Highlights

  • Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites
  • Alberobello, Lecce, Matera
  • Trulli houses, Apulian Aqueduct, Sassi di Matera
  • Hike in the regional park of the Rupestrian Rock Churches
  • Mozzarella, burrata, and local pasta "orecchiette" demonstration

Cut off from the rest of the world until relatively recently, Puglia is often considered the most beautiful and undiscovered southern region, combining fresh air and open skies with history, elegance, fabulous food and delicious wine. We hike quiet trails through olive groves and vineyards and visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites as well as picturesque seaside towns. See the famous trulli houses and spend two days in the town of Matera, whose inhabitants lived in caves carved out of a limestone promontory cut in two by a spectacular ravine. Of course it wouldn't be Italy without good food and wine and Puglia is home to some of Italy's most interesting cuisine, from fresh seafood to an opulent array of antipasti.

Sunday Overnight: Hotel Patria Palace

Meet at Brindisi Airport this afternoon, then transfer to our hotel in baroque Lecce. We'll enjoy a Welcome Dinner tonight.

Monday Overnight: Hotel Patria Palace

We begin in Otranto, a fascinating coastal settlement dating back to the Classical era, including the Torre del Serpe tower. Later, when we return to Lecce, we'll have a guided tour of the town and perhaps try the 'pasticciotto Leccese', a local specialty made of shortcrust pastry, filled with custard.

Tuesday Overnight: Hotel Il Palmento

Making our way toward beautiful whitewashed Alberobello, we transfer to Ceglie Messapica for our first walk along the Apulian Aqueduct. This feat of early 20th century engineering ushered the entire area into the modern era by carrying fresh water from the Sele River in Campania to the historically arid Salento Peninsula, aka the 'heel of the boot'.

Wednesday Overnight: Hotel Il Palmento

This morning we walk a different section of the aqueduct, stopping for lunch at a farm dating back to the Middle Ages, where mozzarella cheese is still made. After lunch, explore the Trulli houses of Alberobello: 1,5000 ancient conical roofed houses built of dry stones and no mortar.

Thursday Overnight: Aquatio Hotel

Finally, we set our sights on the masterpiece that is Matera, walking in the Archaeological and Naturalistic Park of the Rupestrian Rock Churches of Matera. These unique ancient cave churches are scattered over an area known for its Neolithic settlements, fortified farms and road-side stone cisterns. After lunch, a local guide leads our visit to Sassi di Matera in Basilicata, the World Heritage Site famous for its subterranean houses. Unbelievably, some of these dwellings have been inhabited for more than 9,000 years.

Friday Overnight: Aquatio Hotel

Spend the morning hiking in the spectacular Gravina Canyon, then return to Matera for a local lunch and a free afternoon. Visit the Museum of Contemporary Sculpture, set in the 16th century palazzo Pomarici, or the House of Noha, a renovated traditional cave house that tells the story of ancient Matera. Farewell Dinner tonight in our charming hotel.

Saturday

After breakfast, The Wayfarers will transfer you to Bari airport.
Moderate
"The Walk Leaders are excellent and always engaged with you"
Terrain: Firm ground, dirt tracks and contoured rocky paths. Some loose stones.
8-12 miles walking per day.

TRIP DETAILS

6 nights from
$4,595.00
per person, double occupancy
(Single Supplement $695.00)
Our Wayfarers friends' Price is $4,365.00

Dates

19-APR-20 - 25-APR-20
11-OCT-20 - 17-OCT-20
Request booking
Arrival: Brindisi Airport
Departure: Bari Airport
Puglia Map

Hotels - Where we stay

Hotel Patria Palace

Hotel Patria Palace

The Patria Palace brings back to life an 18th century aristocratic mansion, the D'Anna-Petrarolo Palace. Sumptuously refurbished by artists and craftsmen, the palace has been embellished with frescoes and Art Deco frills. The bedrooms, each with its own decor, are all personalized with frescoes painted by John Duggan. They are finely furnished and equipped with all services, comforts and modern technology. The bathrooms are built with precious marble. The Atenze restaurant offers fine dining with selected dishes from traditional Apulian, Mediterranean and Italian cuisines.

Hotel Il Palmento

Hotel Il Palmento

The Hotel Il Palmento offers the chance to stay in an old trullo, tastefully and imaginatively converted to provide luxury accommodation with ensuite facilities, telephone, satellite television, hairdryer, safe, mini-bar. The Palmento was part of an old enclosed village and its history as a group of buildings used to make wine is reflected in the titles of the charming suites, each named after a grape variety. The comfortable restaurant offers the delicious local specialties of Apulian cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere. Outside beautiful gardens surround the hotel.

Aquatio Hotel

Aquatio Hotel

Aquatio Suite Hotel is a charming new 5-star hotel that brings the unique experience of a relaxing break in one of the worlds oldest cities to life: Matera, the 2019 European Capital of Culture. Opened in 2018, the hotel, offering 35 rooms and suites, occupies a unique position set into a tufa ridge in the citys Sasso Caveoso district located in the heart of UNESCOs Sassi World Heritage site. The hotel rooms, bars and external areas cover an overall area of 5000 m2, making up part of the Sassi district, which also includes a wonderful spa with a swimming pool carved into the rock, a restaurant with an outdoor courtyard.

Start planning your trip

What Is Included in the Price of My Vacation

  • Full-time services of two staff - a Walk Leader and Walk Manager
  • A backup vehicle for resting walkers and moving luggage
  • Comprehensive Travel Information Package and Reading List
  • Diverse itineraries with an emphasis on history, geography, culture, peoples, flora and fauna
  • Demonstrations, wine tasting, admissions to museums and historic sites
  • All ground transfers (ferries, cable cars, trains, etc.)
  • Maps and unique souvenirs to commemorate your trip
  • First-class accommodations with cultural and historical interest
  • All meals - with choices - (Special dietary requirements? No problem!)
  • Wine with dinner
  • On-trail snacks and refreshments
  • All gratuities at hotels and restaurants