BOOKING INFORMATION
October 26 - November 04, 2022
Land Only $3,745 based on double occupancy
Single supplement: $445.
Guaranteed Departure
DOWNLOAD PDF OF ITINERARY
*If the tour is SOLD OUT, please contact us to be added to the waitlist.
Wednesday, October 26 – Friday, November 4, 2022
Join tour host Lori Chisholm on this foodie and cultural adventure to the “heel of the boot” where orecchiette pasta and primitivo wine rule the food menu and trulli houses and expansive olive groves rule the landscape. The enchanting ‘white city’ of Ostuni will be our first home base and from there we’ll move to ‘Florence of the south’, the baroque city of Lecce. Matera, Locorotondo, Grottaglie, Martina Franca and Alberobello – all are on our agenda for their beauty, their architecture or their special cuisines. Walking and food tours, artisan visits, winery and farm visits, and a cooking class are all part of the package in this as yet under-touristed region of Italia. Max. 11 guests.
Guaranteed Departure
Tour Cost - LAND ONLY $ 3745.00 CAD per person sharing twin accommodation Single supplement $ 445.00 CAD
B = breakfast, L = lunch, T = tastings, D = dinner
PROPOSED ITINERARY (subject to change)
October 26 - November 04, 2022
Single supplement: $445.
DOWNLOAD PDF OF ITINERARY
*If the tour is SOLD OUT, please contact us to be added to the waitlist.
Check in to Ostuni’s beautiful, 4-star Hotel La Terra (http://www.laterrahotel.it/en/home-en) in time to freshen up before welcome cocktails followed by our first group dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Ostuni.
This morning after breakfast, we’ll meet our local guide for a walking tour of Ostuni. Then, wine will become the focus for the afternoon as we enjoy a private tour and tasting at a local organic winery followed by a light lunch. Overnight Ostuni.
An 18th century masseria will be our first destination after breakfast today as we are going to see both modern and traditional techniques for olive oil production. Of course, tasting the oil will be a highlight! Then, we’ll have a private lunch in an ancient delicatessen in Alberobello followed by a tour of this astonishing trulli community. Overnight Ostuni.
It’s pasta day! We’re going to learn straight from a nonna how to make the signature pasta shapes of this region. We’ll lunch on what we’ve made with a little local wine, then head off for a tour/walkabout of Locorotondo, a lovely little town sitting high on the Valle D’Itria landscape. Overnight Ostuni.
Day at leisure.
After breakfast and checkout, we’ll head south through the countryside to the gorgeous Baroque town Lecce stopping for a sensory wine tasting and light lunch on the way. We’ll check into the Suite Hotel Santa Chiara (https://www.santachiaralecce.it/) with its location just steps from the cathedral. Tonight, we’ll have a group dinner in a local trattoria. Overnight Lecce.
Like so many cities in Italy, Lecce has its own particular food specialties. Later in the morning, we’ll sample a number of these today during a city walking tour with our local guide, Antonella. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening but get your bags packed for tomorrow! Overnight Lecce.
After breakfast and checkout, we head northwest a bit to Grottaglie, the Puglian centre for ceramics. We will observe some local artists (perhaps shop a wee bit!), enjoy a light lunch and move on to Matera in the province of Basilicata. Matera has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was the 2019 European Capital of Culture. We’ll have a historical walking tour of the fascinating sassi, ancient cave dwellings still inhabited today. Then we’ll check in to our stunning cave hotel complete with its own winery (http://ilpalazzottomatera.it/) . I’ll leave you on your own to enjoy the hotel experience, then we’ll gather for a cocktail followed by our farewell dinner in a great ristorante. Overnight Matera.
After breakfast, our final transfer will be a quick trip to Bari, the capital of Puglia and a transportation hub. You can be dropped at the train station or the airport.
• 9 nights’ accommodation in 4 star, centrally-located hotels • 9 breakfasts • Local city taxes • Welcome cocktail, farewell cocktail • Welcome dinner and farewell dinner, both with wine, water and coffee • Group dinner Lecce • 7 lunches • winery visit with tour and tasting • 3 farm/production visits with tours and/or tastings • Nonna cooking experience with lunch • 5 city walking tours with local guides • 1 food/city tour with local guide • All ground transportation by private coach/minivan from start (Ostuni) to end of tour (Bari) • Guide and driver gratuities • Dedicated tour leader throughout
• Items of a personal nature • Air transportation and taxes • Ground transportation to Ostuni from airport or train station • Beverages with meals unless stated in the itinerary • Insurance: please call the Pauwels Travel office for information
