Day 1 – ARRIVE IN BARI

Arrive at Bari Airport and transfer to your hotel/trullo. Private afternoon walking tour of Alberobello with a cheese producer w/mozzarella tasting.

Day 2 – FD trip from Valle d’Itria: GROTTE DI CASTELLANA & POLIGNANO A MARE

Breakfast at the hotel. Today meet your driver at the hotel for an excursion to Grotte di Castellana & Polignano a Mare. First stop to Castellana Caves for a 50-minute visit (partial itinerary). The Grotte di Castellana is a subterranean cave system hidden deep within the countryside outside Bari. On this adventurous half-day tour, reach Castellana with ease by minivan from Bari and delve deep underground to see the best of the cave system with your guide. Marvel at mighty stalactites and stalagmites and learn the history of the caves. After heading to Polignano a Mare is a small-town cast on high cliffs, sporting a breathtaking panorama over the Apulian coast: the many balconies perching over the seas offers a spectacular view over natural grottos and small coves surrounded by crystal clear water. Group Boat Tour in Polignano (1,5-hr max 10 pax) + free time to visit the town at your own peace

 ** (alternative) Street Food Tour: Flavors of Polignano a mare (2,5-hr) – it can either be AM or PM

Day 3 – FD trip from Valle d’Itria: LOCOROTONDO & OSTUNI

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning meets your driver for your full day excursion with FD car at disposal and 3-hr private guided tour of Ostuni with food tastings. Locorotondo as the word itself says, Locorotondo has a round shape. The quiet hamlet perched on a rise is made up of small white brick houses with pointed, sloping roofs, evoking the appearance of a northern European village. Arranged in a circular fashion around the center, the small houses are surrounded by the famous balcony, the so-called \’promenade\’, whose name should not be misleading because it is in the middle of the hills. Strolling through the alleyways of this village certified Orange Flag by the Italian Touring Club is a bucolic experience, made up of continuous glimpses to be photographed: wrought-iron balconies in bloom, cacti arranged at the corners, painted stairs and doors, and laundry hung out in the sun. Ostuni, a picturesque town to be experienced. Known as the “White City”. Ostuni boasts a wonderful medieval village, rich with alleys and whitewashed houses, which recalls an oriental landscape. You will have free time to visit the old town center, called “la terra” (“the land”), characterized by alleys, sloping stairs, courtyards and small squares, where whitewashed houses, craft shops and typical small shops appear.

Day 4 – Transfer from Accommodation in Itria Valley – Hotel in Lecce

Arrive at your Hotel in Lecce via a comfortable vehicle. Today afternoon meet your guide for 3 hours walking art & food tour of Lecce with tasting of local products.

Day 5 – Full day from LECCE: Tour to 4 Towns of Salento: Otranto, Leuca, Gallipoli and Galatina.

After breakfast meet your driver and guide for a full day tour to the Salento region (8 hours). Galatina, a real gem of art, history and traditions. Of extraordinary beauty is the Basilica of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, second only to the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi for the presence of many frescoes inside, which were created by Giotto’s disciples. Other monuments to visit are the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, and the ancient “courtyard houses” and the buildings situated in the historical center. Otranto is Italy’s easternmost town and is well-known as “Porta d’Oriente” (literally, “Door to the Orient”) The town of Otranto is full of history, and every corner highlights the passage of different civilizations, including the Romans, the Byzantines, the Ottomans and the Aragoneses. The splendid Cathedral, the Church of Saint Peter in perfect Byzantium style, the Castle, the Towers, the mighty Pelasgi Bastions and the Walls that surrounded the whole of the ancient city make Otranto one of the most interesting cultural destinations in South Italy. Santa Maria di Leuca sits on the southernmost tip of the Salentine peninsula, bathed by two seas, the Ionian Sea to the west and the Adriatic Sea to the east. Santa Maria di Leuca is a tourist center famous for its colorful natural landscape that blends in with its majestic architecture. Located on the Japigo promontory is the Basilica of Santa Maria De Finibus Terrae (at the ends of the earth). From the Basilica you can reach the old port on foot via two ramps of 300 steps each. Gallipoli is considered the pearl of Salento: This Greek city can be divided into two areas: the old city and the new village, where the tourist facilities and modern buildings arise. The old part of the city is located on a limestone island connected to the mainland by a 17th century bridge. It is surrounded by defensive walls built mainly in the 14th century. It is characterized by a labyrinthine weave of narrow streets, home to traditional shops of local handicrafts, numerous impressive Baroque churches and aristocratic palazzi. Also worth seeing are the Cathedral dedicated to St. Agatha, one of the best examples of Baroque in Salento, the Angevine Castle built in the 13th century and the Greek Fountain, one of the oldest fountains in Italy.

Day 6 – DRIVE TO MATERA

Depart from Lecce and arrive at the Hotel in Matera, transfer by a comfortable Mercedes e-class. In the evening, 2-hr private guided tour of Matera including entrance tickets to Casa Grotta & Rupestrian churches. Matera including the entrance fees to Casa Grotta Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Sassi di Matera and discover an outstanding example of a rock-cut settlement perfectly adapted to the terrain and eco-system. Located in historic Matera, the former capital of Basilicata, the Sassi provide a glimpse into the ancient people of a region that has been inhabited since Paleolithic times Rest of the day at leisure to explore on your own.

Day 7 – Full day: Altamura & Alta Murgia National Park

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning meet your driver and guide for a full day excursion to Altamura & Alta Murgia National Park. The Alta Murgia national park is a plateau located inland of Puglia. It is the second largest park of Puglia after the Gargano national park. Of particular interest in this park are the areas of the Mercadante Forest, the Pulicchio, the Pulo, the Dolina (largest sinkhole in the park), the valley of the dinosaurs, where in a disused quarry there are more than 30,000 dinosaur footprints, the ravines and the Bosco di Difesa Grande. Part of the park is also one of the most famous castles of Puglia and southern Italy: Castel del Monte. The landscape of the park consists of high hills and valleys with vegetation profoundly transformed by man during different historical periods. It is a habitat made of thick forests, grasslands and rocky formations with cypress and pine trees typical of the area. There are also fragno, oak, holm and farnetto trees. The area is very rich in Mediterranean vegetation with the myrtle and the hawthorn. Wild animals living in the area include deer, hares, squirrels, foxes and badgers. There are also reptiles such as the Cervone snake and the snake with the collar. Among the birds, thrushes, nightingales, blackbirds, the tawny owl, the magpie, the wild dove and the owl. Scattered throughout the area there are stone buildings, called ‘Jazzi’, which were ones used to protect animals during the harsh winter nights. Back at the hotel and overnight. On this tour to Altamura, you will see the ancient palaces and artistic treasures of Altamura, many of them dating back to medieval times. Altamura is famous for its DOP bread, better known as Pane di Altamura. Visit one of the oldest bakeries in the city for an exclusive bread tasting. Learn about the meticulousness and the attention that local manufacturers dedicate to the entire process of its realization

Day 8 – Transfer from Matera to Bari APT

After breakfast your driver will take you to Bari Airport in time to board your flight.

Contact Us at 800-621-2259 or info@tourcrafters.com to book today!

*Package descriptions and pricing are subject to change without notice.