Day notes
WELCOME TO PUGLIA!
Upon your arrival in Bari, you will be greeted and transferred to Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Once known as "The Shame of Italy" in the 1950s due to its poor living conditions, Matera has undergone a remarkable transformation. Recognized as the 2019 European City of Culture, it has become one of Italy's most sought-after destinations, featuring in films such as "The Passion of the Christ," "Wonder Woman," and the recent James Bond film, "No Time to Die." Despite its growing popularity, Matera still exudes a mysterious and undiscovered charm.
Your visit to Matera will be made even more memorable with a stay at the Aquatino Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa. Opened in 2018, the Aquatino offers a contemporary tribute to the historic cave dwellings of the city.
Settle in and take in the unique surroundings; your adventure is just beginning!
Transfer from Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport [BRI] to Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa
Transfer
Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport [BRI]
Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa
Check-in to Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa
Day notes
Start your day with a leisurely morning, savoring a cappuccino while taking in the city's breathtaking scenery and unique charm.
This afternoon, enjoy lunch at the renowned Soul Kitchen, a must-visit destination in Matera. Since opening in 2013, Pietro Marrocolli and his brother, chef Domenico Marrocolli, have crafted a modern take on classic Basilicata cuisine that has quickly made Soul Kitchen one of the most celebrated restaurants in the area.
After lunch, explore Matera on a walking tour, the perfect way to fully appreciate this remarkable city. Spread along the top of a ravine overlooking the Bassento River Valley, MaterMatera'sicate layout is best experienced on foot. At the heart of the town lies the Sassi, an ancient network of dwellings carved from the calcareous tufa stone that lines the valley's slopes.
Inhabited since the Paleolithic era, MaterMatera's dwellings have seen little change over the centuries. Many homes have been meticulously sculpted into the rock, forming walls, ceilings, floors, and rooms. In some areas, entire streets and rows of rock-cut homes can be explored. This district, known as "La G"avina," is "amed after the river that runs through it. Elegant buildings and intricate underground mazes create a stunning and multifaceted landscape.
Today's includes visits to both the external and subterranean highlights of Matera, such as the Cisterna, Casa Grotta, and Chiesa Rupestre.
Return to your hotel later this afternoon and enjoy an evening at your leisure.
Included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Excluded:
Dinner
Day notes
After breakfast, immerse yourself in one of Matera's most cherished traditions: breadmaking! Take a short walk from the hotel to one of the town's oldest bakeries, where master bakers have been crafting Matera bread using the same techniques for generations. Here, learn about the traditional methods, from using locally sourced durum wheat flour to the long leavening times and baking the bread in wood-fired ovens.
A unique aspect of Matera Bread is its history. Until the 1950s, families in Matera would knead their bread at home and bring it to the bakery for baking. Each family had their own distinctive stamp to mark their dough, a tradition that led to the creation of unique bread stamps, a typical handicraft product of Matera.
Later in the morning, your guide will lead you through some of Matera's other marvels before lunch.
After lunch, it's time to head east towards the Puglian Coast and to Masseria Torre Coccaro, your home for the next five nights.
Masseries, common in the Puglia region between Bari and Brindisi, are traditional farmhouses or estates, similar to ranches in the United States or haciendas in Spain. They were prevalent from the 16th to 18th centuries.
In the 1990s, many masserie were restored and converted into bed & breakfasts, hotels, and restaurants, often preserving their original architectural elements such as white medieval stone walls, spacious rooms, stone kitchen fireplaces, arched hallways, and marble floors.
Masseria Torre Coccaro is one of the finest masserie in the region. This five-star property was once a large, fortified farm with a watchtower built to fend off invaders. Some bedrooms still feature remnants of old troughs, and the underground caves once used as olive mills are now a luxury Aveda spa. The gardens boast an outdoor pool, chaise lounges, and daybeds hidden among pomegranate trees, bougainvillea, and hibiscus. Each elegant guest room and suite includes a private garden and patio, with amenities like a wireless iPod connection and free Wi-Fi. Some rooms also offer a fireplace or spa bath.
It won't take long for you to realize you've arrived somewhere exceptional when you settle in at Masseria Torre Coccaro.
Check-out from Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa
Transfer from Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa to Masseria Torre Coccaro
Transfer
Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa
Masseria Torre Coccaro
Check-in to Masseria Torre Coccaro
Included:
Breakfast
Dinner
Excluded:
Lunch
Day notes
Today, get ready for an exciting and engaging adventure that blends modern technology with the traditions of the past.
After breakfast, depart for Ostuni, just a 30-minute drive away. There, you will pick up our Twizy! A Twizy is a compact, two-seater electric vehicle by Renault that produces zero emissions. It's unlike anything in the US and is incredibly fun to drive!
From Ostuni, journey through the Valle d'Itria and visit the historic towns of Cisternino and Locorotondo. The Valle d'Itria, known as Italy's olive grove, produces 40% of the country's olive oil and is rich in citrus orchards and vineyards.
Today's unique excursion will take you off the beaten path, exploring Puglia's authentic country roads. Pass by historic Trulli homes and quaint villages, witnessing life in the region as it has been for generations. Stop at a traditional shop where local salami and fresh cheese are made, allowing us to sample these delicious products before continuing to Cisternino, one of "The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy." Like Matera, Cisternino's heritage dates back to the Paleolithic period, but it is now recognized for its sustainability and efforts in Sustainable Tourism. It has received the "Bandiera Verde Agricoltura" (Agriculture Green Flag) for its policies on protecting the territory and the "Bandiera Arancione" (Orange Flag) of the Touring Club for the quality of its tourism offerings.
Take some time to explore Cisternino and enjoy a local coffee and gelato.
During your "electric trek," we'll gather ingredients along the way for a picnic lunch before returning to Ostuni, where we'll spend the remainder of the day.
Ostuni, known as "The White Town," is a stunning seaside medieval village with picturesque alleys and whitewashed houses brightened with colorful geraniums. Its streets resemble an Arab Kasbah or the Greek Isles.
Enjoy a guided walk through the historic center, including a visit to the 15th-century Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral, renowned for its beautiful 24-ray rose window portal. Continue to Piazza della Liberta, the town's main square, where you can also visit the archaeological excavations of the ancient walls and the defensive tower before strolling along Cattedrale Street, lined with local artisan, craft, and food stores.
Finally, have some time to explore independently and enjoy a leisurely dinner before returning to the masseria later this evening.
Included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Excluded:
Dinner
Day notes
This morning, enjoy a fun and unique vehicle excursion.
After breakfast, head to Montalbano to pick up and fit your bicycles for a relaxing ride through the picturesque Puglian countryside. The journey will take you along a bike path that was once the ancient Traiana Road, which connected Rome to Brindisi. Today, this trail is perfect for exploring the Centennial Olive Groves, where olive trees have thrived for hundreds, even thousands, of years. Puglia is home to an estimated 60 million olive trees! The two-wheel adventure will immerse you in the region's rich history of olive tree cultivation and olive oil production, from ancient lamp oil to modern extra virgin olive oil, and how the masserie, which still plays a vital role in the local economy.
One of the stops along the way will be the Dolmen near Montalbano, a prehistoric stone monument dating back 4,000 years. Continue along the ancient Trajan Way, leading us to a working masseria where we’ll taste local organic cheese.
Take time for a photo stop along “Postcard Road,” named for its idyllic scenery often featured in films, before arriving at a traditional masseria for lunch.
After lunch, it is a leisurely return to the masseria, allowing some time to relax before our evening out.
Late this afternoon, head to Polignano a Mare, a stunning medieval village perched on a high, jagged coastline. Enjoy time to explore this charming Italian gem before experiencing a unique and memorable dinner at Grotta Palazzese. Considered one of the "10 Most Spectacular Restaurants in the World," this incredible restaurant is carved out of the cliff face, jutting 74 feet above sea level, offering diners breathtaking views of the waves crashing below.
We’ll return to our masseria later this evening.
Included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day notes
Today, journey to Lecce, the central city on the heel of Italy, and certainly one of the most beautiful towns of southern Italy.
While it is often referred to as "The Florence of the South," Lecce is a virtual, living, open-air museum with exhibits of the Roman Empire, the Medieval, and Renaissance eras, and its most renowned jewels, the Baroque monuments of the 16th to 18th centuries.
Your exploration of Lecce will begin at Piazza Sant' Oronzo with the 2nd century Roman Amphitheater, which once held up to 20,000 spectators. Today, the amphitheater, which is only partially excavated, is a backdrop to the lively piazza and the perfect example of how Lecce's past and present live harmoniously together.
Continue to the Santa Croce Basilica. It took nearly two hundred years to complete, and one could spend days studying the eclectic features of its ornately decorated facade. Enjoy taking time with our guide to explore this Baroque masterpiece revered by some and reviled by others.
Nearby, spend some free time at Piazza del Duomo, one of southern Italy’s most magnificent squares. It is perfect for strolling amongst the traditional artisan shops or sitting with a cappuccino and watching local life.
This afternoon, you will be welcomed into one of Lecce's private palazzos by the owner as his guests for lunch. Adding to this special occasion will be a Pizzica Dance and Taranta music performance, a popular and traditional style of dance and music in Puglia.
Return late this afternoon, and dinner will be at leisure this evening at the masseria.
Included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day notes
Today, take some time to sleep in, relax, enjoy a spa appointment, or all of the above!
The morning is yours to enjoy at leisure until lunchtime. Then, it's time to don an apron and step into the kitchen at Masserie Torre Coccaro for a Puglian cooking lesson with the chef, using fresh, local ingredients. Once you've finished cooking, we'll savor the delicious dishes we've prepared. Abundanza!
After lunch, we'll head to Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Conde Nast's "15 Most Charming Small Towns in Italy." Alberobello feels like a storybook come to life with its famous Trulli homes. These small dwellings are built from local limestone with dry-stone walls and distinctive conical roofs. While they are well-known in Alberobello as homes, they are also used as sheds among the olive groves in their most basic form. Our walking tour will reveal the history, legends, and stories of Alberobello and the Trulli.
Return late this afternoon; the remainder of the evening is yours to enjoy at leisure.
Included:
Breakfast
Lunch
Excluded:
Dinner
Day notes
After breakfast, depart for the Bari airport and your return flights home, or next destination.
Check-out from Masseria Torre Coccaro
Transfer from Masseria Torre Coccaro to Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport [BRI]
Transfer
Masseria Torre Coccaro
Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport [BRI]
Included:
Breakfast
