ACTIVITY LEVEL: Low

Join Continental DRIFTER® Founder and veteran tour organizer Ralph Velasco for a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience to the Puglia region of Italy. 

Enjoy a week exploring the “heel of the boot.”

Our Postcard Puglia experience is meant to provide a deep dive into a lesser-known region of Italy, Apulia, a.k.a. Puglia. 

Often referred to as “the heel of the boot,” Puglia is a part of Italy with stunning scenery, gorgeous cities, quaint villages, miles and miles of rugged coastline, and vast agricultural lands rich in olive oil production accounting for, by some estimates, up to 40 percent of Italy’s overall output.

During this experience, you’ll enjoy 7 nights at a private agriturismo owned and operated by an Italian-American woman named Giulia who can’t wait to welcome our group.  Giulia oversees a unique property where she’s created an atmosphere of peaceful tranquility complete with a private chef who cooks only with locally-sourced, farm-to-table ingredients (we even have an included cooking class/demonstration while there).

There’ll also be an opportunity to schedule optional spa treatments and a yoga class right on the property (you'll want to make appointments on arrival), as well as have access to a limited number of bikes provided free during your stay.

Lecce, Gallipoli, Santa Maria al Bagno & Alberobello

Other activities include visits to the nearby seaside at Santa Maria al Bagno and Gallipoli, a day trip to Alberobello with its ancient trulli, or unique stone huts with distinctive conical roofs.  We’ll also visit the nearby town of Lecce, referred to as the “Florence of the South,” and you’ll see why.

There’ll be wine tasting, cheese sampling, ample opportunities for moderate walking and short, mostly level hikes, and simply time to enjoy the property’s facilities, including a large pool, several outdoor seating areas, an olive grove and other beautiful gardens.  You can certainly spend your free time relaxing, reading a book, taking in the Apulian sun, having a coffee or a cocktail, sipping a glass of local wine and more.

This customized experience was carefully designed by Ralph and Giulia with our Alla Campagna guests in mind, and it’s only open to a limited number of participants (single rooms may be strictly limited and are available only on a first-come, first-served basis).

Join us in Postcard Puglia for the experience of a lifetime, one you won’t soon forget!

We’ll be staying in a privately owned agriturismo. This property has just 6 simple but ample rooms, each is air-conditioned and has its own private bathroom.

The 5-acre property also has a large pool, several outdoor sitting areas, plenty of grounds to walk and enjoy, plus an incredible chef for occasional on-site meals, including an unforgettable “brunch” that will be served each and every morning of your stay.  Activities include optional yoga, wellness and massage services, as well as a limited number of bikes available for free to ride in the surrounding area.

Located in Nardò, the property also has a lovely garden and several terraces.

Free WiFi is available for all guests and each unit features a daily supply of bottled water.

An ample Italian breakfast (aka “brunch”) is served every morning at the property.

"Visiting Puglia and the beautiful cities there was a great experience that gave me a new perspective on Italy.  I loved the area and especially enjoyed seeing and walking around the old streets of Nardò, Lecce, and Gallipoli.  Staying at The Aia, a unique hotel, made for an enjoyable trip.  Giulia, Cosimo, and the entire staff were wonderful.  Giulia is a delightful, very personable, and knowledgeable guide.  Cosimo is a fantastic and friendly chef whose meals are out of this world.  I would particularly recommend the trip for those who are interested in going to another part of Italy and are looking for a low-key and relaxing tour.  The Aia was beautiful and I loved staying there.  The accommodations are both excellent and rustic." ~ Ron S. (US)

“A wonderful place to stay. Near Nardò and close to the beach too. A lovely pool nestled amongst an olive grove. We loved the breakfast with fresh local ingredients. Giulia is a fantastic host. We will be back ”  ~ Sarah (UK)

“It is a fantastic place if you want to get away from the hectic city life, enjoy the silence and see the stars at night. A great place to relax with a very friendly host, highly recommended! ”  ~ Alessia (UK)

“Giulia – the owner – is a very kind person and present there everyday. – Very nice pool – Quiet and relaxing – Nice garden”  ~ Sorin (Romania)

Lecce is 19 miles away, while Gallipoli is 12 miles from the property.

Brindisi Airport (BDS) is where you’ll likely want to fly in and out and it’s located approximately 1 hour from the property.  In order to have maximum freedom during your trip you may like to rent a car which can easily be arranged in advance and picked up and dropped off at the airport, but private airport transfers are also available for an additional fee of 80 euros per car (2 – 3 pax max) and can be arranged in advance.

The owner is almost always available and is a native English speaker who can help you to navigate the region.

The word “agriturismo” is a combination of the Italian words agricoltura (agriculture) and turismo (tourism), and they’re designed to receive guests, whether for food, holiday accommodation, or a combination of the two and are often working farms.  Ours, of course, provides both food and accommodation, although it’s important to note that in order to provide variety and get to know the surrounding area some meals have been arranged for the group outside of the property.

Our stay promises to be a truly unforgettable experience.

According to Google, “Puglia, a southern region forming the heel of Italy’s ‘boot,’ is known for its whitewashed hill towns, centuries-old farmland and hundreds of kilometers of coastline. Capital Bari is a vibrant port and university town, while Lecce is known as ‘Florence of the South’ for its baroque architecture. Alberobello and the Itria Valley are home to ‘trulli,’ stone huts with distinctive conical roofs.”

Population: 4.029 million (2019) Eurostat, Trending

Area: 7,545 mi²

Capital: Bari

ALL ACTIVITIES, LOCATIONS, DAYS, AND TIMING ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Most meals are included and B = Brunch, L = Lunch and D = Dinner

Items mentioned in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS are included in your fee for this experience.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You’ll want to wear good, sturdy walking shoes throughout this experience as the property where we're staying and the towns and villages we'll be visiting are often made up of hilly terrain, sometimes with many stairs, inclines, declines and at times gravel and occasionally rough dirt and stone paths.

If you are even slightly unsure of your walking capability in these conditions it’s HIGHLY recommended that you purchase a quality set of telescoping walking sticks at your local outdoor supply store or online before arriving in Italy.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

We are requiring that all participants purchase Travel Insurance to protect their investment in this trip and to cover for all health and travel contingencies before and during their stay.  Please purchase the most comprehensive policy that is right for your needs, and know that we will require Proof of Coverage later, during the registration process.

Please consider using SquareMouth, a travel insurance comparison site to find the best insurance for your situation.

Another site that comes highly recommended is Allianz Travel Insurance.