Apulian delights

Arrive at Bari or Brindisi airport, pick up your rent-a-car and start your Apulian adventure. Reach your accommodation, the Ecoluxury Retreat Ddò Relais located in the heart of the region for the overnight.

A day exploring Ostuni and Cisternino offers a perfect blend of history, charm, and authentic Apulian culture. The journey begins in Ostuni, the famous “White City,” where dazzling whitewashed buildings shine under the southern sun. Walking through its labyrinth of narrow alleys and stone stairways, you’ll be captivated by the play of light and shadow. At the top of the hill, the magnificent Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta dominates the skyline, offering a stunning view of the olive-covered countryside rolling down to the Adriatic Sea.

After a leisurely stroll through the old town, the day continues with a visit to a traditional olive oil mill, or frantoio, for which the region is famous. Here, visitors can discover the ancient art of olive oil production, from the age-old underground presses carved into rock to modern cold-pressing techniques. The experience includes tasting different varieties of extra virgin olive oil, learning to distinguish their delicate flavours and aromas — an essential part of understanding Puglia’s culinary soul.

In the afternoon, the road leads to Cisternino, one of Italy’s most beautiful villages. Its whitewashed houses, stone archways, and intimate courtyards create an atmosphere both timeless and welcoming. As the sun begins to set, locals gather in the main square, and the scent of grilled meat fills the air. Cisternino is famous for its fornelli pronti, small butcher shops that cook the meat you choose right in front of you — a true feast of simplicity and flavour. Overnight at your accommodation.

Your day begins in Alberobello, a World Heritage Site, where the urban landscape is unique in the world. Walking with a local guide through the cobbled streets of the Rione Monti and Aia Piccola districts, you will find yourself surrounded by hundreds of trulli, the famous dry-stone buildings with conical roofs that are the symbol of the Itria Valley.

Each trullo tells an ancient story of rural traditions, architectural ingenuity, and popular spirituality, often visible in the mysterious symbols painted on the roofs. Entering one of these buildings, now transformed into artisan workshops or small museums, you will feel the living soul of a past that is still present.

A few minutes away, the bright white of Locorotondo welcomes you with its characteristic “cummerse,” houses with sloping stone roofs, and a historic centre that looks like stone embroidery overlooking the valley. From its belvederes, the view stretches over an expanse of trulli, vineyards, and olive groves. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

After breakfast, head to a traditional farmhouse to take part in a cheese-making workshop. Here you can discover the secrets of artisanal cheese production, immersed in an authentic and fascinating environment.

During the interactive workshop, you will be guided step by step by master cheesemakers who will share techniques and traditions for making mozzarella and burrata.  At the end of the experience, you will have the opportunity to taste the farm's products.

After this beautiful experience, we suggest visiting Martina Franca with its Baroque soul expressed in the sumptuous noble palaces and richly decorated churches that embellish the historic centre. The artistic heart of the city is the Basilica of San Martino, an extraordinary example of Apulian Baroque, with its sculpted façade and majestic interior. Wrought iron balconies, carved portals, and elegant stuccoes tell the story of the golden age of a refined city, nestled in the hilly landscape of the Itria Valley. Return to your hotel for the overnight.

After breakfast, head to Polignano a Mare, nestled on high limestone cliffs that plunge into the Adriatic Sea, where the sea has carved out sea caves that you can admire on a boat tour. Here, the historic centre tells centuries of history: a maze of cobbled streets, ancient arches, and panoramic terraces overlooking an endless blue sea.

As you stroll around, you will discover medieval churches such as the Chiesa Matrice di Santa Maria Assunta and sights dedicated to the famous singer Domenico Modugno, who was born here. Don't miss out on tasting the famous “Caffè Speciale,” which is prepared only here according to an ancient recipe, and visiting the famous Lama Monachile beach, an iconic cove nestled between two rocky walls. 

Continuing towards Monopoli, a few kilometres away, the landscape opens up to centuries-old olive groves and a rugged coastline dotted with sandy coves. Its historic centre, built on ancient Messapian and Roman ruins, retains the charm of a fortified city, with walls, ramparts, and the majestic Castello Carlo V overlooking the sea. Here, every corner smells of history and the Mediterranean, with white stone, crystal clear sea, and authentic flavours that make this land unique. 

Overnight stay.

About an hour's drive from your relais is the magnificent city of Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A guided tour of Matera is an exciting journey into the heart of history and stone. It starts from the famous Sassi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where houses carved into the rock climb up the slopes like a living nativity scene. Walking through the winding alleys of Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, you will discover frescoed rock churches and peasant dwellings that have remained intact over time. The guide recounts the hard but ingenious life that took place here until a few decades ago, revealing a world suspended between ancient civilizations and cultural rebirth.

At the end of the tour, you will have free time to continue exploring this unique city: you can visit the Palombaro Lungo, an ancient cistern dug under the city for water supply or simply lose yourself in the Sassi. Don't miss a stop at one of the city's bakeries to taste Matera's DOP bread. 

After a day of sightseeing, return to the hotel for the night.

Check out from your hotel.

Time to head south. Stop in Lecce for an unforgettable journey through one of southern Italy’s most elegant and atmospheric cities, often called the “Florence of the South” for its stunning Baroque architecture. The tour begins in the heart of the historic centre, where golden limestone buildings glow warmly in the sunlight. Your guide introduces you to Lecce’s unique pietra leccese stone — soft enough to be intricately carved, yet durable enough to withstand centuries — which gives the city its distinctive honey-coloured beauty.

The first stop is Piazza del Duomo, one of Italy’s most harmonious squares, surrounded by the Cathedral, the Bishop’s Palace, and the Seminary. The Cathedral’s façade, richly adorned with swirling columns, angels, and saints, offers a perfect example of the exuberant Lecce Baroque style. From there, the tour continues to Piazza Sant’Oronzo, the lively heart of the city, where Roman ruins coexist with elegant palaces and cafés. Beneath the square lies a well-preserved Roman amphitheatre, a reminder of Lecce’s ancient past.

Wandering through narrow cobbled streets, you’ll visit Santa Croce Basilica, the masterpiece of Lecce Baroque. Its façade is a symphony of carved figures — flowers, mythological creatures, cherubs, and symbols of faith — all brought to life in delicate stone lacework. Inside, your guide reveals stories of the artists and noble families who shaped Lecce’s cultural identity.

As the visit concludes, we suggest you stop to a charming café for a caffè Leccese, espresso with ice and almond syrup, paired with a Pasticciotto, the region’s beloved custard-filled pastry.

Proceed to your next accommodation in the heart of the Salento.

Day 8, Otranto and Gallipoli the stunning seaside towns of Salento

A visit to Otranto and Gallipoli reveals two very different faces of the Salento coast, each with its own rhythm and soul. The day begins in Otranto, Italy’s easternmost town, where the first light of dawn touches the Adriatic Sea. Walking through the old town, enclosed by ancient walls, you’ll sense a blend of Mediterranean and Eastern influences that reflect its long history as a crossroads of cultures. The Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata is the city’s treasure, famous for its extraordinary 12th-century mosaic floor that stretches across the nave — a vibrant tapestry of biblical scenes, mythological creatures, and symbols of life’s journey. Nearby, the Aragonese Castle stands proudly at the edge of the town, its massive bastions offering sweeping views of the sea.

In the afternoon, the road follows the Ionian coast to Gallipoli, whose name means “beautiful city” in Greek, and it truly lives up to it. The historic centre sits on an island connected to the mainland by a 17th-century bridge, surrounded by turquoise waters that shimmer in the sunlight. Narrow lanes lead past whitewashed houses, Baroque churches, and small courtyards scented with sea breeze and jasmine. The Cathedral of Sant’Agata, with its richly decorated façade, embodies the exuberance of southern Baroque art. A walk along the city walls offers breathtaking views, especially at sunset when the light turns golden and the sea seems to embrace the town. Return to your accommodation for the overnight.

Reach Santa maria di Leuca, the southernmost point of the region and embark on a beautiful boat trip to discover the many caves and coves that make the Salento coastline so unique.

Explore both the eastern Adriatic and the western Ionian sides, each offering breathtaking scenery and enchanting sea caves. Among the most fascinating spots you’ll encounter during the tour are: Punta Ristola, Grotta del Diavolo, Grotta Mesciu Gianni, Grotta del Fiume, Grotta delle Tre Porte, Grotta dei Giganti, Grotta del Presepe, Grotta degli Innamorati, Grotta del Drago, Punta Meliso, the lighthouse of Santa Maria di Leuca, Grotta Terradico, Grotta Gabbiani, Grotta Verdusella, Grotta del Soffio (or Spruzzo), Grotta della Vora, and Grotta delle Mannute. Stops for swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the Salento Sea will make these moments truly unforgettable.

At the end of the boat trip you will have time to indulge at a beach. Near Santa Maria di Leuca we suggest Pescoluse Beach, often called the “Maldives of Salento,” is a stunning stretch of golden sand lapped by crystal-clear, turquoise waters. Its shallow seabed and gentle waves make it ideal for swimming and relaxation.

Return to your accommodation for the overnight stay.

After breakfast, head to Bari or Brindisi in time to return your rental car in due time before your journey back home.