Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Puglia
100% customisable for you
Begin your journey with a three-hour flight to Brindisi, a historic port city on the Adriatic Sea. Upon arrival, pick up your hire car and make the short 30-minute journey south to Lecce. Spend the next three nights in a charming boutique hotel, ideally situated for exploring the Salento region of Puglia. Your hotel offers plenty of space for relaxation, within ambling distance of the beautiful Baroque town centre.
Nicknamed the 'Florence of the South', Lecce boasts a magnificent architectural confection of palaces and churches, intricately sculpted from soft local sandstone and adorned with chubby cherubs. Speaking of confection, ice cream is an absolute must here (and you won't have to stroll far to find it, either). Wander down picturesque little lanes, marvel at the fantastical facade of the Basilica di Santa Croce and the remains of several Roman sites on a private guided walking tour of the city.
On your third day, throw back the curtains and, over an authentic Italian espresso, make a tough decision: explore the area's surrounding sandy beaches, including Torre dell' Orso or Porto Cesareo, or explore Puglia's wonderful whitewashed coastal towns and villages, such as Otranto, Gallipoli (not that one) on the Ionian side, or Santa Maria di Leuca at Italy's southernmost tip. Really, you can't go wrong with either option.
The true pleasure (and romance) of any trip to Italy is the time spent exploring quaint towns and villages, with the freedom of setting your own pace on the road.
Today, leave Lecce behind and hit the winding country roads, heading for the outskirts of Bari. Factor in a couple more hours for the journey to stop and test out each little commune's bakery, café, church, piazza, market and trattoria. Locals are very friendly in this part of Italy and far less used to seeing tourists, so you can expect ample amiable interactions. Continuing along the line of the twin coastlines (the Adriatic and Ionian) via Brindisi, you’ll encounter plenty of these villages en route to your destination.
After a day on the road, check into your next hotel – your base for the remainder of your stay in this beautiful region.
Thanks to its pleasant year-round climate, you'll want to spend a decent chunk of your time here enjoying the sand between your toes, the Mediterranean sun on your face and the lingering taste of an aperitif on your lips.
When you’re not chilling out on the beach, why not venture into the hills behind you?
Italy has more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country on earth, and this part of the boot lays claim to a fair few of them. Perhaps the best known is the Valle d'Itria, about a 30-minute drive from your hotel and home to trulli stone dwellings, remarkable examples of mortar-free construction. Enjoy a private guided walking tour around the town of Alberobello, which is characterised by these conical constructions, before heading to a local agricultural farm to learn about the region’s cheese production. Sample specialities of mozzarella, burrata and fior di latte, along with wine, cold meats and traditional bread as you toast to a honeymoon well spent.
All good things must come to an end – including your Italian adventure. Enjoy the sweeping sea views on your final drive up the coast before dropping your hire car off at Bari Airport, where you’ll catch your three-hour flight home.
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
