Sample Itinerary

• Day 1

  Arrival to Bari or Brindisi Airport where you will be greeted by your private chauffeur and transported to La Citta’ Bianca (the “White City”) of Ostuni. Arrive at your five-star hotel perched upon the highest point of the old city before enjoying some free time to relax after your journey. In the evening, indulge in a gourmet dinner of regional dishes from Puglia reinterpreted with a contemporary twist, at your hotel’s acclaimed restaurant.

• Day 2

  Begin your day of gastronomical discovery at an authentic masseria (country house), where you’ll tour its underground olive oil mill and olive groves before tasting estate produced extra virgin olive oil. Afterward, your chauffeur will transport you to a Michelin-starred lunch at a family owned eatery known for its culinary reverence to local ingredients and Apulian cuisine. In the afternoon embark on a privately guided walking tour of Ostuni’s quintessential whitewashed architecture, aristocratic palazzos and ancient fortified walls that date back to the Messapians.

• Day 3

  In the morning you will travel by chauffeur to a local cheese farm that specializes in production of burrata and mozzarella cheeses. After a tasting of their freshly made cheeses depart for the beautiful town of Martina Franca for a privately guided walking tour of the city’s most revered Baroque sites. When your walking tour has concluded, your chauffeur will transport you to a working farm located in the countryside to enjoy a lunch prepared with farm produced ingredients including olive oil, jams and artisanal liqueurs. After lunch you’ll return to Ostuni for a free evening.

• Day 4

  Depart by private chauffeur for the “Florence of the South,” Lecce for arrival to your five-star historic palazzo hotel located in the city’s Baroque center. After settling-in be met by your local guide and depart on a privately guided walking tour of Lecce to uncover its Baroque treasures while learning about its Roman past. During your private walking tour you’ll visit Lecce’s historic core including the city’s Baroque Piazza del Duomo and Roman amphitheater dating back to the 2nd century. Stop for lunch at a lovely trattoria in the center of town and favored by the locals, before enjoying the rest of the day at your leisure.

• Day 5

  Delight in a full-day immersion into the culinary landscape of Puglia under the tutelage of a local culinary expert. Begin by visiting a local farmer’s market to explore its artisanal products and local ingredients, before gathering all of the ingredients you’ll be using throughout your day of cooking. After the market, set-off for the culinary school where you’ll learn how to prepare signature regional dishes, such as orecchiette pasta. Enjoy a lunch break to dine on your creations before continuing your cooking lesson in the afternoon, and culminating with a special dinner hosted in a charming wine cellar.

• Day 6

  Depart Lecce by private chauffeur for Manduria, the capital of Primitivo DOCG and Negroamaro wine country, for an exclusive tasting at an acclaimed wine producer followed by lunch. After your tasting and lunch, you will depart for check-in to your luxurious countryside masseria before touring its lush vineyards and olive groves. In the evening dine on classic countryside dishes prepared with estate produced olive oil and seasonal ingredients, paired alongside regional wines.

• Day 7

  Be greeted by your local guide and depart by chauffeur for the ancient seaside town of Gallipoli nestled along the Ionian sea. Upon arrival you will embark on a cultural walking tour of the city that includes a unique visit to Gallipoli’s famous fish market. Your walking tour will culminate with a special seafood lunch where you’ll savor typical dishes of the area, such as scapèce fried blue fish. You will spend the rest of the afternoon discovering the quaint seaside villages that dot the coastline of the Ionian sea by private chauffeur, before returning to your hotel for the evening.

• Day 8

  Depart by chauffeur for the ancient city of Matera, located in the region of Basilicata, for check-in to your 18th century palazzo turned five-star hotel nestled in the historical center of town. Upon arrival enjoy a lunch of typical dishes from Basilicata in an ancient taverna before being welcomed by your local guide and departing on a private walking tour of Matera’s iconic Sassi, ancient stone dwellings carved into rock, considered to be the first human settlements in Italy and inhabited for generations.

• Day 9

  In the morning your chauffeur will transport you to the town of Altamura, known as the bread capital of Southern Italy, for an intriguing exploration of the city’s premier bakeries to learn the art of traditional bread-making. Afterward you’ll depart for a local winery, acclaimed for its small batch production of Castel Del Monte Rosso Riserva, where you’ll enjoy a visit and tasting. When your tasting concludes depart for the historic town of Andria for lunch in the city’s lovely center before returning to Matera in the afternoon. In the evening enjoy a special dinner at a charming eatery housed within an actual Sasso.

• Day 10

  Spend the day at the home of a local food expert who will introduce you to the flavors of Basilicata with a hands-on cooking lesson using local ingredients and freshly picked produce. Your cooking experience will culminate in a multi-course meal of the specialties you’ve prepared alongside regional wine.

• Day 11

  Depart Matera by private chauffeur for Bari or Brindisi airport for departure or the next leg of your trip.