8 Day Puglia Matera and Salento Tour from Bari

Day 1: Day 1: Welcome to Trani, the Pearl of the Adriatic

1. Trani
   3h
   Meeting at 15:00 (3:00 PM) at Bari Central Station or Bari Airport. Private transfer to seaside Trani. Check-in at your boutique hotel. Leisure afternoon to stroll along the limestone marina, admire the white Swabian Castle and Romanesque Cathedral reflecting on the sea. Welcome briefing and overnight in Trani.

Day 2: Day 2: The Mystery of Castel del Monte & Historic Trani

1. Castel del Monte
   4h
   Morning drive through Alta Murgia National Park to Castel del Monte, Emperor Frederick II's octagonal UNESCO masterpiece. Guided tour uncovering its mathematical symmetries. Afternoon guided walk through Trani’s medieval Jewish quarter (Scolanova Synagogue) and scenic harbor. Sunset Apulian aperitif facing the Adriatic.

Day 3: Day 3: Flavors of Puglia: Burrata Masterclass, Confetti & Olive Oil

1. Andria
   4h
   Visit an artisan livestock and dairy farm in Andria for a live mozzarella and burrata-making masterclass followed by freshly pulled cheese tasting. Stop at the historic Mucci Confetti Museum. Afternoon visit to an ancient olive oil mill with guided EVO oil tasting. Transfer to Bari, check-in, evening stroll in Bari Vecchia.

Day 4: Day 4: Fairy-tale Alberobello & Clifftop Polignano a Mare

1. Alberobello
   5h
   Full day exploring the iconic Valle d'Itria. Guided walking tour through Alberobello's Rione Monti, admiring over 1,000 whitewashed conical trulli houses. Taste artisan almond pastries. Continue to Polignano a Mare, perched dramatically on limestone sea cliffs above turquoise waters. Explore poet-inscribed alleyways, scenic panoramic balconies, and Lama Monachile pebble bay.

Day 5: Day 5: The Ancient Soul of Matera & the Sassi Cave City

1. Matera
   5h
   Departure to Matera in Basilicata, UNESCO World Heritage site. Check-in at your historic hotel in the Sassi. Immersive guided tour exploring the labyrinthine cave neighborhoods of Sasso Barisano and Caveoso, ancient rock-hewn churches with Byzantine frescoes, and a preserved authentic cave house (Casa Grotta). Conclude with a tasting of traditional Lucanian herbal liqueurs. Magical evening among the illuminated Sassi.

Day 6: Day 6: Ostuni 'The White City' & Baroque Lecce Artistry

1. Lecce
   5h
   Scenic morning transfer through olive groves to Ostuni, dazzling with lime-whitened houses, defensive ramparts, and Gothic Cathedral. Continue southward into Salento to Lecce, the 'Florence of the South'. Afternoon hands-on experience in a master artisan paper-mâché (cartapesta) bottega. Guided walking tour of Piazza Duomo, Roman Amphitheatre, and Basilica of Santa Croce. Relax with typical caffè leccese with almond milk and warm pasticciotto.

Day 7: Day 7: Otranto Coastal Splendors & Gallipoli by Ape Calessino

1. Gallipoli
   5h
   Journey to Otranto, Italy’s easternmost city. Visit the Norman Cathedral housing the colossal medieval 'Tree of Life' mosaic floor and the Martyrs' Chapel. Stroll the fortified Aragonese walls overlooking azure sea. Head across the peninsula to Gallipoli on the Ionian coast: exciting open-air tour of the island old town aboard picturesque vintage Ape Calessino three-wheelers, crossing the ancient bridge, Angevin Castle, and baroque alleyways.

Day 8: Day 8: Farewell Puglia & Return Transfer to Bari

1. Bari
   3h
   Relaxed breakfast at the hotel. At 10:00 AM, private group transfer in comfortable minivan back to Bari Central Railway Station and Bari Airport (BRI). Arrival expected around 12:30–13:00 PM for departing flights/trains. End of services.

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness