8-Day Private Puglia & Matera Tour: Historic Villages, Caves, and Coastal Charms

Day 1 – ✈️ Arrive in Bari

• • • This tour arrives and departs from Bari Airport (BRI)

    • 🚕 Transfer to Your Trullo in Alberobello
      Arrive at Bari Airport and enjoy a private transfer to Alberobello, where you’ll stay in a traditional trullo house—an iconic, centuries-old stone dwelling unique to Puglia. Your accommodations will have all of the modern facilities and comfort that you have come to expect from Italy4Real.
    • 🏛️ About Trulli Houses
      These distinctive conical homes date back to the 14th century and were originally constructed using dry stone masonry. Built without mortar to avoid heavy property taxes, trulli were designed to be easily dismantled. Now UNESCO-protected, they offer a glimpse into the resourceful architecture of Puglia’s past.
    • 🥾 Afternoon: Alberobello Walking Tour & Mozzarella Tasting
      Join your guide for a private walking tour of Alberobello, where you’ll wander the famous trulli-lined streets. Then, visit a local cheese producer to sample fresh mozzarella, a regional specialty.
    • 🏡 Overnight in Trullo House
      Settle in for a 3-night stay in your charming trullo, immersing yourself in the authentic atmosphere of Puglia.

✈️ Exclusive Airfare Assistance
Airfare isn’t included, but we offer a dedicated service to help our clients find the best routes and rates. Just let us know if you’d like assistance when booking!

Day 2 – 🚐 Full-Day Trip to Grotte di Castellana & Polignano a Mare

• • 🍽️ Morning: Breakfast & Departure
    After breakfast, meet your driver and set off to explore Grotte di Castellana and Polignano a Mare.
  • 🕳️ Explore Castellana Caves
    Begin with a 50-minute guided tour of the Castellana Caves, an impressive underground cave system. Discover stunning stalactites and stalagmites as your guide shares the story behind these natural wonders.
  • 🌅 Scenic Polignano a Mare
    Next, visit Polignano a Mare, a cliffside town with incredible coastal views, hidden grottos, and crystal-clear waters.
  • ⛵ Coastal Boat Tour
    Take a 1.5-hour group boat tour (max 10 people) to see Polignano’s coast and grottos from the sea.
  • ⏳ Free Time & Optional Street Food Tour
    After the boat tour, enjoy free time to explore the town. For food lovers, consider the optional Street Food Tour (2.5 hours), where you can sample Polignano’s local flavors. Just let us know if you’d like to add this when booking!

Day 3 – 🚐 Full-Day Trip to Locorotondo & Ostuni

• • 🍽️ Morning: Breakfast & Departure
    After breakfast, meet your driver for a day exploring Locorotondo and Ostuni with a private car and a 3-hour guided tour of Ostuni featuring local food tastings.
  • 🏛️ Locorotondo’s Unique Charm
    Start with Locorotondo, a peaceful hilltop village arranged in a perfect circle. Stroll its narrow streets lined with white houses, flowering balconies, and cacti—a beautiful scene certified as an Orange Flag site by the Italian Touring Club.
  • 🌿 Discover Ostuni, the White City
    Next, visit Ostuni, known as the “White City” for its striking whitewashed buildings. With your guide, explore the historic center, “la terra”, with winding alleys, quaint staircases, and lively squares lined with local shops.
  • 🍲 Food Tastings & Free Time
    Sample regional flavors during your tour of Ostuni. Then, enjoy free time to explore the town at your own pace, soaking up its unique atmosphere and charm.

Day 4 – 🚐 Transfer to Lecce

• 🏨 Morning: Travel to Lecce
  Depart from your accommodation in the Itria Valley and enjoy a comfortable ride to your hotel in Lecce.
• 🎨 Afternoon: Art & Food Tour of Lecce
  In the afternoon, meet your guide for a 3-hour walking tour through Lecce’s historic streets, often called the “Florence of the South” for its stunning Baroque architecture. Discover the city’s artistic treasures while sampling local specialtiesalong the way, with tastings of regional products that showcase the flavors of Puglia.

Day 5 – 🚐 Full-Day Tour of Salento’s 4 Iconic Towns: Otranto, Leuca, Gallipoli, and Galatina

• 🍽️ Morning: Breakfast & Departure
  After breakfast, meet your driver and guide for an 8-hour tour through the captivating Salento region, where each town offers unique charm, history, and landscapes.
• 🏛️ Galatina: Art & Frescoes
  Begin with Galatina, known for its rich history and artistic heritage. Visit the Basilica of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, home to extraordinary frescoes created by Giotto’s disciples, second only to those in Assisi. Other highlights include the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul and the historic courtyard houses scattered through the town’s charming center.
• 🌅 Otranto: Gateway to the East
  Next, explore Otranto, Italy’s easternmost town and a melting pot of cultures, from Romans to Byzantines. Known as “Porta d’Oriente,” Otranto is filled with landmarks like the Cathedral with its medieval mosaics, the Byzantine Church of Saint Peter, and the imposing Aragonese Castle. The city walls and Pelasgi Bastions offer stunning views over the coast.
• 🌊 Santa Maria di Leuca: At the Tip of Italy
  Journey south to Santa Maria di Leuca, where the Ionian and Adriatic Seas meet. Known for its vibrant landscape and grand architecture, Leuca is home to the Basilica of Santa Maria De Finibus Terrae (the “ends of the earth”). Take in views of the coastline and descend 300 steps to the old port below.
• 🏝️ Gallipoli: Pearl of Salento
  End the day in Gallipoli, with its old city perched on a limestone island connected by a 17th-century bridge. Wander the winding streets filled with Baroque churches, traditional shops, and the impressive Cathedral of St. Agatha. Other landmarks include the Angevine Castle and the Greek Fountain, one of Italy’s oldest fountains.

Return to Lecce in the evening after a day packed with history, culture, and scenic coastal views.

Day 6 – 🚗 Drive to Matera

• 🚕 Morning: Private Transfer to Matera
  Depart from Lecce in a comfortable Mercedes E-Class with your private driver, heading toward the unique landscapes of Matera. Check into your hotel upon arrival, with options like Hotel Sant’ Angelo 4* or Hotel Le Malve Cave Retreat 4* for a distinctive and luxurious stay.
• 🌄 Evening: Guided Tour of Matera
  In the evening, join a 2-hour private tour of Matera’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sassi di Matera. Visit Casa Grotta and the Rupestrian churches, gaining insight into this ancient rock-cut city, which has been inhabited since the Paleolithic era and showcases a unique adaptation to the rugged terrain.
• 🕒 Free Time
  After your tour, enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure to explore Matera’s captivating atmosphere on your own.

Day 7 – 🌄 Full Day Tour: Altamura & Alta Murgia National Park

• 🍽️ Morning: Breakfast & Departure
  After breakfast, meet your driver and guide for a full-day excursion to Altamura and Alta Murgia National Park.
• 🌳 Alta Murgia National Park
  Explore the Alta Murgia National Park, Puglia’s second-largest park, featuring a diverse landscape of forests, grasslands, and rocky plateaus. Highlights include:
  • Mercadante Forest, Pulicchio, and Pulo (the park’s largest sinkhole)
  • Valley of the Dinosaurs, with over 30,000 preserved dinosaur footprints
  • Castel del Monte, one of southern Italy’s most iconic castles
  • Rich Mediterranean vegetation and wildlife, including deer, foxes, owls, and thrushes

  Scattered throughout are historic stone shelters called Jazzi, used to protect animals during cold winters.

• 🏛️ Altamura: History & Bread Tasting
  Continue to Altamura, renowned for its medieval palaces and artistic heritage. Visit one of the city’s oldest bakeries to sample the famous Pane di Altamura (DOP bread). Learn about the care and tradition involved in creating this cherished regional staple.

Return to your hotel in Matera for the evening, enjoying the final night of your stay.

Day 8 – ✈️ Departure from Bari

• 🍽️ Morning: Breakfast & Farewell
  After breakfast, meet your driver for a comfortable transfer from Matera to Bari Airport.
• 🚕 Private Airport Transfer
  Arrive at Bari Airport in time for your flight, bringing your Italian adventure to a close. Safe travels!

Hotel Options for Your Puglia Journey

Fasano Area:

• Borgo Egnazia
  A luxurious resort designed to resemble a traditional Apulian village, featuring elegant rooms, private villas, a world-class spa, and two private beaches.
  Borgo Egnazia
• Masseria Torre Coccaro
  Set in a 16th-century farmhouse, this boutique hotel offers rustic-chic rooms, an Aveda spa, and a private beach club, all amidst ancient olive groves.
  Masseria Torre Coccaro
• Masseria I Pozzetti
  A charming masseria offering authentic Apulian hospitality, with comfortable rooms and a serene atmosphere.

Polignano a Mare:

• Hotel Covo dei Saraceni
  Perched on a cliff overlooking the Adriatic Sea, this hotel provides stunning views, elegant rooms, and a renowned seafood restaurant.

Alberobello:

• Le Alcove
  Experience a stay in traditional trulli houses with modern comforts, located in the heart of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Lecce:

• Hotel Patria Palace
  Housed in an 18th-century palazzo, this hotel combines Baroque elegance with contemporary amenities, situated in Lecce’s historic center.
• Suite Santa Chiara
  A boutique hotel offering stylish rooms and a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of Lecce’s skyline.
• Masseria Luciagiovanni
  A restored farmhouse featuring luxurious rooms, a spa, and a large outdoor pool, blending traditional architecture with modern design.
• Palazzo de Noha
  An elegant boutique hotel set in a historic building, offering personalized service and a rooftop terrace in the heart of Lecce.

Matera:

• Palazzo Gattini
  A luxury hotel located in a historic palazzo, offering refined rooms, a spa, and views of the Sassi di Matera.
• Sant’Angelo Luxury Resort
  Situated within the ancient cave dwellings, this resort provides unique accommodations with modern comforts and a terrace overlooking the Sassi.
• La Casa di Lucio
  Offers rooms and suites carved into the rock, combining the charm of the ancient Sassi with contemporary design.
• Le Dimore dell’Idris
  Features cave rooms with minimalist decor, providing a unique experience in the heart of Matera’s historic district.

Bari:

• Grande Albergo delle Nazioni
  A seafront hotel offering modern rooms, a rooftop pool, and a restaurant with panoramic views of the Adriatic.
• Hotel Leon d’Oro
  Located near Bari’s central station, this hotel provides comfortable accommodations and easy access to the city’s attractions.
• Palace Hotel
  Combines classic elegance with modern facilities, featuring spacious rooms and a rooftop restaurant overlooking Bari’s old town.

Please note that availability may vary. Contact us to tailor your accommodations to your preferences.

Departure Dates

This tour offers flexible, customizable departure dates from January through October each year, allowing you to choose the timing that best fits your schedule. Whether you’re looking for a winter escape, a springtime adventure, or a fall getaway, this tour adapts to your preferred travel season, ensuring you can experience Sicily’s beauty at a time that works best for you. With options available throughout the year, you have the freedom to tailor your trip to your ideal departure time, making it convenient and accessible for all travelers.

Prices

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This is a fully customized tour, meaning you can book it as-is or personalize it to perfectly fit your preferences.

Choose the level of accommodations that suits your style, adjust sightseeing options, and tailor the number of days or budget to match your needs.

Contact us today for a personalized quote and let us design the Italian getaway you’ve been dreaming of!

Click here info@italy4real.com to send us a message about this tour!