In supplier order. Some entries may cover multiple days; optional experiences are described by the supplier.
Fly to Bari or Brindisi
After arriving in charming Puglia this morning, meet your friendly local tour manager and board a coach for the short transfer through the countryside to your four-star hotel. This magnificent property, set within a secluded masseria, offers unique insight into the traditional lifestyles and landscapes of Puglia, and is flanked by olive groves and Adriatic vistas.
Upon arrival, enjoy a welcome drink with your fellow travellers and spend the rest of the day at leisure, perhaps with an evening on the sun deck or some time in the Jacuzzi as the sun sets over Puglia. Head to the hotel’s restaurant later this evening for dinner.
Day at leisure in Carovigno
Your first full day in Carovigno will be free, and after breakfast at the hotel, you can spend it as you see fit.
If you’d like to explore the local area, a regular shuttle bus service offers easy access to the nearby towns. There’s also a golf course within walking distance of the masseria, which features pitching and putting greens enclosed by striking coastal views and shaded olive trees.
Those who’d prefer a relaxed day’s activity can instead make themselves comfortable with a cocktail on the hotel’s sun terrace or perhaps take a dip in the swimming pool.
This evening, return to the hotel for dinner.
Included excursion to Lecce with aperitifs at Palazzo Morisco
After breakfast this morning, head out on your first small-group excursion to baroque Lecce, and soak up the atmosphere of this historic trading centre, where elegant buildings and marbled courtyards reflect the town’s past importance. Explore the old town, which surrounds the ruins of a great Roman amphitheatre, one of several Roman remnants in the city.
Your next stop will be the magnificent Duomo of Lecce, the crown jewel of the city’s Cathedral Square. Marvel at the building’s extravagant exteriors before heading inside for a closer look at its exquisite baroque décor, marble altar and pillar-lined cloisters.
At the end of a day of sightseeing, you’ll enjoy a taste of life in modern Lecce with drinks, courtesy of a friendly local host, at one of the city’s historic houses, Palazzo Morisco. Nestled behind Lecce’s grand Duomo, this palatial building was built and renovated across the centuries by members of Lecce’s noble families. The house features remarkable period furniture and a vast library, one of the richest in Southern Italy. Here, your host will introduce you to the palazzo’s exquisite grounds, the finer details of its history and the conservation projects which protect buildings like it to this day. Afterwards, enjoy a taste of traditional Apulian hospitality with an evening’s drinks with your host.
Included tour of Matera
Today, drive through Puglia’s bucolic countryside to neighbouring Basilicata, where you’ll discover Matera. This enthralling town is a cultured oasis in an otherwise sparsely populated landscape and is famed for the extraordinary stone-cut dwellings which protrude from its surrounding cliffs.
Arriving in Matera in time for lunch (payable locally), you’ll have the opportunity to discover the history of this fascinating place, with its chiese rupestri (rock-hewn churches), and wander through its ancient streets and colourful piazzas. This maze of ancient cave-dwellings was inhabited as recently as 40 years ago and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the evening, head back into Puglia for dinner at the masseria.
Included excursion to Castellana Grotto, Alberobello, and Locorotondo
A memorable full-day tour awaits today, and you’ll pass through the Apulian countryside after breakfast to a handful of the region’s most unique spots. Your first stop this morning will be the extraordinary caves at Castellana, an underground network of towering stalagmites and stalactites formed over the centuries. This subterranean grotto spans almost 3,400 meters in its entirety, and your expert guide will help you discover each of its major chambers as you descend deeper beneath the ground.
Afterwards, return to the surface and continue to your second stop, delightful Alberobello. Here, hundreds of the whitewashed buildings with their tapered roofs cluster together to create one of Italy’s most arresting sights. Learn more about the town’s iconic conical trulli huts with some time to explore under your own steam.
Rounding out today’s tour will be the majestic, circular hill town of Locorotondo. Surrounded by vineyards, which are famed for their crisp white wines, the town showcases Puglia’s wine-making traditions, and you'll visit a local cellar for the opportunity to taste the town’s finest vintages, as well as some other regional specialities.
This evening, head back to the hotel for dinner.
Optional visit to Bari or day at leisure
This morning, get ready for a fascinating day’s sightseeing with breakfast at the hotel before setting off on a scenic journey to the Apulian capital, Bari. This delightful city, one of the largest centres in Southern Italy, is made up of bustling harbours, ornate buildings and picturesque secluded coves.
Start the day in Bari Vecchia, the city’s marvellous old town, which is presided over by an imposing Norman-Swabian castle, Castello Svevo. Here, you can admire the castle’s magnificent stone walls, many of which are almost 1,000 years old, before heading to pretty Piazza del Ferrarese. This popular square, backed by one of Bari Vecchia’s two ports, was named after a local merchant and is lined with charming al fresco cafés and elegant baroque shopfronts. Make a final stop at the 10th-century Basilica San Nicola, a popular pilgrimage spot for Orthodox Christians and Catholics alike, before completing the day’s activity with some time at leisure in Bari.
This evening, return to the hotel for dinner.
Included cooking class with included lunch and afternoon at leisure
This morning, you’ll have the opportunity to head to a nearby Masseria to take part in an optional cooking class, highlighting some of Carovigno’s most popular dishes. Here, under the expert guidance of the Masseria’s chef, you’ll try your hand at creating authentic Apulian dishes with an individual cooking station and the freshest local ingredients. Afterwards, enjoy a traditional regional lunch, partly comprised of the plates you create, and reflect on a memorable week’s exploration in southern Italy.
Those who’d prefer a more leisurely final morning in Puglia will be free to spend it as they see fit back at Masseria Caselli, perhaps with a round or two on the hotel’s nearby golf course.
Return to the UK
Bid farewell to idyllic Puglia as you head to Bari or Brindisi airport for a flight back to the UK.