Puglia & the Heel of Italy

8 days from £1,599

A narrow street in Alberobello lined with whitewashed trulli houses under grey conical roofs, purple flowers along the walls
Trulli of Alberobello
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Suggested Itinerary#

Your itinerary is exclusively yours to tailor to suit your group's interests and profile of your members. Here is our suggested itinerary:

Day 1 - Puglia

Scheduled flight to Italy from your preferred airport – transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the 4* Grand Hotel la Chiusa di Chietri on the outskirts of Alberobello.

Day 2 – Locorotondo, wine tasting & Alberobello

At Locorotondo, perched on a hill overlooking the fertile Valle d’Itria, we visit the beautiful church of Santa Maria della Greca – an included wine tasting at a local winery – guided tour of Alberobello to see the white washed conical shaped trulli houses for which the Puglia region is famous.

Day 3 – Cattedrale di San Nicola Pellegrino in Trani & Castel del Monte

The magnificent Cattedrale di San Nicola Pellegrino in Trani occupies a prominent position next to the clear waters of the Adriatic and has one of the largest crypts in the world – the World Heritage site of Castel del Monte features an unusual octagonal layout and eight equally octagonal towers, built in the 13th century as a monument for Emperor Frederick II.

Day 4 – Matera guided tour & Altamura

A guided tour explores Matera’s Sassi dwellings which are carved out of the rock and are believed to be the best example of cave dwelling in the Mediterranean – Altamura was founded by Frederick II and is home to a magnificent cathedral dating from the 1300’s and the Museo Archeologico housing finds from Neolithic times.

Day 5 – Ostuni guided tour & Martina Franca

Guided tour of delightful Ostuni, stretched over three hilltops and providing extraordinary views with its whitewashed houses standing out against the pink tinged brown of its principal buildings – Martina Franca’s jewel is its picturesque historic centre with a memorable maze of winding alleys, where whitewashed simplicity sits side by side with Baroque extravagance.

Day 6 – Lecce guided tour & included lunch

Guided tour of Baroque architecture in the ‘pink city’ of Lecce and the Roman Amphitheatre – included light buffet lunch in Lecce in an historic palazzo – time to wander at your leisure through the piazzas, market and winding streets or to enjoy the serenity of the 16th century Basilica della Santa Croce.

Day 7 – Grotto di Castellana, Polignano a Mare & farewell dinner

Guided tour of the Grotto di Castellana, a complex of underground limestone caves and caverns estimated to be 50 million years old – Polignano a Mare is dramatically located on top of cliffs overlooking the clear waters of the Adriatic –included farewell dinner for a taste of the typical flavours of Puglia.

Day 8 – Puglia

Transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight back home.

Remember, every element of this itinerary can be adjusted. If you'd like to change the days, add different activities, or adjust the pace, just let us know.

Features#

What's included in this tour is entirely yours to customise to suit your group's budget and preferences. Here is what we've suggested:

  • 4* hotel

  • All excursions & guided tours included

  • Half board accommodation

  • Included lunch in palazzo at Lecce

  • Professional tour manager

  • Scheduled flights to Italy

  • Executive coach in Italy

  • One free place per 10 paying passengers

Tailor your Features#

If you'd like to adjust what's included, perhaps a different hotel standard, more or fewer days, or different excursions, here are some alternatives:

  • For more (or fewer) days

  • Include UK airport coach transfers

  • Bring a specialist lecturer

  • Include all entrance fees & gratuities

  • Visit more (or fewer) sights*

* See Tailor your Sights for suggestions

Sights#

The places your group visits are exclusively yours to decide. Here are the main sights we've suggested:

  • Locorotondo & the church of Santa Maria della Greco

  • Wine tasting

  • Trulli houses of Alberobello - guided tour

  • Cattedrale di San Nicola Pellegrino in Trani

  • Castel del Monte

  • Sassi dwellings at Matera - guided tour

  • Altamura

  • Ostuni - guided tour

  • Martina Franca

  • Pink city’ of Lecce - guided tour & included lunch

  • Limestone caves of Grotto di Castellana - guided tour

  • Coastal village of Polignano a Mare

Tailor your Sights#

If you'd prefer to visit different places, or if you'd like to add extra attractions that match your group's specific interests, here are some more suggestions:

  • Gravina - Frederick II’s hunting lodge and the Monastery of San Sebastiano, famous for its cloisters

  • Pinacoteca de Nittis, Barletta - delightful palazzo housing a wonderful collection of works by the impressionist artist Giuseppe de Nittis who took part in the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874

  • Bari - guided tour takes in the 12th century Cathedral of San Sabino, the Castello Normanno-Svevo built for the Holy Roman emperor Frederick II and the Basilica di San Nicola, housing the remains of St Nicholas stolen from southern Turkey in 1087

  • Trani - the magnificent Cattedrale di San Nicola is home to one of the largest crypts in the world and the Church of Ognissanti was built by the Knights Templar in the 12th century

  • Gioia del Colle - 12th century castle destroyed by William the Wicked of Sicily and then rebuilt in 1230 by Frederick II after his return from the Crusades

  • Bitonto - home to one of Puglia’s most beautiful cathedrals (dated between 1175 and 1200) with a façade that features a richly decorated prothyrum and rose window, while the rest of the old medieval town centre features impressive Renaissance and Baroque buildings

Accommodation#

Where you stay is entirely yours to choose to match your group's preferences. Here is our suggested accommodation:

Seven nights at the 4* Grand Hotel la Chiusa di Chietri. Located 2km from the UNESCO listed historical centre of Alberobello, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar and a swimming pool. Dinner is served in our hotel on the first six evenings and there is a farewell dinner at a Masseria farmhouse on our last night.

Tailor your accommodation#

If you'd prefer different accommodation, perhaps a different hotel standard, location, or basis of accommodation, here are some alternative choices:

  • Stay at a 3* hotel

  • With more (or less) dinners included

Extras#

The costs on top of your tour price can be tailored to suit your group's needs. Here is what we've listed as extras:

  • Single room supplement £159

  • Insurance

  • Entrance fees to places of interest

  • Audio headphones

  • Gratuities

Many of these can be included in the tour price if you'd prefer. For example, we can include entrance fees, gratuities, or audio headphones as part of your overall cost.

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020 7064 4970

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for your group

Tailor your tour

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Puglia & the Heel of Italy

8 days from £1,599 per person

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