Adventure with us across the plains of Basilicata and over the rocky terrain of the Murgia, to reach the sun drenched stone houses and sparkling beaches of the Adriatic Sea.   In the extreme south of Italy lie the white villages of Valle d'Itria. Many travelers do not venture this far south and miss out on the magic of this place.  A foodie's dream, Puglia offers the freshest seafood, floral and smokey capocollo from the village of Martina Franca, grano arso (charred grain) pasta from the burning fields of Basilicata, and more hidden culinary treasures.  

For this tour you will book your own accommodations. See our recommendations below. Please contact us for more suggestions if you need to at angela@cicalarestaurant.com.
Monopoli is  a charming and walkable seaside village with loads of adorable properties from self catering apartments, and boutique hotels/b&bs, so there is something for everyone.  You will be right in the historic center and are a short walk to shops, bars, and restaurants.We will meet each day for our excursions, classes, and meals.

SUGGESTED PROPERTIES:

Casa San Leonardo

Mare Meo

Terrazza de Palma

Palazzo Giuditta

Dimora Madina-Manzoni

We will meet you at Napoli Centrale train station and head to Monopoli, stopping for a quick lunch along the way. Check into your accommodations then we'll meet for an aperitivo before dinner in Monopoli. 

Morning free in the village to explore the streets and shops. In the late afternoon we'll visit Alberobello, the ancient trulli settlement and have lunch in the village then dinner in Locorotondo.  

Visit the ancient city of Matera and and discover the ceramic artisans and wood carvers who have been keeping the tradition of hand carving bread stamps alive for centuries.  We will visit the Madonna della Idris ancient church and an original cave house, (The people of Matera lived in the caves of the sassi until the 1950's!)  For digestivo fans, a stop at the Amaro Lucano shop for a tasting is a must, as it is made here.  Lunch together at a trattoria in the heart of the sassi. Dinner on your own tonight in Monopoli.

 Wine tasting and light lunch at the beautiful Tenuta Terre di San Vito. They produce the area's best wine and olive oil and you can buy some to take home, or they will also ship. After lunch we'll hop over to walk the dramatic cliffs of Polignano A Mare with free time to shop or just sit and take it all in. Dinner on your own tonight.

Spend the morning at a beach club and take in the Italian sunshine. Drinks and lunch are available on site too. Not a sun worshipper? Set yourself on a comfy lounge chair under a swaying palm umbrella with a cool drink in hand. There is also an onsite restaurant to have lunch.  In the late afternoon we'll have an

aperitivo get-together with a professional make up artist who will get you ready for tonight! Grab your cutest outfit and head out for an evening under the stars. Progressive street food dinner together tonight.

​

Spend the day in the olive groves at a local's farmhouse learning to make a variety of Italian summer cocktails and panzarotti, a beloved street food go Puglia. This is a hands on class with recipes to keep. Dinner together tonight in Ostuni.

Lecce is known for it's Baroque architechture, but it is also home to some of the prettiest boutiques in Puglia. Shops are full of hand stitched bags, bright and airy fabrics, pottery, and vintage too. Try Lecce's specialty pasta sagne 'ncannuate, (a curly semolina tagliatelle dressed with tomato and aged ricotta), and caffe Leccese, an iced coffee with almond milk. On a warm day, ask for it shaken in the form of a shakerato with a pasticiotto, a local short crust pastry filled with sweet cream and amarena cherry. Dinner together in Monopoli. ​

WE WILL TAKE EVERYONE BACK TO NAPLES AIRPORT OR TRAIN STATION AS NEEDED AFTER CHECK OUT.   IF YOU NEED TO FLY ON THE LAST DAY OF THE TOUR, PLEASE KEEP IN MIND TRAVEL TIME IS ABOUT 3 HOURS TO GET BACK TO NAPLES.  YOU SHOULD ARRIVE FOR AN INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT AT LEAST 3 HOURS BEFORE YOUR SCHEDULED DEPARTURE TIME. 

WE SUGGEST EITHER BOOKING A LATE AFTERNOON FLIGHT HOME OR STAYING IN NAPLES ON JUNE 29 TO ENSURE AN EASY TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT THE NEXT DAY.