Day 1: ARRIVAL IN PUGLIA – BARI

Meeting with the private driver and guide at the Bari Palese Airport. Visit of Bari the capital of the region, divided between the elegant Murat district and the hypnotic old city. The ancient area is dominated by the magnificent Norman-Swabian Castle designed by King Roger II and later fortified by Frederick II of Swabia. Along the ancient streets, you can see the Romanesque Cathedral of San Sabino and the majestic Basilica of San Nicola, both considered the core of the city. Being in these places is like living in a Qasba because of its walls that will surround us and its many markets. In the Murat district, outside of the old town, we find many different and important streets and palaces such as the Petruzzelli, Piccinni, and Margherita theatres, the Fizzarotti and Government Palaces and the Town Hall. Bari is also a city rich in gastronomic traditions. You will take part in the life of the city, tasting its typical food. You will find stalls and kiosks where you can taste fried polenta (sgagliozze), the typical focaccia barese, panzerotti (a closed fried pizza stuffed with mozzarella and tomato) and Beer. Arrival at the hotel, accommodation in the area of Bari. Free dinner. Check-in and overnight at the hotel in Bari

Day 2: CATHEDRALS & CASTLES: TRANI – CASTEL DEL MONTE

Breakfast in the hotel, meeting with the private driver and guide and departure for Trani, a magnificent seaside town in the north of Bari. Visit of its Cathedral, symbol of the Romanesque Pugliese, and the Castle built by Frederick II of Svevia. “Moscato di Trani” liqueur tasting. Lunch in a typical Hosteria In the afternoon visit of Castel del Monte (UNESCO site), to the mysterious Ottagonal Castle designed by Frederick II and reproduced on one cent coins. Return at the hotel, accommodation in the area of Bari. Free dinner and overnight at the hotel in Bari.

Day 3: MARTINA FRANCA – CHEESE MAKING CLASS – ALBEROBELLO

Breakfast buffet at the hotel, meeting with the private driver and guide and departure for Martina Franca and visit this beautiful Baroque city: Town Hall (former Ducal Palace), Basilica San Martino which houses sculptures and a beautiful high altar in marble, via Cavour and its houses with Baroque facades, San church Domenico which houses one of the major works of Carella: The Madonna del Rosario. Following we’ll reach the Masseria for a cheese making class. The guests will be able to discover all the secrets of the dairy products, by visiting the dairy, the breeding and the room of refining. After the fun moment “Mozzarella Show”, during which the cheesemaker will show you the processes of production of dairy products and cheeses, the hosts will participate actively in the manufacturing processes. Two hours of total immersion in the world of dairy and cheese typical of the Valle d’Itria. The visit of the Farm and the production area will end with a tasting of Salami, Cheese, Focaccia, Taralli with typical products of the tradition of Puglia. After we will reach Alberobello for a guided visit of the city. Discovery of its amazing Trulli, with conical roofs, classified as UNESCO heritage. These Trulli are scattered in groups of three or four in the orchard of the Itria Valley and form a real village. By this type of construction, residents avoided paying taxes. Free dinner. Check-in and overnight at the resort in Polignano a Mare

Day 4: POLIGNANO A MARE BY BOAT – MONOPOLI

Breakfast buffet at the Resort. Meeting with the private driver and departing to reach the port of Monopoli. Departure by boat for an exciting and memorable journey in an imaginary world, which really exists. An experience that gives the participants a new and charming perception of the sea territory. The hours at the edge of the boat will pass between a dip in the sea “blu dipinto di blu”, snorkeling and a refreshing aperitif will be served on board. Visit to the sea caves of Polignano a Mare (outside), including the famous Grotta Palazzese. Free lunch or on demand Afternoon guided visit of Monopoli, overlooking the sea and surrounded by high walls, will amaze you with its 99 streets that intersect in an endless maze. You will breath in its history and traditions dating back to the 5th century. You will see the large fortified gate, englobed in the Castle, and some tombs in the hypogeum area of the Cathedral which are from Roman times. Along Via dei Mulini, inside the Bastion of Santa Maria, near the Episcopal Palace, important traces of the past fortifications are still preserved. Free dinner. Check-in and overnight at the resort in Polignano a Mare

Day 5: ALTAMURA – MATERA

Breakfast buffet at the Resort. Meeting with the private driver and guide and departing for Altamura. We will discover its Angevin cathedral to the most beautiful Romanesque portal of Apulia. Visit of an ancient bakery and tasting of IGP bread Lunch in a typical cave restaurant in Matera (Sassi Area) Matera, 2019 European Capital of Culture and Unesco Heritage Site, is one of the oldest city in the world. Its territory preserves old settlements dating back to the Paleolithic Age. Matera is, the so-called, city of the “Sassi” (Stones); the original town developed from natural caves dug into the rock, then shaped into even more complex structures such as the two big natural amphitheaters, Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano. Visit a cave-house entirely and typically furnished to understand the customs and traditions of the inhabitants of the ancient Sassi districts, before their abandonment. Also, visit to a Cave Church, dating back to the 8th Century, the most important in the history of Matera. Free dinner. Overnight at the resort in Polignano a Mare

Day 6: LECCE – OSTUNI

Breakfast buffet at the Resort, meeting with the private driver and guide and departure for Lecce. Visit to the most significant monuments of the Lecce Baroque: P.za San Oronzo, Church of San Matteo, Church of the Rosary, Piazza Duomo, Santa Croce. Free lunch or on demand Following we will reach Ostuni for a guided visit of the ancient village. The mythical white city, with its facades overlooking the sea and the exquisite plain of olive trees. Visit of a hypogeum mill and tasting of the extra vergin olive oil, wine and typical products. Overnight at the resort in Polignano a Mare

Day 7: DEPARTURE – TRANSFER FOR BARI

Breakfast buffet at the hotel and check-out. Private transfer to reach the Bari Palese airport for your returning flight.

The program includes:

– Private means of transport as from the program

– Private guide as from the program

– 2 nights in Hotel a Bari

– 4 nights in Masseria a Polignano a Mare

– Bed&Breakfast treatment

– Lunch in a typical Hosteria in Trani

– Lunch in a typical cave restaurant in Matera

– Street Food in Bari

– Cheese Making Class with tasting of traditional apulian food

– Visit to the 3 UNESCO sites of Apulia and Basilicata

– Tasting of Moscato di Trani

– Visit to a hypogeum oil mill

– Tasting of extra virgin olive oil, wine and typical products of Puglia

– Tasting of the Altamura bread DOP

– Educational-information brochures and / or CD-ROMs

– Surprise for all participants

– All entrances to museums, churches, castles, caves

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

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