Just when you thought you knew Italy, along comes Apulia. Let’s discover this delightfully different region together. Our small-group journey will lead us from Lecce, the “Florence of the South,” to a whitewashed hillside village; from magnificent Baroque architecture to conical-roofed limestone huts; and from a vibrant seaport to a Stone Age city of cave dwellings. Through expert-led talks and excursions, we’ll learn about Apulia’s dramatic past, its multicultural heritage, and the unique terroir that makes it so conducive to growing olives and wine grapes. And we’ll do more than talk about food. As we travel, we’ll sample delicious cuisine that focuses on Apulia’s bounty of fresh seafood and locally grown produce.
Special pricing includes first-class accommodations, extensive meal program, enriching excursions, and more. And there’s no single supplement for solo travelers! Book now.
Trip Highlights
Fall head over heel for this less-traveled part of the Boot.
- Discover the many charms of Bari, a lively university town whose 11th century basilica contains the bones of the real-life St. Nicholas
- Find breathtaking views at every turn as you stroll Bari’s ancient seaport and renowned Murat Quarter, the brainchild of Napoleon’s brother-in-law
- Beat the crowds to the 2019 European Capital of Culture, the Sassi di Matera, a 9,000-year-old cave city where some of the dwellings are still inhabited
- Attend an informative talk about the curious history and stunning baroque architecture of Lecce; then become immersed further on an expert-led excursion
- Tour the dazzling “White City” of Ostuni, famed for its whitewashed houses that stand high on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean
- Visit a neighborhood so unique it’s been made a UNESCO World Heritage site — Alberobello’s collection of conical-roofed, limestone houses called trulli
- Explore tranquil, picturesque Locorotondo, a medieval village that’s been named one of the most beautiful towns in all of Italy
- Get a taste for Apulian daily life as we savor lunch and sample freshly-pressed oils at a family-run olive mill
- Gain additional insights during a special open-forum discussion at which we’ll have the opportunity to interact with residents of Apulia