DATE
April 14 – April 22, 2024
TIME-SCHEDULE
9 days
PRICING
€ 4800,00 – per person
BOOKING
Join us in the beautiful region of Puglia in southern Italy for a truly unique experience!
Day 1 – Sunday, April 14
Starting at 10:45 am at Roma Termini train station you!ll meet your tour leader Lisa Sorba and Roscioli sommelier Lindsay Gabbard, who will accompany you throughout the trip.
We’ll take the 11:45 am train to Bari, arriving at 16:10 pm, where we’ll meet our private transfer and head to the 5-star Polignano Borobianco Resort.
After checking in, we’ll dine together over a traditional Cena Pugliese, Puglian dinner.
Day 2 – Monday, April 15
This will be a relaxing day where our expert local guide will introduce you to the Apulian identity, territory, and history.
We’ll visit Locorotondo, the Trulli of Alberobello (where we’ll enjoy a leisurely lunch) and Monopoli, three of the most evocative cities of Puglia.
Dinner will feature local fish specialities in Monopoli.
Day 3 – Tuesday, April 16
After checkout, we’ll head off for a full day with your English-speaking guide to discover the grottoes of Castellana which feature vast underground system of karst caves.
Following this we will visit an organic farm run by a family that has been producing olive oil since 1917.
For lunch, we will head to Cisternino, an iconic city famous for its characteristic “fornelli”, butcher-diners offering -Arrostata”, barbecued meat at all times of theday.
Next we’ll transfer via our private bus to Trani where we!ll check in for the next two nights at the four star Palazzo Filisio. Built in the 17th century by the Filisio family, located a few steps from the sea and the splendid Romanesque Cathedral of Trani.
After check-in you’ll have free some time before we head for dinner (included) at a local traditional restaurant.
Day 4 – Wednesday, April 17
On this day we’ll take another full-day trip with our English-speaking guide to discover the huge saltpans of Margherita di Savoia and the picturesque town of Troia, surrounded by fields of wheat and grape wines.
Troia is home to Puglia! ‘s finest cathedrals and possibly the best Rose Windows in all of Italy. Here we’ll taste the Passionata, a local delicious sweet specialty, before venturing to a tasting at the D’Arapri winery accompanied by local food.
At around 17:30 pm we’ll head back to Trani where you will have the evening to yourself to dine and relax freely.
Day 5 – Thursday, April 18
After checking out around 9:30 am we will transfer via our private bus to the 5 star Martina Franca Hotel Relais Sant Martino.
En route, our local English-speaking guide will show us the octagonal-shaped medieval Castel del Monte, built on a rocky bank, under the artistic and imperial vision of Frederick II of Swabia.
Following this we’ll visit the Carpentiere winery and have lunch at a local restaurant.
On this day you’ll also learn the secrets to creating your own -orecchiette”, the typical Apulia pasta under the guidance of a local chef who will then prepare dinner for us in a lovely restaurant.
Day 6 – Friday, April 19
We’ll start this day with a tasting at the Plantamura winery followed by lunch before heading to Martina Franca, one of the prettiest cities in Puglia, with its whitewashed alleys.
Next, we’ll enjoy a mozzarella cheese tasting with cold cuts, not before ending the day by trying the famous Panzerotti; deep-fried ‘pockets’ of dough filled with mozzarella, tomato sauce, and other delicious ingredients
Day 7 – Saturday, April 20
After checkout, we’ll be led on a guided tour by a local English-speaking guide of Martina Franca before heading to the Pietraventosa winery to enjoy lunch and winetasting.
After lunch, we will travel to Bari and check in at the 4-star Villa Romanazzi Carducci Mercure, a beautiful hotel that preserves with the greatest respect the memory noble feudal family from Putignano who once owned this historical structure.
Dinner is at your leisure – we can of course provide recommendations.
Day 8 – Sunday, April 21
On our penultimate day, we’ll travel to Matera, one of Italy’s most unique cities, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city is carved directly into the rock, where people lived in cave dwellings until relatively recently. In modern times Matera has become known for featuring in movies including James Bond and The Passion of the Christ.
This will be a remarkable day, led by our expert local guide who will show you the real city.
We! ‘ll sign off our day at the Chiaromonte winery.
Day 9 – Monday, April 22
After checking out, our local guide will take you on a walking tour of Bari old town, after which we will travel together to the train station for our return train to Rome at 13:0 0 pm, arriving back in the Eternal City at 17:15 pm