in Puglia, you’ll be able to culture yourself on many of the customs that are practiced nearly every day. While in Lecce, for instance, you can visit a traditional papier-mâché where you’ll be able to learn all about the ancient craft and why it became popular in the region. And of course, there’s also plenty of authentic Italian food and wine ready to be enjoyed and appreciated by you.
When you want to experience true Italian authenticity, you can trust that our authentic Puglia tours are right for you.
There are numerous must see places in Puglia that tourists should never ignore. Which is why our Puglia tours are designed for you to experience them all!
Earlier we had mentioned Castel del Monte. This historical landmark is a must see in Puglia, namely because it’s full of theological richness that any inquiring mind would appreciate. It’s a castle that has possessed a strong element of mystery since the 1240s when it was first built. Instead of being built as a defensive fortress, this historical building was meant to be a study and knowledge center where science, theology, philosophy, and alchemy experts from all over the Mediterranean could congregate and exchange their knowledge and findings. To this very day, this building is still admired by many. And it’s even been recognized as a Unesco World Heritage site since 1996.
And since we’re on the topic of castles, another Puglia must see is the Castello Aragonese, a historical building that’s situated in the Otranto and closely resides next to amazing viewpoints of the nearby sea.
There is never a thing to not do while in Puglia.
As you travel through Puglia with our escorted tours, you’ll have the opportunity to partake in a myriad of activities. This Italian region has numerous amenities that anybody can enjoy. Whether it be spectating Italian customs or just simply indulging in food and wine, we can promise that there’s always something to do.
Italian cuisine is full of practices that are still not understood entirely by even the most experienced culinary chefs of the world. And our Puglia food tour will allow you to be cultured on such practices as you experience them in person. Also, of course, you’ll also benefit from indulging in the food that’s created from these practices as well.
While in the old town of Bari, for example, you may run into old ladies sitting by the front door of their homes, kneading fresh pasta and leaving orecchiette out to dry in the sun. Later, you’ll be able to enjoy a delicious home-style meal with regional specialties along with your fellow travelers.
Later in the Puglia food tour, you’ll be able to enjoy dishes that reflect the most authentic Italian cuisine at a family trattoria in Lecce. And afterwards, you can explore Lecce’s boutiques, bakeries, and piazzas at your own leisure.
Almost no other wine in the world can match the quality of Italian wine. And we here at Nada’s Italy don’t just recognize this, we’ve also tasted it. Which is why we’ve incorporated elements of wine tours throughout Puglia, Italy. In fact, we even have a day of the tour that’s devoted to learning about puglia wine.
Closer to the midpoint of our trip, you’ll get to experience a Puglia wine tour unlike any other. You’ll be able to visit a local boutique winery where full-bodied Salice Salentino wine is made from dark purple grapes of Negroamaro (translated to “black-bitter”). During this Puglia wine tour, you’ll learn about the production of the area, aging techniques, and then sit down for a wine tasting and delicious home-made lunch.
(Itinerary is subject to change with or without notice. The sequence
of day trips may vary. A final itinerary will be given to travelers
prior to the start of the trip.)
Welcome to Puglia! Start your journey uncovering one of Italy's last hidden gems. Tonight you will rest in a luxury hotel within walking distance of "Bari Vecchia" (the historic district of Bari) and relax after a long trip overseas. Enjoy a leisure walk through the picturesque streets of Bari with our expert City Guide who will introduce you to the main sites, churches, buildings, and traditions that Bari is known for, including the Basilica di San Nicola, which holds St. Nicholas' tomb under its main altar. We'll walk along the ancient walls, so we can better enjoy the view of the sea and harbor. The old town of Bari appears to revel in its own traditions. You may run into old ladies sitting by their front door, kneading fresh pasta and leaving the "orecchiette" (ear-shaped pasta) to dry out in the sun. Enjoy a delicious home-style meal with regional specialties with your fellow travelers.
Meals included: dinner
We'll leave the city of Bari to head inland, where we'll slowly see the stern and imposing Castel del Monte in the distance. This impressive structure dominates the surrounding countryside from a high viewpoint, where nothing interrupts its 360-degree view. There is a strong element of mystery within the castle, built in the 1240's by Emperor Frederick II of Svevia. The intent was not to create a defensive fortress, but rather a study & knowledge center where science, theology, philosophy, and alchemy experts from all over the Mediterranean could meet and exchange their thoughts & findings. The number 8, symbolizing the infinite nature of the Divine, appears repeatedly, almost obsessively, within the 8 rooms, the octagonal base, 8 towers each with 8 sides, and other architectural elements within the castle. We'll take a guided tour of this amazing site, a Unesco World Heritage site since 1996. We continue our drive to Lecce, aka "the Florence of the South". We continue our drive to Lecce, aka "the Florence of the South", we will have a group lunch on the way to Lecce, then we'll check into one of the most elegant parts of the city, where different architectural styles live together in perfect harmony. Enjoy a group dinner, carefully chosen among dozens of local traditional restaurants.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Leave Lecce and head East for a relaxing day on the water of the Adriatic Sea. From the port of Otranto, we’ll be boarding a traditional sail boat that will take us along the beautiful coast of the region, where sandy beaches alternate with green-blue caves and craggy outcrops facing the clear waters of the Adriatic. We’ll enjoy a typical aperitivo on the boat, perhaps take a refreshing swim, before heading back to Otranto to continue our journey. Once back in Otranto, the easternmost Italian city, with a charming historical center, an imposing castle “Castello Aragonese”, and many picturesque viewpoints of the sea. Not to be missed is the Cattedrale dell’Annunziata, where you can see a massive mosaic floor dating back to the 12th century, with semi-precious stones depicting the Tree of Life, with fascinating scenes that mix sacred stories with profane ones. Walk around the cobblestone alleys decorated with flowers and stop by hidden gems such as the Byzantine Basilica of Saint Peter’s. Once we return to Lecce, you’ll be able to enjoy dinner on your own..
Meals included: breakfast, Aperitivo
After breakfast, an expert local guide will meet us at the hotel to introduce us to Lecce's famous landmarks including the splendid Roman Amphitheater, the richly decorated Cathedral of Maria SS. Assunta. The way the light reflects on the buildings of Lecce is truly remarkable; making them spectacular by day, almost made of gold, but most strikingly dramatic at night time. We’ll be driving north, stopping at a local boutique winery, where the intense and full-bodied Salice Salentino wine is made from dark purple grapes of Negroamaro (which translated to “black-bitter”). We’ll learn about the production of the area, aging techniques, and then sit down for a wine tasting and delicious home-made lunch. We return to the hotel. We visit a traditional papier mâché workshop, where you can learn all about the ancient craft and why it bloomed in Lecce. You enjoy the rest of the evening on your own.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Today we'll be visiting Gallipoli, a fishing village with beautiful sea views and alleyways lined with clotheslines and locals leaning over balconies, conversing and greeting visitors as they walk by. We continue on towards the west coast, stopping in Galatina, a village where ornate palaces, rich portals, and Baroque churches boast the most elegant embellishments of Rococo' style. A must-see is the Romanesque-Gothic Basilica of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, where you'll be able to admire some of the most breath-taking frescoes from the School of Giotto, of which the importance is only second to the Basilica of Assisi. Before we head out to dinner back in Lecce, we'll be entertained by a local dance crew performing the famous "Taranta", among the most recognized forms of traditional southern Italian folk dance. It's characterized by a fast upbeat tempo, performed by a supposed victim of a "tarantula" bite, who is able to "shake off" through contortions and perspiration the delirium attributed to the spider's venom.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Today we are exploring Altamura a charming town with beautiful palaces and churches such as the imposing Cattedrale dell’Assunta. Here, we’ll stop for leisurely lunch. Taste the first bakery product in Europe branded “DOP” (a certification that protects the traditional recipe, process, and place of production) the famous Pane di Altamura, prepared with “mother yeast”, ground wheat flower from the Murge area of Puglia, and baked in a wood brick oven. It dates back to Medieval times and is often in the shape of a “priest’s hat”. We’ll visit an ancient bakery where you’ll see how this traditional bread is made. After some free time to stroll around Altamura, we continue our drive to Matera's deep and complex history through the centuries. Said to be one of the world’s oldest towns, dating back to pre-historic times Matera is known for its "Sassi", incredible cave dwellings dug into the limestone rock. The dramatic landscape surrounding the town as it rises from a deep gorge created by the Gravina river, give Matera an almost surreal atmosphere. Enjoy a group dinner, carefully chosen among dozens of local traditional restaurants.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
After check-out, we’ll be driving south, and stop along the way in the picturesque village of Ostuni. From the road below, it looks like a floating mirage of white light mid-way between the sea and land. From the ancient town, up the hill, you can see a beautiful coastline wrapped by lush green fields. The medieval heart of the town, called “Terra”, is crisscrossed by narrow alleys, steep stairways, craft shops, family-style restaurants, and small courtyards adorned with geranium planters. The 15TH century Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral boasts a rare 24-SPOKE rose portal. We’ll be driving, stopping at a local Masseria to enjoy a fun group cooking class at a traditional family Masseria, a fortified farmhouse in typical Pugliese style, dating back to the 1600’s. This charming building allows to really sample life in southern Italy with the family’s warm hospitality. After lunch with local specialties, we’ll arrive at our resort, where you can enjoy a nice Italian aperitivo and relax by the pool, spending time on your own, and completely free your mind.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, Aperitivo
Today we’re exploring the beating heart of the Valle D’Itria, the heart of the region of Puglia. Visit Locorotondo, a circular-base village with stunning views of the countryside. We visit a traditional family-run urban winery, their vineyard, and taste their wine and local delicacies. We enjoy a pleasant walk in the narrow streets around the white-washed houses of Locorotondo. Time in the afternoon to explore Martina Franca, the largest town in the Valley. Explore its old center which boasts beautiful baroque architecture and quaint streets. Taste some local Gelato and then have some free time. Enjoy a group dinner, carefully chosen among dozens of local traditional restaurants.
Meals included: breakfast, light lunch, dinner
Explore the beating heart of the Valle D'Itria, Alberobello, one of the world's most unique places and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll visit the community of Trulli, dating back to the 1400's with our expert City Guide, who will tell us about life in these peculiar cone-shaped dwellings and how they came to be. Enjoy lunch on you own in Alberobello, before heading altogether towards Cisternino, considered one of the most fascinating villages in the whole area. Time to stroll around before returning to the hotel for some time to rest. Tonight, you’ll learn about olive oil and savor home-made dishes at a nearby family-owned farm, surrounded by thousand-year- old olive groves and beautiful lush gardens with large tropical plants and fragrant citrus trees.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
After checking out from the hotel, we'll drive back up to Bari. On the way, we'll make a stop in Polignano a Mare a small village sitting on the edge of a dramatic cave overlooking the sea and then continue to Monopoli where we will enjoy a group lunch, before we head back to Bari.. After check-in, enjoy some extra time to experience the history and liveliness of Bari, explore its vivacious nightlife and bustling streets. Let the memories of the trip fill up your thoughts before returning home.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Thank you for choosing Nada's Italy for your Italian adventure. We hope to have you back and experience more parts of this colorful culture again soon! Until next time, beautiful ITALIA says Ciao!
Meals included: breakfast
What's Not Included in Tour Package
Trip
price does not include airfare and anything that is not specified to be
included. Price does not include any personal related expenses or
travel-related expenses outside of the scheduled itineraries. The food
& wine that is included is what is presented during meals.
>
The
first day of this tour is Friday (you will need to book your flight from
the USA on Thursday to get to Bari on Friday). The last day of this
tour is Monday (arrival in the U.S. is the same day of departure on your
way back). Some tours start and end in different cities, make sure to
book your flights accordingly.
> Airfare is not included.
Nada's Italy can assist with Business and First Class airfare. Please
let us know if you need information about arrival and departure airport
for this tour.
> Reminders, hotel information, and arrival
instructions will be sent only by email, please make sure we have your current email address.
> Transfers
to and from the airport are not included in the tour rate. Please
contact us if you'd like to add transfers to your tour package.
> You
must be in good physical condition to sign-up for this trip! There will be a lot of
walking uphill, downhill, walking over uneven pavement, and standing for
extended periods of time. An average walking tour is about 2-3 hours without sitting.
> Even though tips to staff and
restaurants are included, it is suggested that you put aside
approximately $100 (US) in combined gratuities for your driver &
Tour Director for your trip (and any voluntary additional restaurant
gratuities are at your discretion).
> Nada's Italy strongly
recommends that you purchase Travel Insurance for your trip. For
suggestions on policies and a quote, please contact us.
> You should know that
air conditioning in Italy, as well as WIFI connection, are not always as
reliable as they are in the United States.
> The hotel
staff
assigns rooms to guests, some rooms may include stairs. A view is not
guaranteed. As Nada's Italy works mainly with luxury historic inns and
small upscale boutique hotels, rooms differ in size and layout. In
general, Italian bedrooms and bathrooms are smaller compared to US
standards. Each room has its own en-suite
bathroom with shower and/or tub, hair-dryer, and basic toiletry set.
Please
contact us if you have specific requests/needs.
> It is your
responsibility to obtain the required documents to travel to Italy,
please verify with your own country's travel laws and government
agencies. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.
> In
the unlikely event your tour does not reach the minimum participation
requirement of 6 travelers, we will work with you to choose another
available tour or tour date. We will do our best to make the transition
as smooth as possible.
> Add extra nights and extend your stay in this amazing country. Contact us for a quote (subject to availability).
> Please note: while we do our best to adhere to our published
itineraries, they may be changed at the discretion of the Tour Leader
due to weather conditions and any other unforeseeable circumstances.
> Unless stated otherwise, all rates are per person, based on double occupancy, land only, in USD, and subject to availability. Rates may vary by departure date and are subject to change without notice. Nada’s Italy reserves the right to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions and to change or update rates, fees and surcharges at any time without prior notice.
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It was a perfect balance of scheduled and free time. The small group allowed us to build friendships. The locations were a perfect blend of off the beaten path local sites with minimal "touristy" events. And Sergio was the best. He was personable and engaging from the first email to the last goodbye. He made us laugh throughout the trip and became a friend.
Doug & Mona
Nada's Italy put together a personalized tour for us on short notice that was fabulous. I could never have planned a trip like this on my own! We enjoyed every moment and look forward to visiting again.
Carol
Can't wait to go again. The places we saw, the things we got to do. We would have never be able to do this traveling on our own or with a large group. We made so many new friends, it was really difficult to say good bye.
Jim and Carol
Trip of a lifetime! So much more than we anticipated. Knowledgeable guides, great food, good company.
Janet
We used Nada's Italy Small Group Tours for our Amalfi Coast as well as our France trip and it was pure perfection from start to finish. The hotels, the tours, activities, meals were all EXCELLENT! The tour directors were AMAZING and so knowledgeable. I would highly recommend using Nada's. I wouldn't think of using any other company!
Diane