This region is a food lover’s paradise and the abundance of delicious vegetables makes it a perfect destination for vegetarians. On this trip, there will be many opportunities to taste local specialties, in particular during the produce and wine tasting, cookery class and the traditional lunches included in the itinerary.

The region of Puglia is known for orecchiette and cavatelli pasta, which is typically served with a sauce of turnip-tops; burrata (soft mozzarella and cream cheese); plus excellent wines.

Venture underground and descend into the Castellana Caves on a guided route through soaring caverns, forests of stalactites and shimmering calcite drapery. Gaze into otherworldly chambers culminating in the alabaster glow of the famed Grotta Bianca.

Formed over millions of years in karstic limestone, this vast network reveals nature’s slow artistry in stone. This optional excursion is available at additional cost and is bookable on tour, subject to local conditions and opening times.

Explore the labyrinthine lanes and explore the White City of Ostuni, where lime-washed facades dazzle under southern light. Climb toward the cathedral square and admire sweeping views from the panoramic ramparts across olive groves to the Adriatic.

Limewash once helped reflect heat and sanitize homes; today it lends Ostuni its luminous character. Between medieval arches and quiet piazzette, sense the layered history of a hill town shaped by traders, farmers, and coastal winds.

Discover Matera’s soul as you join a guided walking tour through the UNESCO-listed Sassi districts, clinging to the ravine of the Gravina. Navigate stair-stepped alleys, rock-hewn homes and cisterns carved from limestone, and take in views across Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano.

Unpack the story of Europe’s most extraordinary troglodyte settlement, from ancient cave life to modern revival. Your guide reveals fresco fragments in rupestrian churches, the ingenious water systems, and how communities adapted to the harsh landscape to create a unique urban tapestry.

Explore Polignano a Mare’s cliff-perched centro storico and stroll the whitewashed lanes to panoramic terraces above the Adriatic. Gaze down at the stone arch and turquoise waters of Lama Monachile, framed by honey-colored rock.

This town blends ancient roots with a breezy seaside rhythm. Street verses and sculptures nod to local icon Domenico Modugno, while sea caves and wave-carved ravines speak of a coastline forever shaped by wind, limestone, and salt spray.

Wander Alberobello’s storybook lanes and wander among the trulli, the white-washed cottages crowned with dry-stone cones. Explore artisan boutiques and hidden courtyards in Rione Monti and Aia Piccola, where every turn invites a photograph.

Learn how corbelled roofs, keystones and symbolic pinnacles made these dwellings both practical and expressive. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, Alberobello showcases the Itria Valley’s centuries-old stonecraft and a vernacular architecture that feels both ancient and alive.

Savour Puglia in the glass as you sample regional wines with a local expert. Compare the sun-ripened depth of Primitivo and Negroamaro with fresh native whites, guided through aromas and pairings that bring out the region’s rustic cuisine.

Discover how limestone soils, Adriatic breezes and the Itria Valley terroir shape expressive, food-friendly wines. Hear stories of family estates and bush-trained vines, and learn tasting techniques that sharpen the senses with every swirl.

Visit a traditional estate and join an expert-led olive oil tasting, sampling fruity, bitter and peppery notes from centuries-old groves. Tour the family-run masseria before watching a regional cooking demonstration that culminates in a convivial farmhouse lunch.

Uncover how climate, harvest timing, and cold-press methods define extra-virgin character. From orecchiette to seasonal vegetables, discover why simple ingredients, time-honoured techniques and rural rhythms remain the backbone of Apulian hospitality.

Visit Otranto’s historic centre, where sea-salted breezes carry you along the bastions to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata. Step onto the extraordinary 12th-century mosaic floor, a medieval Tree of Life that sprawls across the nave.

Hear of the 1480 siege and the martyrs’ chapel, then trace Otranto’s blend of Byzantine, Norman and Aragonese influences. Coastal views, stone lanes and cafe-lined promenades reveal a town poised between Adriatic horizons and deep history.

In Lecce, join a guided walking tour through lanes carved from golden Lecce stone. Admire the exuberant facade of the Basilica di Santa Croce, the harmonious Piazza del Duomo, and the Roman amphitheatre embedded in modern life.

Discover the city’s signature barocco leccese, where craftsmen sculpted cherubs, garlands and grotesques into buttery limestone. From noble palazzi to artisan workshops, experience a southern capital whose artistry feels ornate yet warmly human.

Embrace the Adriatic vibe as you wander Monopoli’s harbourfront, past bobbing fishing boats and sea-worn bastions. Amble the narrow lanes to Castello Carlo V and the cathedral square, soaking up the relaxed seaside atmosphere.

Discover a lived-in coastal town where morning catches land beside Romanesque stonework and sunlit piazzas. This optional visit is available at additional cost and bookable on tour; your Tour Leader can advise on timing and arrangements.

Stretch your legs and join a gentle coastal walk tracing the Salento coves and creeks near Otranto. Follow easy trails above the sea, with sweeping Adriatic vistas and time to pause for photos and reflection amid fragrant maquis.

Learn about watchtowers, limestone geology and Mediterranean flora as you go. This optional activity (approximately 4mi/6km) is available at additional cost and bookable on tour, weather and trail conditions permitting.

Step inside the rupestrian churches of Matera to encounter frescoed cave sanctuaries carved directly into the rock. Seek out the cliff-top silhouette of Santa Maria de Idris and the cavernous chapels layered with centuries of rock-hewn devotion.

These intimate spaces reveal Byzantine iconography, soot-darkened vaults and the spiritual life of the Sassi. This optional visit involves local entry fees and is available at additional cost; your Tour Leader can assist with choices and timings.

Meet your fellow travellers and meet your Tour Leader in the heart of Matera’s Sassi before a convivial group dinner. Get an overview of the journey ahead during a warm welcome briefing, as the tufa-stone lanes glow gold and the Sassi at dusk set the mood for the week.

Matera’s cave quarter is Italy at its most atmospheric. Over dinner, taste local flavours and primitivo as your leader shares insights on customs, regional cuisine, and the traditions that shaped this once-humble troglodyte city into a cultural capital.