Visit Lecce, the beating heart of Salento and the gem of baroque architecture in Puglia.
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Warm hospitality and rich cuisine, enchanting chalky-white towns and UNESCO sites of inestimable value make a holiday in Puglia truly memorable.
The journey of discovering Puglia will cross the Itria Valley dominated by lush Mediterranean vegetation with olive trees growing in the areas around the masserie-small stone fortresses typical of this region, and the outstanding landscape of Murgia and its historical sites.
Join us in this beautiful and authentic region in southern Italy for a truly unique experience with small, intimate groups of a maximum of 12 people per tour, and together we’ll discover what makes this region of Italy special, through curated programs.
Day 1 - Saturday, April 12
The tour will start at Roma Termini train station where your Lilipans’ tour leader and Roscioli sommelier will meet you and accompany you throughout the trip.
The train will head to Bari, where our private minibus will take us to the 5-star Polignano Borgobianco Resort.
After checking in, we’ll dine together with a traditional local food Pugliese dinner.
Day 2 – Sunday, April 13
This will be a relaxing day, as our expert local guide will introduce you to the Apulian identity, territory and history, during the walking tours in fairy-tale towns Locorotondo and Alberobello, with whitewashed houses and alleys full of wonderful scents and bright colors.
In Alberobello, famously known as a UNESCO Heritage site for its beautiful Trulli, the characteristic white stone buildings with a conical roof, after the visit you’ll have time and lunch at leisure, before heading to Monopoli, one of the most evocative cities of Puglia, where, after the guided walking tour, you’ll enjoy local fish specialties.
Day 3 – Monday, April 14
After checkout, with our local guide we’ll discover the vast underground system of karst caves and grottoes in Castellana, generally defined as one of the most beautiful and spectacular cave systems in Italy.
Enjoy a leisurely lunch in Polignano a Mare. The afternoon will be dedicated at the wine tasting at Plantamura Winery, chosen by Roscioli, where after the visit of the vineyards and cellar, you’ll enjoy a wine tasting followed by dinner.
Day 4 – Tuesday, April 15
On this day we’ll travel to Bari via private minibus to meet our local guide for a walking tour of the historical old town, after which you’ll keep wandering for some shopping and lunch at leisure, before traveling to the next Roscioli winery of Pietra Ventosa, to visit their vineyards, and have wine tasting and dinner at the property
Day 5 – Wednesday, April 16
Today is a foodies’ day!
Martina Franca, one of the prettiest cities in Puglia, with its whitewashed alleys, will welcome us for a day of delicious gourmet food tastings. The tasting will start with the renowned Capocollo and other local cold-cut specialties followed by mozzarella and local cheeses tasting. An oil tasting will follow in an organic farm run by a family that has been producing olive oil since 1917.
In the afternoon, our local guide will then meet us in Martinafranca for the walking tour to discover the beautiful baroque city. On this day you’ll also learn the secrets to creating your own “orecchiette”, the typical local pasta under the guidance of a local chef who will then prepare dinner for us in a lovely restaurant.
Day 6 – Thursday, April 17
After checking out, we’ll travel to Matera, one of Italy’s most unique cities, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our expert local guide will show you one of the most incredible cities in Italy: it was carved directly into the rock, and in its cave dwellings people lived until the 50’s. In modern times Matera has become known for featuring in several movies including James Bond and The Passion of the Christ. We ‘ll sign off our day at Chiaromonte, another Roscioli’s favourite winery where, after the winery tour, we’ll enjoy a wonderful dinner with a wine tasting.
Afterwards, we’ll continue to the splendid town of Trani and check in at the Palazzo Filisio hotel, built in the 17th century and located a few steps from the sea and the Romanesque Cathedral. Trani is one of the most attractive city in Puglia with its spectacular cathedral, castle and beautiful buildings of pale yellow limestone.
Day 7 – Friday, April 18
After breakfast we’ll head to the huge saltpans of Margherita di Savoia, visible along the way to Roscioli’s gem D’Arapri winery for the sparkling wine tasting and lunch.
We return to Trani where you will have the rest of the afternoon free to stroll within the lovely alleys, or rest before having dinner at leisure.
Day 8 – Saturday, April 19
On our penultimate day, we’ll visit another outstanding UNESCO site: Castel del Monte, one of the magnificent residences of the great Swabian sovereign, Federico II. The castle was built over a rocky bank and it is famous for its symbolic significance, as reflected in the location and the mathematical and astronomical precision of the layout and its perfect regular shape. A unique piece of medieval military architecture, it is a successful blend of elements from classical antiquity, the Islamic Orient and North European Cistercian Gothic.
After tasting a lunch with traditional food in a local “trattoria” we’ll return to Trani and you’ll have the afternoon free to stroll through the charming alleys or rest before meeting for our Good Bye dinner.
Day 9 – Sunday, April 20
After breakfast and checking out, you’ll transfer to Barletta Train station for your return train to Rome, arriving back in the Eternal City in the afternoon.
Arrivederci!
Please take into consideration the following extension to your stay in the regions:
*Small changes to the itinerary are possible, beyond our control.
**Lilipans Tour is not liable in any way for any activities that the client decides to undertake independently during their stay, which are not expressly indicated in the proposed itinerary.
This tour involves a certain amount of walking, sometimes on unpaved venues, such us vineyards, archaeological sites, and so on, with potential accessibility barriers
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
For all international travel, US citizen’s passports must be valid for at least six months after the end of their stay in Italy, and have at least three blank visa pages. It is your responsibility to confirm that your travel documents meet the entry and exit requirements for the full duration of your trip.
In order to participate in our tours, Travel Insurance taken out in your country of residence is highly recommended.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- 5 nights accommodation and breakfast in Polignano a Mare
- 3 nights accommodation and breakfast in Trani at the Hotel Palazzo Filisio 4 star
- City lodging visitor tax
- Private bus and driver for 9 days
- Dinner on Saturday April 12
- Dinner on Monday April 13
- Wine tasting and Dinner on Monday April 14
- Wine tasting and Dinner on Tuesday April 15
- Mozzarella, cold cuts and olive oil tastings and orecchiette-making class with dinner on Wednesday April 16
- Lunch, wine tasting and dinner on Thursday April 17
- Lunch and wine tasting on Friday April 18
- Lunch and dinner Saturday April 19
- One full day private tour with English speaking guide
- Four Half day guided private tours with English speaking guide
- Entrance fees to Grotte di Castellana, two historical sites in Matera, Castel del Monte, Palazzo Ducale Martina Franca, underground cathedral in Bari
- Headsets and skip the line reservation where necessary
- English speaking certified tour leader (also certified as an official Italian National guide) and 3rd level WSET sommelier at your disposal, along with a Roscioli sommelier, from your arrival on Saturday April 2 to your departure on Sunday April 20.
- Tips in all included restaurants
Please note that there will be additional charges for any service performed longer than the projected hours.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
- Gratuities for maids, baggage handlers, drivers or guides
- Lunches, dinners, alcohol and wine tours or tastings unless noted
- Drinks at meals unless noted
- Personal charges, laundry, phone calls, internet, mini fridge consumed items
- Taxis, public boats and trains unless noted
- Travel Insurance
- International Airfare
- Entry to any museums, historical sites unless noted
PRICING
- € 6,600,00, per person (based on two people sharing a double room)
- The trip will run with a minimum of 8 guests and a maximum of 12 guests so you are guaranteed to be part of a small, intimate group.
- € 500 deposit per person, is due immediately to confirm the booking, which will be deducted from the total price. This deposit is non-refundable, unless the tour is canceled because the minimum number of participants is not reached.
- € 4,000 1° retainer per person is due by January 12, 2025
- The € 2,100 balance per person is due by February 10th, 2025
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
In order to participate in our tours, Travel Insurance taken out in your country of residence is highly recommended.
We are not responsible for any fees or changes you may become liable for relating to the airlines or other transportation not provided by us.
For all international travel, US citizen’s passports must be valid for at least six months after the end of their stay in Italy, and have at least three blank visa pages. It is your responsibility to confirm that your travel documents meet the entry and exit requirements for the full duration of your trip.
All cancellation requests must be in writing and are valid from the day we receive the request.
Cancellations:
- Cancelling 60 or more days before your departure date will result in a 30% refund of your total payment.
- Cancellations less than 60 days before your departure date will result in no refund. The full payment will be required.
- We do not offer a refund for unused portions of the tour, including but not limited to missed meals, hotel nights, sightseeing activities or any other included services.
- The deposit of 500 per person in all instances is non-refundable, unless the tour is canceled because the minimum number of participants is not reached.
- All cancellation requests must be in writing and are valid from the day we receive the request
**There are no exceptions to our cancellation policy.
