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An Immersive Weekend in Puglia

Highlights

  • Experience the beauty of Puglia through the knowledge of your local hosts
  • Enjoy authentic experiences and follow unbeaten paths
  • Cycle through the olive groves and picture perfect countryside
  • Indulge in local cuisine with inspirational flavours from Michelin Chefs, local trattorias and secret street food matriarchs.
From £1056 pp
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What you'll do

Overview

Experience the very best of Puglia in a weekend! Immerse yourself in vibrant and picturesque Puglia with a local as your host. Experience traditional mozzarella making, indulge in delicious local cuisine and cycle through the stunning countryside.

Puglia – land of sun and sea. Endless countryside scattered with centuries old olive trees, baroque cities and white washed towns. Bursting with local tradition, the ultimate food lovers’ paradise!

You’ll be amazed by the extraordinary history, art, culture and traditions of this part of Southern Italy, the heel of Italy’s boot, by the vast picturesque landscape and by superb food and wines.

Experience how fresh cheese is made, indulge in the local cuisine and cycle through the olive groves in the Itria Valley

Arrival

Pick-up at Bari or Brindisi airport and transfer to your hotel in Central Puglia.

Overnight: Monopoli/Fasano

Accommodation: Masseria Salamina

The Masseria, your place of retreat, is a place where the tranquillity of centuries-old Apulian olive trees and lush Mediterranean vegetation meet the secrets of agriculture, creating the perfect setting for your journey between history and relaxation

The grounds offer plenty of grassy, open space for relaxing and a large swimming pool sits nestled among olive trees. The property prides itself on its agricultural tradition, which is maintained today through the organic farm on site which provides produce used in the hotel’s restaurant and champions environmental sustainability.

Cheese-making, Seaside Towns, Winery, Trullo County & “fornello” dinner

Today you will head toward a local dairy for a demonstration of mozzarella and burrata making and chance to taste the delicious freshly made Italian cheese.

Your day continues with a  sightseeing  by ‘ape calessino,’ brimming with personality and Italian style, this eco vehicle’s compact size makes it easy to use on narrow roads and around tight street corners, perfect for  Monopoli, a lively seaside town retaining the charm of a medieval village, with beautiful architecture, traditions, spirituality and folklore. 

We will then take a scenic drive through the gentle hills, to reach a renowned winery and taste a selection of the best local wines, paired with traditional local snacks, right before reaching Alberobello, the World Heritage Site of fairy-tale trulli, traditional dry stone huts with conical roof, typical of this area. Time for browsing the town, and to see the traditional olive tree cooking tools, hand made linen and good-luck terracotta whistles!

Your final destination for tonight’s dinner is Cisternino, the town famous for its barbecuing butchers! All you have to do is choose your meat – maybe the local specialty, bombette, little meat parcels filled with mince, ham and cheese – and take a seat outside with a carafe of local wine. The butcher will then barbecue your chosen goodies and bring them out to you when ready. A truly local (and delicious) eating experience!

Back to your hotel.

Overnight in Monopoli/Fasano.

Cycling the Itria Valley, The White City & Olive Groves

After a thorough bike fit, it’s time to explore Puglia on two wheels!  Your ride begins with a lovely climb into the chic and beautiful hilltop town of Cisternino, where you will enjoy sweeping views of the Itria Valley.  You will have time for a coffee or gelato to recharge your batteries before continuing along the ridge of the Murgia plateau to Ostuni, a stunning white citadel with breathtaking sea views. After lunch on your own, we’ll visit a fascinating olive oil estate to learn about medieval culture and traditions whilst walking through the thousand year old olive groves. The Puglia region has over 50 million olive trees and is the number one producer of extra-virgin olive oil in Italy and the biggest single production region in the world. Then it’s back on the bike to return to your hotel for a relaxing evening and dinner.  

Overnight in Monopoli/Fasano.

Departure

Breakfast followed by a farewell meeting and transfer to Bari/Brindisi airport.

What's included

Included

  • Transfers from/to Bari or Brindisi airport
  • Private car/van throughout the tour
  • A professional local guide throughout your stay
  • 3 nights in 4-5 star hotels with breakfast
  • 3 food and wine tasting in wineries and food manufacturing sites
  • Delicious typical 'fornello' dinner, beverages included (except where indicated)
Your local host

Augusto

Augusto was born and raised in Puglia, sunny South of Italy. After graduating in accountancy, he specialised in International Trade and that was his first approach with foreign people. The experience
proved to be a revelation: realising that he could find a way to sustain a new lifestyle, he qualified as Technical Director of Travel Agency in Bari, where he began working in tourism.

Augusto was born and raised in Puglia, sunny South of Italy. After graduating in accountancy, he specialised in International Trade and that was his first approach with foreign people. The experience
proved to be a revelation: realising that he could find a way to sustain a new lifestyle, he qualified as Technical Director of Travel Agency in Bari, where he began working in tourism.

Augusto image
Sustainability Efforts

What Sustainability Efforts are we Taking?

At Not in the Guidebooks we’re committed to empowering the local communities in Costa Rica. We work closely with the local people and their businesses to make sure that they receive a fair percentage of the money you spend on your holiday there. By partnering with local guides and suppliers, we’re able to create meaningful, authentic experiences that directly benefit the people who call this incredible country home.

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Location

You will be collected from Bari / Brindisi airport and taken to your hotel to settle in.

What our travellers are saying...

This was our second trip to Puglia and we had no hesitation to contact Augusto to arrange our itinerary. He made sure that during the planning stages, each of our interests were taken into consideration. From the moment we stepped off the plane in Bari until it was time to return home, we knew we were in good hands. He knows the area and its history so well that he will give you suggestions for the best hotels, restaurants and shopping and arrang

Rosemary

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