Eating Your Way through Puglia

Bari, in Italy, is the capital of the Puglia region. Plan to arrive there by train or air, in the morning. A driver will pick you up at the airport. If you'd prefer to arrive early and shake off the jet lag, we can recommend several Bari hotels for a pleasant and comfortable stay. 

Our van will take us to the ancient town of Conversano for our first cooking class. We're about to prepare a local pasta called “orecchiette” (“small ears”). We'll savor the fruits of our labor for lunch. 

In the afternoon, we're off on a guided tour of Conversano. The town has existed since the Iron Age, and you're about to discover a legendary castle, monastery, and cathedral. 

Next, we'll drive to Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage town. It is famous for its iconic “trulli,” conically shaped Apulian houses. We're staying at an authentic Trulli resort, away from the touristy streets. Dinner is at a local restaurant not far from the hotel.

After breakfast at our Trulli hotel, we'll take a guided tour of Alberobello. Here, we'll walk the narrow streets between the cone-shaped trulli houses, breathing in the distinctive atmosphere. We'll have time to stop at small shops to browse for local products and souvenirs. 

Today, we'll savor lunch in a traditional trattoria, followed by a tour of Locorotondo. It's one of the most beautiful, whitewashed towns in the Itria Valley. We'll walk through ancient olive groves at an organic olive farm. Take the time to savor the delicious, extra-virgin olive oil produced here. 

Later, we'll dine at Braceria Pietranuda. The restaurant boasts a lovely stone vaulted dining space and a tree-lined patio. They specialize in steaks made from local organic meat. 

Having eaten our fill, we'll return to Alberobello for a relaxing night.

Today, after breakfast, we'll check out of the Palazzo Hotel and head to Matera, one of the most distinctive cities in Italy. We'll stop in Altamura, a hill town known for its traditional durum wheat bread – “pane di Altamura.” Here, we'll visit a legendary local bakery to discover how the local bread is made and savor fresh creations. Bread produced here is a designated protected designation of origin (PDO).

Lunch today is on your own - choices abound. 

After lunch, we'll continue our drive to the extraordinary hillside town of Sassi di Matera, a UNESCO Heritage site known for its ancient cave dwellings. It is thought that the first human Italian settlements originated here. 

We'll enjoy the unique experience of staying in a cave hotel for the next two nights, dine at Baccanti Ristorante, and discover underground cave dining. 

Prepare for full immersion into this ancient and extraordinary destination. We have the pleasure of spending two nights at Sant'Angelo Luxury Resort. 

This morning, we’ll explore the fascinating Matera archaeology and landscapes with its caves, grottos, and natural ravines. We'll also visit some of the Rupestrian Churches, built into the caves of the Murgia, a large limestone plateau. 

In the afternoon, you'll enjoy a culinary cooking experience at a nearby Masseria, a traditional stone farmhouse. You'll learn to prepare (two) Matera authentic dishes, like fresh pasta with beef ragu or fresh spaghetti with capers and olives. Other favorites include spinach and ricotta puff pastry, asparagus with eggs, roast chicken and potatoes, creamy panna cotta, or homemade “panzerotti." The choices abound. Tonight, we'll feast on these culinary creations for dinner. 

After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and drive to Ostuni. We'll explore the “white city” named for its whitewashed hilltop houses overlooking the sea. Gaze in awe at the breathtaking valley and coastal views. 

Today, we'll savor a gourmet lunch at the Osteria Cattedrale. 

This afternoon, we'll take a leisurely drive into the countryside. We'll spend the rest of the day relaxing at an ancient farmhouse, “Masseria,” where culture and tradition mingle with modernity. 

Dinner is cooked exclusively from excellent raw materials, like durum wheat, tomatoes, artichokes, fava beans, rocket, fennel, peppers, onions, beef, and lamb, all processed as little as possible to retain their natural flavors and nutrients.             

We'll lay our heads down in Ostuni at the Masseria il Frantoio, where we'll stay for the next two nights.

We'll dedicate today to exploring the beautiful Baroque town of Lecce, the “Florence of the South.” We'll take a guided tour of the historical center, visit a paper-mache artesian shop, and taste local street food, like crispy pizza with melting cheese or homemade meatballs with sauce.  

In the afternoon, we'll delight in a local wine tour. We'll visit the cellars and vineyards and, of course, taste the rich and traditional local wines. 

After a busy day, we'll head to Ostuni for a light meal and a peaceful rest.

After breakfast and check out, we'll move to the last destination of our Apulian trip – Polignano a Mare. The town is perched atop dramatic limestone cliffs. This stunning location was the inspiration for Domenico Modugno's song “Nel blu dipinto di blu" - known in English as Volaré!  

We'll stroll around and admire the breathtaking views from the Terrace of Santo Stefano. Then, we'll enjoy our final lunch together at Terrazze Monachile and gaze at the panoramic view of the cliffs, white-washed houses, and the beautiful Adriatic Sea.

We'll make our way back to Bari in the afternoon. We should arrive at around 4:30 pm and say our sad goodbyes. Take a late flight home or stay in Bari for the night at our recommended hotel, Vis Urban Suites, and fly out the next day.