Food and Wine Travel
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Italy — Puglia
Trulli villages, baroque cities, and the authentic tastes of southern Italy's heartland
Duration
8 Days / 9 Nights
Travel Style
Private Journey
Starting In
Bari
Ending In
Brindisi
Departures
On request
Reference
ITBRIIPFW
Italy — Puglia
Trulli villages, baroque cities, and the authentic tastes of southern Italy's heartland
Duration
8 Days / 9 Nights
Travel Style
Private Journey
Starting In
Bari
Ending In
Brindisi
Departures
On request
Italy, Puglia - Food & Wine Immersion — 8 Days / 9 Nights
Overview
Discover Puglia, the heel of Italy's boot — a region where ancient traditions, stunning landscapes, and uncompromising food culture create an unforgettable journey. Begin in Valle d'Itria, where the UNESCO-listed trulli villages of Alberobello rise like something from a fairy tale, their distinctive cone-shaped roofs built from local limestone without mortar.
From there, travel to Lecce, the Baroque jewel of southern Italy, where elaborately decorated facades, hidden courtyards, and centuries-old crafts reveal a city shaped by centuries of conquest and refinement. Throughout your days, engage directly with Puglia's living food culture: visit organic cheese farms, cook with local families, taste handmade pasta and ancient olive oils, explore artisan workshops, and understand the region through the hands and stories of the people who call it home.
This eight-night journey is built around slow discovery and authentic connection — the kind of travel where you leave understanding not just what Puglia tastes like, but why its people are so proud of it.
Trip Highlights
Day by Day
Arrive at Bari airport and transfer south into the heart of Puglia's Valle d'Itria region. Settle into your accommodation surrounded by the distinctive trulli landscape. Rest of the day at leisure.
Private transfer from Bari airport
Meet your driver and travel to Valle d'Itria, entering one of Italy's most unique landscapes.
Arrive Ottolire Resort
Check in to your 4-star accommodation. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (-)
Discover Alberobello, a unique urban landscape of more than 1,400 trulli buildings recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. A guided walking tour leads through these distinctive whitewashed structures, characterised by pyramidal, conical, and domed roofs built from local limestone without mortar. Visit the Trullo Sovrano, the only two-storey trullo, revealing the ingenuity behind this extraordinary architecture. Then move to a traditional farmhouse where organic mozzarella and Apulian cheeses take centre stage, with time-honoured techniques and organic practices explained by the owner. Enjoy a light lunch of Apulian specialties paired with local wine.
Guided walking tour of Alberobello
Explore the UNESCO-listed centre with its 1,400+ trulli. Visit Trullo Sovrano, the largest and only two-storey example.
Organic cheese farm
Learn how traditional techniques and organic practices create distinctive local mozzarella and cheeses. Light lunch of Apulian specialties. (B, L)
Enjoy a private cooking session at a working farm in the Apulian countryside. In the company of a passionate home cook or local chef, learn traditional recipes forged by seasonality and simplicity — techniques passed down through generations. From preparation to the table, focus remains on balance, flavour, and authenticity. The experience comes together over a relaxed lunch where you'll share the dishes you've prepared, rooted in genuine Apulian culinary culture. Rest of the day at leisure.
Hands-on cooking session
Learn to prepare traditional Apulian dishes with a local chef at a working farm. Cook and enjoy your creations. (B, L)
Begin with a boat tour along the breathtaking coastline of Polignano a Mare, uncovering the stunning sea caves accessible only by water. Cruise through crystal-clear waters beneath towering cliffs, iconic arches, and sculpted rock formations. In the afternoon, a guided walk through Martina Franca's historic centre reveals refined Baroque and Rococo architecture — decorative façades and measured proportions give the town its distinctive grace. Visit the Basilica of San Martino, noted for its richly detailed façade. The itinerary concludes with a tasting of Capocollo di Martina Franca, the town's renowned cured meat.
Boat tour — Polignano a Mare
Cruise the stunning coastline and explore sea caves accessible only by water. Views of the charming town perched above. (B)
Martina Franca walking tour
Explore Baroque and Rococo architecture, visit Basilica of San Martino, taste local Capocollo cured meat. Lunch at leisure.
Travel toward Lecce via Grottaglie, the capital of Apulian ceramics. Wander the charming old town and ceramic district, stepping into open workshops where artisans handcraft intricate terracotta pieces. Meet a local artisan and learn how clay and fire become timeless works of art. Continue to a local organic winery where ancient traditions blend with innovative sustainable practices. Stroll among sun-kissed vines and learn about Primitivo di Manduria, then taste selected wines. Arrive in Lecce for check-in at your palazzo accommodation.
Grottaglie ceramics district
Meet local artisans in open workshops and watch traditional terracotta handcrafting. Lunch at leisure. (B)
Organic winery visit
Learn about Primitivo di Manduria and taste selected wines in sustainable vineyard setting.
Arrive Palazzo Lecce
Check in to your 4-star accommodation in Lecce's historic centre.
Set out on a walking tour to discover Lecce's amazing city centre, known as the 'Florence of the South'. Start in Piazza del Duomo, the elegant 'living room' of the city, framed by the majestic Cathedral of Maria Santissima Assunta and refined surrounding architecture. During the tour, meet a local papier-mâché artisan in his workshop for insight into this unique art form — watch humble material gradually transform into fantastic artwork. Return to the hotel to rest before your hands-on cooking class, where you'll learn to prepare regional dishes and sample the results of your work.
Walking tour of Lecce
Explore Baroque architecture starting from Piazza del Duomo. Visit papier-mâché artisan workshop. Lunch at leisure. (B)
Hands-on cooking class
Prepare regional Lecce specialties with a local chef and enjoy them for dinner. (B, D)
Travel to Otranto, a city that has long served as a natural bridge between the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Wander through its ancient village, recognised by UNESCO as a cultural heritage 'messenger site of peace'. Enter through Porta Alfonsina, the historic gateway, and discover the imposing Aragonese Castle and the splendid Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata with its extraordinary 12th-century mosaic floor — the Tree of Life — crafted by monk Pantaleone. Conclude on a sweet note with a tasting of pasticciotto, the beloved local pastry. In the afternoon, visit a traditional frantoio (olive mill) for an in-depth look at olive oil production from harvest to pressing and bottling. Taste regional oils paired with local products.
Otranto walking tour
Explore UNESCO-listed old town, visit Aragonese Castle and Cathedral with 12th-century mosaic. Taste local pasticciotto. Lunch at leisure. (B)
Traditional olive mill tour
Learn olive oil production from harvest to bottling. Taste regional oils paired with local products.
Set out on a bike tour to discover the natural wonders of the Salento seaside. Start from Lecce's old town and adventure across villages and medieval fortified towns, admiring panoramic spots and cities that have remained unchanged over time. Explore the surrounding natural landscape, home to many species of plants and aquatic birds. Stop along the way for a tasting of local delicacies before returning to Lecce.
Salento seaside bike tour
Cycle through medieval villages and panoramic countryside. Explore nature reserves and stop for tasting of local delicacies. (B)
After breakfast and check-out, private transfer to Brindisi airport for your return flight. Arrivederci.
Private transfer to Brindisi airport
Depart Lecce for Brindisi airport. (B)
What's Included
This itinerary can be tailored to suit different travel dates, group sizes, and preferences. Book a free chat to start the conversation.
Trip at a Glance
Accommodation
Ottolire Resort
4 nights
Valle d'Itria
A 4-star property immersed in the distinctive trulli landscape of Valle d'Itria, offering direct access to the region's most iconic scenery. The accommodation is designed to showcase Puglia's rural character while providing modern comfort and hospitality.
Palazzo Lecce
4 nights
Lecce city centre
A 4-star palazzo hotel in the heart of Lecce's historic centre, ideally positioned for exploring the city's Baroque architecture, galleries, and restaurants. Close to major landmarks and the region's cultural attractions.
Good to Know
iBest time to visit: April–May or September–October (pleasant weather, ideal for outdoor activities and cycling).
iPhysical requirements: The itinerary includes walking on cobblestone streets, boat travel, and a full-day bike tour. Comfortable walking shoes and moderate fitness are recommended.
iDietary requirements: Please advise at time of booking so dietary needs can be communicated to all catering and cooking partners.
iLanguage: English-speaking guides are provided for all activities. Some Italian knowledge is helpful but not required.
iTravel insurance: Strongly recommended, including medical, evacuation and trip cancellation cover.
iCurrency & payments: Euros. Credit cards are widely accepted in city centres; smaller villages may prefer cash.
iGroup size: Typically 2–8 guests for a more intimate experience.
iTransport: Private transfers and activities use private vehicles. The bike tour is on paved and well-maintained routes suitable for all fitness levels.