Experience an easy-going, languid lifestyle in Italy’s Apulia region, where Mediterranean meals are savored slowly amidst olive groves, ancient seaports and timeless villages. Spend seven nights in seaside Polignano a Mare, and venture out each day to enjoy the unique character that defines Apulia, the heel of Italy’s boot. Marvel at Alberobello’s trulli, conical-roofed limestone homes built without mortar; the ancient cave dwellings in Matera, a 2019 European Capital of Culture; the white hill town of Ostuni; and the baroque city of Lecce. Contrast the seaside lifestyle of Bari and Trani with inland life at a winery and a family-owned olive mill. An exclusive lecture series complements your excursions. Plus, enjoy ample free time to stroll down romantic cobblestone alleys, drink in soul-stirring views of a brilliant blue sea and experience a relaxed pace of life. This small-group journey features first-class accommodations and an extensive meal plan with wine at dinner. No single supplement!
TRIP ITINERARY
Bari, Polignano a Mare, Martina Franca, Matara, Lecce
Day 1. Depart gateway city
Day 2. Arrive in Bari | Transfer to Polignano a Mare
Day 3. Bari | Polignano a Mare
Day 4. Martina Franca | Locorotondo | Alberobello
Day 5. Lecce | Ostuni
Day 6. Matera
Day 7. Trani | Bisceglie
Day 8. Polignano a Mare
Day 9. Transfer to Bari airport and depart for gateway city
Note: Itinerary may change due to local conditions. Walking is required on many excursions.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