Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Italy - Puglia - Fasano - Matera - Lecce
100% customisable for you
Rise and shine, your southern Italian adventure begins today. Grab your passports, head to the airport and relax in the lounge before boarding your speedy three-hour flight to Bari, the capital of the Puglia region.
Upon arrival, collect your hire car and drive to Savelletri di Fasano, a charming coastal hamlet set among the ochre hues of Puglia and the gentle waters of the Adriatic Sea. You’ll be staying here for the next three nights, so check in and venture out to find some delicious Puglian food for dinner – your Concierge will be on hand for some local recommendations. Once you’re suitably stuffed, retire to your hotel room for a good night’s sleep, ready for the real exploring to begin tomorrow.
Your first full day in Puglia is all about the finer things in life: namely good food and even better wine. It’s a truth universally acknowledged that Italy is home to some of the best food in the world, and Puglia is renowned for its wide variety of pastas and delicious baked goods. This morning, we’ve arranged for you to sample the local fare during a private cooking course at a traditional masseria (Italian farmhouse).
Your cooking experience will begin in the masseria’s vegetable garden, where you’ll pick a variety of seasonal produce before joining the chef in the kitchen to cook a traditional recipe with your gathered ingredients. After taking the time to perfect your dishes, you’ll have the chance to sample them, alongside some regional wines. Saude!
This morning, enjoy an authentic cappuccino at your hotel before heading out to explore Ostuni. Nicknamed the White City (or ‘Citta Bianca’) in honour of its whitewashed old town, Ostuni is a short 30-minute drive from Savelletri and boasts cobbled alleyways, old houses and a 15th-century Gothic white stone cathedral.
Explore Ostuni’s architectural highlights alongside an expert guide, learning all about the town’s history along the way. After being shown around the cathedral, enjoy an olive oil tasting (yum) at another traditional masseria. In between tastings, you’ll see the original oil mill in operation and learn about the olive oil production process, which is integral to Puglian cooking.
This morning, enjoy a final leisurely breakfast at your hotel before hopping in your hire car for the one-and-a-half-hour drive to Matera. This pretty town is best known for the fascinating cave dwellings carved into its limestone cliffs. Used as homes for local families up until the 1950s, the caves have since been designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites after intense restoration work. Alongside these former homes are rock churches (chiese rupestri), many of which are open to the public and decorated with ornate Byzantine frescoes.
You’ll stay here for the next two nights, so drop off your bags and head out into the town to explore. The rest of the day is yours for the taking – you can either explore independently (stopping for an aperitivo along the way, of course), or we can arrange a walking tour of the town with a private guide, which includes visits to the most significant sites and the Sassi caves.
Today, it’s time to say arrivederci to Matera and ciao to Lecce. The drive is about two hours, so press play on our expertly curated Puglia playlist and hit the road.
Located further into the ‘heel of Italy’s boot’, Lecce is known for its Baroque-style buildings and Roman amphitheatre. Check into your hotel and spend the afternoon admiring the architecture in the centre, including the central Piazza del Duomo, the Cattedrale di Lecce and the Basilica di Santa Croce.
Come evening, sample some of Lecce’s tasty cuisine at a local osteria before heading back to your hotel, ready for another day of exploring tomorrow.
Today, delve further into the history and culture of the ‘heel of Italy’s boot’, heading southwest of Lecce to the coastal town of Gallipoli. This pretty stretch of coast is a historically important fishing town, and fishermen can be seen sitting in the shade mending their nets. To learn more about Gallipoli’s history, tour the town with a local guide before enjoying some delicious fresh fish for lunch from the nearby market.
From Gallipoli, it’s on to Santa Maria di Leuca, home to whitewashed villas adorned with bright blue details. The final stop on your tour is Otranto, another charming seaside town, where you’ll be spending the night. Enjoy a delightful final day overlooking the sparkling Mediterranean Sea – there's no better way to round off your Italian adventure.
Sadly, your southern Italian adventure comes to an end today. After one final indulgent breakfast (make sure to grab as many Puglian pastries as possible), drive to Brindisi Airport and return your hire car. Finally, board your flight for the short three-hour journey home, full of tales of Puglia’s rich culture (and even richer cuisine).
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
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
