Puglia e Salento: un viaggio all'insegna del golf, della cultura e delle bellezze costiere

Arrive at Bari or Brindisi airport. Redeem your rental car and reach the Ecoluxury retreat Ddò Relais di Puglia.

Overnight stay.

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 to enjoy the hotel facilities.

Overnight stay.

After breakfast reach Fasano. A round at Masseria San Domenico Golf Club is a refined journey through centuries-old olive groves, dry-stone walls, and the shimmering light of the Adriatic.

Designed to blend seamlessly into the Apulian countryside, the course challenges with strategic bunkering, water hazards, and ever-present coastal breezes. Each swing is accompanied by scents of the sea and Mediterranean vegetation.

After an exciting round of Golf, 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.

Return to your Hotel for the overnight.

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. Continue your day with a visit of 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.

Overnight at your hotel.

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.

A round at Acaya Golf Club blends technical challenge with a powerful sense of place. The links-inspired layout stretches across open, windswept terrain, where wide fairways tempt aggression but clever bunkering and water hazards demand restraint. Approach shots must be shaped with care toward elevated, well-protected greens, while the ever-present sea breeze tests trajectory and nerve. Each hole feels exposed, honest, and demanding. It’s a course that rewards precision and strategy, but also delivers a deep, immersive connection to the raw landscape of Salento. After your round, relax at the clubhouse with refreshments and admire the panoramic vistas before continuing your journey.

In the afternoon reach 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.

Return to your hotel 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 (itinerary subject to changes due to sea conditions). 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.

Reach Bari or Brindisi airport and return your rental car in due time for your flight.