2026 “Discover Puglia – Secrets of Southern Italy” Luxury Cuisine & Culture Experience
Another UNIQUE “Small-Group” Cuisine & Culture Experience
“Being able to identify the unspoiled destination is a useful talent – as far as it goes. The real trick is catching the unspoiled destination at just the right moment, when rumblings of interest have given rise to a comfortable infrastructure for knowing travelers, but the crowds are at least a few years off. That’s Puglia right now.”
– Travel & Leisure Magazine
2026 DATES
– 11 Days / 10 Nights –
Wednesday 06 May 2026 to Saturday 16 May 2026
– Booked Out –
Booking Deadline : 01 February 2026
“Discover Puglia Experience” – Traveller Reviews
*ALL INCLUSIVE LAND CONTENT: 11 Days / 10 Nights of Luxury accommodation in some of Puglia’s most unique accommodations, Private Luxury Airport Transfer on arrival into Brindisi; included meals as per itinerary; Cuisine & Culture Experiences including hands-on cooking class and Wine Tastings; Meals at some of Puglia’s finest regional restaurants; Escorted Local Transfers, Private Walking Tours of some of Puglia’s most famous & picturesque towns; and the services of two Group Escorts. Excludes international airfares.
**TWIN SHARE TRAVELLERS (Additional €575.00 per person) – For the comfort of our clients travelling with us as a Twin Share, we have found that Italy doesn’t always cater well for Twin Bed Rooms, especially in the more unique, boutique properties that we experience with our clients. For our “Discover Puglia Experience”, as we want all of our clients to be as comfortable as possible, we have arranged for shared Twin Accomodation for our first two properties (Two nights at Patria Palace Hotel in Lecce and three nights at Masseria Le Torri), who’s rooms are able to comfortably accommodate Twin Beds. For the remaining five nights boutique accommodations at Pianelle Resort and Dilman Bari, you will each have the comfort of your own room. We trust this meets with your understanding! Please don’t hesitate in contacting us should you have any questions.
“Discover Puglia – Secrets of Southern Italy Experience”
Prepare your tastebuds and sense of adventure for one of Italy’s best-kept secrets — the enchanting culinary region of Puglia in Southern Italy — on this Small Group experience, fully escorted by Nico and Belinda Moretti.
Home to Nico’s Puglian family and heritage, Nico & Belinda have been sharing its unique blend of natural beauty, rich history, and exceptional food culture with clients for over 20 years, long before it became one of the most popular & authentic regions of Italy to explore!
Nestled in the heel of Italy’s boot, Puglia offers stunning coastlines with crystal-clear waters, rolling countryside dotted with ancient olive trees, and distinctive architecture like trulli houses and charming white-washed villages. It’s a region where tradition is deeply rooted—local festivals, artisan crafts, and time-honoured recipes are still a part of daily life. Unlike more tourist-saturated parts of Italy, Puglia offers a more authentic, laid-back experience, with warm hospitality, delicious regional cuisine, and a slower pace that invites you to truly savour la dolce vita.
Join us in May 2026 for our next “Discover Puglia – Secrets of Southern Italy” Luxury Cuisine & Culture Experience — as we explore this stunning region in springtime!
Springtime in Puglia is pure magic — the countryside is in full bloom, the weather is warm but not too hot, and the summer crowds haven’t yet arrived.
Olive groves and wildflowers paint the landscape in green and gold, while markets overflow with fresh spring produce like artichokes, fava beans, and sweet cherry tomatoes. It’s the perfect time to explore whitewashed villages, enjoy long alfresco lunches, and soak up the relaxed rhythm of southern Italy — all under clear blue skies and gentle sunshine.
Small Group Cuisine & Culture Experiences with Nico & Belinda
Our Cuisine & Culture Experiences give you the “peace of mind” and the freedom to do as much or as little as you like…its your holiday!
We’ve taken care of the details – from luxury boutique accommodations and local transfers to meals at some of the regions best restaurants, cooking classes (for those that may prefer to just relax with a glass of Puglian wine instead of cooking…you are more than welcome to take it easy) & wine tastings, and private guided tours of Puglia’s towns & villages.
You’ll also have plenty of free time to explore, shop and eat at your own pace (We’re happy to share our favourite finds). Just pack you bag and a sense of adventure – we’ve handled every detail just for you!
Highlights
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2 Nights Luxury Accommodation in the 5-star luxury hotel – The Patria Palace Lecce – in the beautiful city of Lecce, the “Florence of Southern Italy” and its baroque beauty.
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3 Nights Luxury Accommodation in the restored 16th century luxury “masseria” (Country Manor Estate) – Masseria Le Torri
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2 Nights Luxury Accommodation in the “cave city” of Matera at – Pianelle Resort
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3 Nights Deluxe Accommodation in the heart of Bari’s finest shopping & restaurant quarter – Dilman Boutique Hotel Bari
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Included meals as per itinerary, including 10 x Breakfast (Daily); 4 x Lunch; 4 x Dinner.
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Puglia Dining Experiences including some of Puglia’s most famous and unique regional restaurants.
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Learn the ingredients and preparation of typical Puglian dishes at our Puglia Cooking Experience including preparing Burrata & Mozzarella & other Puglian classics.
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Olive Oil Estate & Tasting Experience – Visit to one of Puglia’s Ancient Extra Virgin Olive Oil Mills dating back to the 1700s.
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Wine Tasting Experience – Wine tastings of Puglia’s wines, including their famed Primitivo & Negroamaro wine varieties, and cellar tour in Puglia’s famous wine region in the Salento
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Group Visits to some of Puglia’s most beautiful villages and UNESCO World Heritage Sites
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Lecce – “The Florence of the South” and its Baroque elegance.
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Ostuni – “La Citta Bianca” (“The White City”) one of Puglia’s most beautiful hilltop villages, with wonderful vistas and panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and Adriatic Sea.
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Alberobello – Puglia’s picture-postcard town of conical-roofed houses known as “trulli” (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
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Polignano a Mare – Stunning seaside gem of a town perched atop a 20 metre limestone cliff above the shimmering Adriatic Sea
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Altamura – home of Italy’s finest wood-fired breads & focaccias that follow a tradition dating back to the 1500’s. Pane di Altamura was the first baking product in Europe to be granted a DOC (Denomination of Controlled Origin). Click here to view Jamie Oliver’s take on Altamura’s famous bread & focaccia.
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Matera – The fascinating UNESCO World Heritage town of ancient cave-dwellings that were inhabited into the middle 20th century. On our previous “Discover Puglia Experiences” we only stayed in Matera for one night, but due to its popularity with our clients who said they could have spent more time there, our 2026 “Discover Puglia Experience” will be the first year that will allow us to spend two special nights to better enjoy one of Europe’s most unique historical towns.
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Castel del Monte – The Puglian masterpiece of King Frederick II, this awe-inspiring octagonal castle of 1229 became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996.
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Bari – The region’s capital with its medieval historic centre known as “Bari Vecchia” (Old Bari) resembling a North African medina, and is famous throughout Italy for its mazelike effect.
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Private Airport Pick Up & Transfer (Arrival – Brindisi Airport)
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All Group land transfers across Puglia
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Group Pre-Trip Briefing (Perth)
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Tour Escort & Tour Photographer during duration of tour
Puglia – Southern Italy’s Gastronomic Gem
Why Puglia is a Food Lover’s Dream
Tucked into Italy’s southeast and forming the “heel” of the boot, Puglia may not be as well known as Tuscany or the Amalfi Coast — but it should be. Just 70 km from Greece, it offers a Mediterranean charm all its own, with whitewashed villages, ancient olive groves, and a coastline that stretches longer than any other Italian region.
Puglia’s food is pure “cucina povera” — simple, honest cooking that celebrates fresh, local ingredients. Think wild chicory with fava beans, plates of vibrant antipasti, handmade orecchiette pasta, and just-caught seafood drizzled in golden local olive oil.
This is a place where food is not just a part of life — it is life. The region’s culinary credentials are impressive:
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Olive Oil: With nearly 70 million olive trees — some over 3,000 years old — Puglia produces 40% of Italy’s extra virgin olive oil.
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Wine: Once dubbed “Europe’s wine cellar,” Puglia now focuses on quality over quantity. Its bold Negroamaro and Primitivo reds, and crisp Fiano and Verdeca whites, are earning global recognition.
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Durum Wheat: The fertile Tavoliere Plain is Italy’s “granary,” producing durum wheat for Altamura bread and traditional orecchiette pasta.
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Cheese: Home of burrata, Puglia is a cheese lover’s haven, offering everything from soft and creamy to aged and sharp.
COMPLETE DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
Day 1 – Wednesday May 6th 2026 – ARRIVAL** / LECCE
**PRE-ARRIVAL – Should you wish to arrive earlier than today’s start to our tour, we can arrange for any additional nights at our Lecce hotel. Nico & Belinda will be arriving on Tuesday May 5th 2026, in preparation for each participants arrival.
– Upon your arrival into Brindisi Airport*, for those flying in, we have arranged for your Private Transfer to our hotel, The Patria Palace Hotel, in Lecce, which is a 40 minute drive from Brindisi airport.
(* Should you prefer to arrive at Bari Airport, a 2 hour drive from Lecce, we can organise this at an additional cost of 180Euros per car (up to 3 person).
Getting to Puglia
By Plane:
Puglia is well connected by air, with Brindisi and Bari airports serving as major hubs for European airlines — including direct flights from London (Stansted), France, Spain, and Germany. You’ll also find regular domestic flights from Rome and Florence (Firenze).
By Train:
High-speed Frecciarossa or Italo trains depart Rome for Bari several times daily, with the journey taking around 4-5 hours. It’s a scenic ride through the changing landscapes of southern Italy — from coastal Adriatic views to the wheat plains of northern Puglia and the olive groves of the south. From Bari, you can continue to Lecce via a regional train.
Please Note: When booking your return travel, be sure to depart from Bari — either Bari Airport or Bari Train Station— as this is where the tour concludes.
14:00pm – Check in to our Lecce hotel – The Patria Palace Hotel
Lecce – The Baroque Jewel of Puglia
Often called the “Florence of the South” is a captivating city in the heart of Puglia known for its stunning Baroque architecture and rich cultural heritage. Its golden sandstone buildings, intricate facades, and grand churches—like the Basilica di Santa Croce and Lecce Cathedral—make wandering the historic centre a visual delight. Highlights include Roman ruins such as the ancient amphitheatre, vibrant piazzas lined with cafes, and a lively artisan scene featuring traditional papier-mâché crafts. Lecce is also a gateway to the Salento Peninsula, offering easy access to beautiful beaches and charming coastal towns.
OUT HOTEL – The Patria Palace Hotel
Lecce’s finest historic 5-star hotel is tucked away in a secluded piazza which opens onto Lecce’s famously beautiful and ornate Basilica di Santa Croce. The hotel is located in a 18 th century building, austere and linear, abode of the noble family D’Anna-Petrarolo. The building was designed by the famous architect Mauro Manieri who also designed the church of Sant’Irene and the church of Carmine, both in Lecce. After many vicissitudes, it was donated to a religious order and, for many years, had been an important orphanage of the Salento peninsula.
In 1850 the building was purchased by the family of the engineer Giacomo Gridi who opened the first inn for wanderers. It is during this Risorgimental Period, which would lead to the birth of Italy, that the Inn acquires the name of Patria. Now fully restored as a luxury hotel, its 67 rooms are characterised by a unique and elegant style, with views on the town.
18:00pm – Aperitivo Time – We will enjoy pre-dinner drinks (aperitivi) on the hotel’s rooftop terrace, with stunning views over one of Lecce’s architectural marvels – the Basilica di Santa Croce.
19:00pm – Welcome Group dinner as our introduction to Pugliese cuisine which will highlight the quality, goodness and intensity of flavours from the Puglian countryside.
Accommodation – The Patria Palace Lecce
(Included Meals: D)
Day 2 – Thursday May 7th 2026 – LECCE & PUGLIAN COOKING EXPERIENCE including BURRATA-MAKING CLASS
am – Breakfast at your leisure
10am – Private guided walking tour to visit some of Lecce’s most famous sights including:
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Piazza Sant’Oronzo, site of the most important local Roman ruins, a 25,000-seat amphitheatre from the 1st century BC and a column which originally stood in Brindisi to mark the end of the Appian Way. St. Oronzo, for whom the square is named, now stands atop the column guarding the area.
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Roman Theatre
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Basilica di Santa Croce – This ornate display of Leccese baroque architecture took almost 1 1/2 centuries to complete.
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Lecce’s cathedral in Piazza del Duomo which stands in one of the loveliest piazzas of Italy.
Lunch & Afternoon at your leisure – Puglia still maintains its afternoon tradition of family lunch then “una riposa” or little rest or siesta in the afternoon. Many shops will close between 2pm to 4pm, so take the opportunity to either join in the local tradition or to enjoy having the quiet streets of Lecce all to yourself for a few hours.
16:00pm – Puglian Cooking Experience with Chef Gianna Greco – This evening, under the wonderful tutelage of the formidable Chef Gianna Greco, we will discover the secrets to one of Italy’s finest regional cuisines. We will learn the art of mozzarella cheese making and the secrets to Puglia’s famous creamy burrata cheese with a cooking class led by an artisan cheesemaker (“casaro“).
Try your hand at preparing Puglia’s famous pasta shape “orecchiette” (Little Ears) as well as Puglia’s famous focaccia, or if “hands-on” isn’t for you, sit back and relax with a glass of Puglian wine as you watch dinner being prepared. Once the class is completed, we will enjoy all that we’ve prepared including some other typical Puglian products.
Accommodation – The Patria Palace Lecce
(Included Meals: B,D)
Day 3 – Friday May 8th 2026 – PUGLIA WINERY & TASTING EXPERIENCE
am – Breakfast at your leisure, before checking out of our hotel at 11am.
11:00am – Group departure to Puglia’s famous Salice Salentino wine region for a visit to the 19th-century winery Masseria Li Veli.
Masseria Li Veli
Masseria Li Veli was built by the Marquis Antonio de Viti de Marco at the end of the 19th century. The great economist from Lecce created what would become a model of viticulture for the whole of Puglia. In 1999, the Falvo family from Tuscany, who had already written one of the most amazing pages in the history of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Vin Santo began the modernisation of the Li Veli property. The Favlo family fell in love with the dream of the great economist and decided to buy and renovate the Masseria and to dream again that ancient dream of the Marquis Antonio De Viti de Marco.
11:30am – Winery visit as well as a tour of the beautiful castle and grounds. We will then indulge in a Private Wine Tasting Lunch within the property with a typical Apulian menu, cooked entirely with fresh and local ingredients by the expert hands of the Masseria’s cook Viviana. Our sommelier will guide us through the best food match with Li Veli wines.
15:00pm – Group transfer to Masseria Le Torri located in the countryside a short 15 minute drive from Puglia’s most famous & stunningly beautiful seaside village of Polignano a Mare.
17:00pm – Check in to our accommodation at Masseria Le Torri .
OUR HOTEL – Masseria Le Torri
Masseria Le Torri, owned by Sylvana Bonelli and Domenico Pugliese, is a typical Puglian country estate which offers an authentic countryside experience!
Fields of centuries-old olive and oak trees, orchards of almonds, cherries, lemons, oranges, tangerines, and figs surround the Masseria, and seasonal vegetables are enjoyed every day. Roses bloom in summer in the courtyard garden and the fragrance – combined with lavender, yarrow, and herbs – is heavenly in the early morning and evenings. In the distance, a glimpse of an old castle and a small trullo are reminders that life here remains unchanged.
‘Many pieces of handcrafted wooden furniture belong to our family and for us they are sentimental. And I’m very proud of our collection of old irons and porcelain,’ says Sylvana. During the renovation, which took nine years, they touched the structure as little as possible as original frescoes and Apulian limestone floors or chianca, dating back to the 1600s. Parquet floors were upcycled from an old house and the lovely arched windows are shuttered. Olive branches are used for rails ‘recalling the farmer’s habit of hanging his jacket on a tree in the fields,’ they explain. Soft, neutral fabrics offset calm whitewashed walls as they wanted to create minimal spaces, full of light, with the ‘charm of peasant simplicity’, local life, and ancient customs.
The restoration has carefully preserved the original architectural features and materials of the property, which now combines past and present through the use of modern techniques for energy saving and environmental protection: photovoltaic system, recycling, reduction of air, water and soil pollution, protection of biodiversity in the property areas, local and healthy food.
pm – After check-in the remainder of the afternoon & evening is at your leisure. Slip into relaxation mode with a wander around the Masseria’s gardens and orchards, enjoy a drink poolside, or simply have a little siesta! We can decide whether anyone might like to go for an evening visit to nearby Polignano a Mare or Conversano to join the locals for a “passegiatta”.
Accommodation – Masseria Le Torri
(Included Meals: B, L)
Day 4 – Saturday May 9th 2025 – Puglia Olive Oil Estate Experience and Ostuni (The White City)
am – Breaksfast at your leisure
8:30am – Group departure for our “Puglia Olive Oil Estate Experience” and visit to Puglia’s famed “White City” of Ostuni.
Puglia & Its Olive History – Extra Virgin Puglia Olive Oil, the foundation of the Mediterranean diet, is used basically in each and every recipe of Puglia, playing a prime role amongst all ingredients. Produced from massive secular olive trees, it gives flavour to typical antipasti, first and second dishes, side dishes and even to desserts.
Puglia has around 60 million olive trees. Among those, 5 million are actually monumental, representing the most antique agricultural arboreal existent landscape. The olive tree below is one of Puglia’s oldest trees dating back 3,000 years. Unbelievable, and it is still producing!
Everywhere the eye can see in Puglia, you will see olive trees. Puglia supplies around 40% of olive oil production in Italy (it is the first region for quantity and quality of Extra Virgin Olive Oil produced per year). The Italian heel also provides around 12% of the olive oil production in the whole world. For thousands of years, the green gold of Puglia, so called thanks to its golden color and its value, ensured sustenance generation after generation.
09:30am – “Puglia Olive Oil Estate Experience” – Dating back to the 1700s, we will visit one of the Puglia’s centuries old olive estates set on sixty hectares of olive groves, home to centuries-old olive trees.
Accompanied by our expert guide we will have the opportunity to visit some monumental olive trees as well as discovering the origins of Puglia’s olive oil production with a visit to an underground oil mill dating back to the 1700s to learn the ancient techniques of oil production over the centuries.
We will then move to the estate’s modern oil mill where we will learn about the cutting-edge processes used to obtain superior quality olive oils, and learn the differences between extra virgin, virgin, olive oil and “lampante”.
We will compare different oils regarding their purity and, as real sommeliers, our guided Olive Oil Tasting will allow us to distinguish the organoleptic properties of each one and learn how to define the characteristics of a high-quality extra virgin olive oil.
11:00am – Group departure to the nearby picturesque village of Ostuni which has also been declared one of the most beautiful villages of Italy by the National Association of Italian Municipalities.
Ostuni – Also known as “La Citta Bianca” (The White City) it is definitely one of the most stunning towns of Southern Italy. Clinging onto three hills at the edge of Le Murge, the old centre is a spiral of whitewashed houses with dramatic views towards a sea of olive trees and farther away the blue Mediterranean. Traces remain from its first founding in 600BC, but much of what we can see today dates between the 1400s and 1700s, including the magnificent 15th century Gothic cathedral which sits proudly atop the hillside.
Join Nico for a guided walk around some of the main sights of the village before taking your own time to enjoy the atmospheric tiny streets, charming laneway bars & restaurants and majestic viewpoints around the old town at your leisure.
14:00pm – Group departure to return to Masseria Le Torri for a little R&R. For those that are interested, join the Masseria’s chefs at an early evening cooking class. For those that aren’t interested in joining the class, simply relax or pop in to the kitchen to watch or enjoy. a glass of wine.
Alternatively, the masseria offers additional activities you are most welcome to participate in. These include:
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Natural Cosmetics for Face & Body (60 minutes) – Learn how to make cosmetics by yourself using aromatic herbs like lavender, hypericum, helichrysum, poppy or chamomile and natural components like cocoa butter, extra virgin olive oil and essential oils. (Reservation required / Own expense)
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Handmade Soap (60 minutes) – Puglian grandmothers’ ancient habits was to make soap, and this experience was born from the desire to rediscover it. The extra virgin oil of the Masseria’s olive trees, mixed with essential oils (such as orange, violet or verbena) or with the Masseria’s garden herbs (like lavender, rosemary and sage), become creamy and fragrant organic soaps.The preparation is based on the simple cold method as it was once. (Reservation required / Own expense)
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Handmade Candles (60 minutes) – With this experience you will learn how to make candles as they did in the 18th century, using the wax from the beehives of a nearby beekeeper, essential oils such as lavender, violet, verbena or fig or the aromatic herbs collected in the garden together with some dried flowers to decorate them. They can be tall, short, or long and thin, made by dipping the cotton wick many times into the melted wax. (Reservation required / Own expense)
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Masseria Orchard Experience – This experience doesn’t require any reservation and timetable to respect. You can do it when you want, in total autonomy. Just go to the masseria’s field & orchards and choose your favourite tree. Its natural and organic fruits are at hand; you just need to raise your arm. Depending on the season you will find cherries, apricots, plums or even pears and figs, but be careful not to pick the prickly pears with your bare hands. (No Reservation required / Free & Natural)
pm – Group Dinner at the masseria
Accommodation – Masseria Le Torri
(Included Meals: B, D)
Day 5 – Sunday May 10th 2025 – Alberobello (Trulli Town) and the Valle d’Itria Experience
am – Breakfast at your leisure.
09:00am – Group departure for our visit to the UNESCO World Heritage village of Alberobello to experience the magical beauty of Puglia’s famous cone-shaped stone houses called “trulli” which you will see scattered across the countryside of the Itria Valley.
Alberobello – Dating back to the 15th century, Alberobello is the best known village of the Valle d’Itria because of its unique architecture of cone-roofed trulli buildings. The trulli of Alberobello have been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A trullo is a unique type of building characteristic of this region, consisting of a cylinder topped by a large cone of local stones put together without any mortar. It is believed that trulli originated as storage sheds built for agricultural implements, then much later became dwelling places, with adjoining buildings added as the families living in them grew. Many trulli are still used and inhabited today, and some of their roofs show big mysterious chalk marks, either to ward off the evil eye or to bless the house.
10:30am – Group departure for another of the Valle d’Itria’s picturesque white-washed villages – Locorotondo – where we can wander the lanes of the town, grab a coffee or glass of wine with the locals and enjoy its wonderful views over the valley.
Locorotondo – The village of Locorotondo – uno dei borghi più belli d’Italia – is included amongst the most beautiful villages of Italy. Its historic centre develops in a perfect circular share, hence the name of the village, from the Latin “Locus Rotundus”, or “Round Place”. Locorotondo is also home of its own DOC white-wine introduced in June 1969, making it one of the longest-established DOCs in the region, and indeed all of Italy. Fresh, bright and lively, Locorotondo wines stand out from the crowd in Puglia. They are characterful white wines in a region dominated by rustic reds.
13:00pm – Group Departure to the stunningly beautiful cliffside village of Polignano a Mare and its famous limestone cliffs with incredible views over the Adriatic Sea. As well as it’s spectacular beach and cliffside grottos, Polignano a Mare is the birthplace of Domenico Modugno who’s song “Volare” became world-famous after it’s release 50 years ago, and who’s lyrics proudly stand above Polignano’s charming Main Street of Via Roma. In more recent times, it has also hosted the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series event.
Polignano a Mare – Polignano a Mare is a town on Italy’s southern Adriatic coast. It’s known for beaches like the white-pebble Lama Monachile, also known as Cala Porto, which is bordered by a Roman bridge. The Ponte dei Lapilli is a cove nestled at the bottom of a cliff. As well as its beach and cliffside grottos, Polignano a Mare is the birthplace of Domenico Modugno who’s song “Volare” became world-famous after it’s release 50 years ago.
13:30pm – Group Sunday Lunch at one of Polignano’s famous seafood restaurants. After lunch, join the locals for a leisurely “passegiatta” through Polignano’s atmospheric laneways.
17:00pm – Group departure and return to Masseria Le Torri. Remainder of the evening at your leisure. Enjoy some downtime around the masseria, or if you’d prefer to stay longer in Polignano, a taxi for your later return can be arranged.
Accommodation – Masseria Le Torri
(Included Meals: B, L)
Day 6 – Monday May 11th 2026 – Altamura (Italy’s Finest Bread Tradition) & Matera (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
am – Breakfast at your leisure.
09:30am – Check out from Masseria Le Torri for our group departure for Altamura and Matera.
11:00am – Arrival in the lovely, historic town of Altamura for a tasting of Altamura’s most famous product, Pane di Altamura, and a visit to an an ancient 600 year old wood-fired oven operating since 1391.
Altamura, is particularly famous in Italy and the whole world for its delicious bread: Altamura bread. Pane di Altamura is made of durum wheat flour cultivated in Altamura, it has a round shape and a massive size. It is characterised by an external crust of 3mm in thickness, which guarantees its long lasting, and soft crumb.
Its roots date back to the Roman times, as the Latin Poet Horace wrote about a bread made in this area of Puglia as “pane migliore del mondo” (the best bread of the world). In 2003 Pane di Altamura was granted the first ever DOP status (Protected Designation of Origin) for a baked product across Europe. Among about 1,000 varieties of bread produced in Italy, bread of Altamura is the only one which was given this eminent status.
12:30pm – After a lunch of the famed Altamura bread, delicious wood-fired focaccia and a few other Puglia specialities, we will continue to the famous UNESCO cave-town of Matera, only 30 minutes away in the Province of Basilicata.
13:00pm – Check in to our Matera hotel, one of the city’s newest 4-star luxury properties situated amongst the town’s famous “sassi” and former cave dwellings.
OUR HOTEL – Pianelle Resort (Matera)
Pianelle Resort is situated in Matera’s historical district, just steps from its famous Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches and Piazza San Pietro Caveoso. Only opened in 2022 after a 10-year renovation, this former “cave dwelling” which were common in the Sassi part of Matera, has been transformed into a beautiful 4-star boutique hotel and has 17 individually furnished guestrooms.
Matera
Known as “la Citta Sotterranea” (the Subterranean City), it is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world and the most outstanding, intact example of a troglodyte (cave-dwelling) settlements in the Mediterranean region.
The ancient city is steeped in history and is home to the famous Sassi, which in 1993 was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage List. The village dates back over 7000 years with some of the oldest inhabited parts dating back from the Palaeolithic period.
The “sassi“, as they are known, amazingly continued to be inhabited through to the 1960’s until the inhabitants were forcefully relocated by the government due to the breakdown of the dwellings’ complicated ecosystems and lack of sanitary systems.
16:00pm – After we’ve checked into our hotel and had a little relax, we have arranged a Private guided tour of one of the most fascinating towns we have ever visited.
pm – Evening at your leisure. Enjoy an “aperitivo” on the hotels rooftop terrace, enjoy a quiet night out on your own, or we can decide as a group on where and what we would like to enjoy for dinner this evening at one of Matera’s restaurants.
Accommodation – Pianelle Resort (Matera)
(Included Meals: B, L)
Day 7 – Tuesday May 12th 2026 – Matera – FREE DAY
am – Breakfast at your leisure.
Today is a totally Free Day to explore Matera at your leisure. From shopping in Matera’s high streets; walking or trekking some of the trails along its gorge; or just taking some quiet time for your yourselves to enjoy this uniquely historic town.
pm – Evening at your leisure. Enjoy dinner one of the many restaurants nearby or we can decide as a group whether to dine together this evening.
Accommodation – Pianelle Resort (Matera)
(Included Meals: B)
Day 8 – Wednesday May 13th 2026 – Castel del Monte – King Frederick II Masterpiece & Puglian Regional Restaurant Experience
am – Breakfast at your leisure.
10:00am – Check out from our hotel for our Group Departure for one of Southern Italy’s most prominent and talked-about landmarks, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Castel del Monte, dating back to Puglia’s 13th century King Frederick II.
Castel del Monte
Located in the municipality of Andria, Castel del Monte rises on a rocky hill dominating the surrounding countryside of the Murgia region in southern Italy near the Adriatic Sea. It is a unique masterpiece of medieval architecture which was completed in 1240. The octagonal form is perfect, its design a harmonious blend of cultural elements from Classical antiquity, Muslim architecture and the Cistercian Gothic of northern Europe.
13:00pm – Group Lunch is in the small village of Montegrosso, only a few minutes from Castel del Monte, where one of Puglia’s most acclaimed and awarded chefs, Chef Pietro Zito will prepare us a degustation of some of Puglia’s most typical dishes, with most of the produce harvested in the restaurant’s nearby garden. Post our “long lunch” we will arrange a walk through Chef’s garden, possibly with the man himself.
17:00pm – Arrival in Bari and check in to our hotel – Dilman Boutique Hotel Bari
BARI is the capital of Puglia and is a beautiful sunny town full of tradition and charm that leans over the Adriatic Sea.
This historic Southern Italian city features a rich collection of architecture and art, testimony of its ancient history, ranging from Roman buildings to Mediaeval churches, from the castle of Frederick II to the elegant buildings in Baroque style.
Along with the later Art nouveau and Decò styles, and not forgetting the Saracen, Byzantine and Norman influences through the ages, they have all contributed to shaping the ancient “Barium”, giving it that unique charm only possible from a skilled blending and overlaying of so many different cultures.
OUR HOTEL – Dilman Luxury (Bari)
Perfectly situated only a few steps from central Bari’s main walking streets filled with branded shops, attractions, cafes, and restaurants and only a short walk to Bari’s historic “Bari Vecchia” (Old Town), the Dilman Luxury hotel is our base to explore this fascinating city.
The Dilman is an exclusive boutique hotel, ideal to live a unique stay experience in Bari. With refined, modern and spacious rooms, forefront design solutions and a vertical garden with more than 300 aromatic plants.
The hotel is situated only a few steps from the posh Murat district, while Bari’s famous walking streets of Via Sparano, Corso Cavour, or Corso Vittorio Emanuele around the hotel offer many branded shops, attractions, cafes, and restaurants.
Evening at your leisure – Visit Bari’s “high street”, Via Sparano, and enjoy an evening passegiata and a spot of shopping with the locals. Once the shops close, enjoy a seaside walk along Bari’s “lungomare” esplanade, the longest seaside promenade in all of Italy, and maybe a pizza with the locals at one of the many pizzerias in town.
Accommodation: Dilman Luxury (Bari)
Included Meals: B, L
Day 8 – Bari Vecchia Experience
am – Breakfast at your leisure. Enjoy a continental breakfast in the hotel’s modern Wine Bar next door.
9:00 – 11:00am – Join Nico for a short Walking Tour of the historic centre of Bari (Bari Vecchia or “Old Bari”). We will tour the historic centre of Bari (Bari Vecchio) with it’s maze of “medina-like” alleyways that date back to the middle ages. Life continues in the old part of Bari and we will also witness the famous little corner of the area (“La via delle orechiette”) where women continue to hand make orecchiette, out on the street, to be sold for family gatherings.
pm – Afternoon at your leisure. Go for a walk around Bari’s high street or old quarter, stopping for aperitivi at some of the many small bars hidden down the back lanes and piazzas of this magical town.
Evening at your leisure. Join Nico & Belinda at a local pizzeria where we can sample one of Bari’s newest food trends called “Spaghetti alla Assassina” recently introduced to Stanley Tucci in his Puglia episode of “Searching for Italy”!
Accommodation: Dilman Luxury (Bari)
Included Meals: B
Day 9 – Free Day or OPTIONAL visit to Monopoli
am – Breakfast at your leisure.
Today has been set aside as a Free Day for you to do as much or as little as you like for your final day in Puglia.
Do some last minute shopping in Bari’s “High Street” of Via Sparano; enjoy a leisurely walk along Bari’s beautiful “lungomare” on the Adriatic Sea; or for those that would like to venture further afield, join Nico & Belinda for the short 20-minute train trip to one of their other favourite Puglian seaside town – Monopoli.
Monopoli
Located on the Adriatic coast, Monopoli is a vibrant and picturesque town that is full of surprises. The town draws many visitors every year with its authentic atmosphere, classy restaurants, and colourful, lively harbour, making it a great place for a day trip when on a tour of Puglia
The origins of this ancient town date back to the 5th century BC. Due to its unique positioning along the coast, Monopoli has long been a safe haven for travellers, fishermen, pilgrims and hikers. When you visit Monopoli as part of your private tour of Puglia, you will discover an unforgettable town full of historical buildings which reflect the town’s long history, such as the Baroque Cathedral of Our Lady of Madia, the town’s most splendid and important landmark, and the wonderful castle of Charles V, the symbol of the city.
But Monopoli is so much more than its history. The town has a plethora of fine restaurants and stylish bars, some of them overlooking the harbour with its many colourful fishing boats, and is the perfect place to enjoy a unique and tranquil Mediterranean atmosphere.
20:00pm – Final Group dinner at one of our favourite Bari restaurants.
Accommodation: Dilman Luxury (Bari)
(Included Meals: B, D)
Day 10 – Departure – Arrivederci
am – Breakfast at your leisure
10:00am – Following breakfast and checkout, we will say our final “arrivederci” and wish everyone well on the next part of their journeys. We will be available to assist with those that might require help in getting to the Bari Airport or Bari Train Station for your onward travels.
BOOKINGS & BOOKING DEADLINE
To secure your places, please contact Nico Moretti at urbanprovider@icloud.com or +61 402 154 358, and we will forward you a 2026 “Discover Puglia – Secrets of Southern Italy Experience Booking Form” for you to complete to secure your places.
Booking Deadline: 01 November 2025
Booking Deposit: A $AUD2500 per person Booking Deposit* is required to secure a booking for the tour, at the time of your reservation. Booking Deposits are used to secure accommodations and tour services at the time of your request for places. (*We are able to refund your Booking Deposit if advised 3 months prior to tour start date, or should a replacement be found for any cancelled places within the 3 months start date).
Final Payment: Payment in full is required at least 90 days prior to departure (Payment Due : 06 February 2026)
We look forward to hosting you on this very special “Discover Puglia – Secrets of Southern Italy Luxury Cuisine & Culture Experience”. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate in contacting us.
Grazie mille, Nico & Belinda Moretti
