SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Learn all about the history of Neapolitan food and its importance to the city culture on a street food tour. Naples is of course synonymous with pizza and pasta, but there are many other local specialities such as sfogliatelle (a flaky, shell-shaped pastry typically filled with sweetened ricotta) and aubergine parmigiana (aubergine baked with layers of tomato sauce and mozzarella), which are well worth trying. Explore the city at leisure in the afternoon before taking a private transfer to the Amalfi Coast – your next stop.

Today, the choice is yours. You could embark on a private boat tour of the Amalfi Coast to explore one of the most alluring stretches of coastline in Europe – or take the public ferry to either Amalfi or Positano and spend the day as you wish. Think pastel-coloured fishing villages set against the backdrop of dramatic cliffs and forests overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Whether you want to swim, relax on the beach or wander leisurely around the streets and piazzas of these picturesque villages, you won’t be short of options. Return to Maiori in the evening.

Today we cross into the Basilicata region to reach Matera – known for its ancient hillside cave dwellings in the Unesco-listed Sassi area. Weave your way through the narrow, winding streets on a guided walking tour and discover why it was crowned 2019 European Capital of Culture. You may well recognise it from the latest James Bond movie, No Time To Die.

You’ll continue eastwards into the Itria Valley – a particularly scenic part of the Puglia region. Marvel at the extraordinary trulli (traditional limestone dwellings with conical roofs) on a guided tour of Alberobello, before heading on to the beautiful town of Ostuni, one of the most photogenic towns in Puglia and our home for the night. Enjoy a guided tour of La Città Bianca (the White City). You will then reach your hotel at night and enjoy a lovely dinner with your travel companions and spend the evening at your own leisure.

Spending time in the south of Italy is all about taking time to enjoy the good things in life. That’s why today is an entirely open-ended day, to be spent exactly as you wish. Sip coffee and watch the world go by in Ostuni, hop on a bus to one of the many beautiful spots along the Puglian coast, or simply kick back at the hotel's private beach and luxurious spa facilities. If you need any tips, don’t hesitate to ask our Local Insider!

This morning we travel down the heel of the Italian boot to Lecce. Your first stop is Il Frantoio olive farm, where you can taste the area’s famed olive oil straight from the source, followed by a delightful lunch in a local masseria (traditional Puglian farmhouse), before arriving in Lecce, which you can explore this evening at your leisure.

Your day starts with a guided tour of the Salento peninsula – the southernmost part of Puglia, home to some of the best beaches and baroque towns in Italy. First, you’ll be shown around Otranto, a city that bears strong Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Norman architectural influences; highlights include an 11th-century cathedral with an elaborate mosaic floor and the Aragonese Castle. It’s then time to explore Gallipoli (quite literally ‘beautiful city’ in Greek), considered the pearl of the Ionian coast and boasting centuries of maritime history, which remains alive and well today thanks to the fishermen, who work with local restaurants to produce some of the best seafood in Italy.

Begin the final full day of your southern Italy adventure with a walking tour of Lecce, nicknamed the Florence of the South due to its honey-coloured baroque churches and palaces, with elaborately decorated façades, dotted throughout the old town. Spend the rest of your day at leisure, exploring independent craft shops, street cafés and cosy wine bars, as well as a superb selection of authentic Puglian restaurants. Come nightfall, cap off your trip with a memorable farewell dinner in the company of your fellow travellers.

It’s time to bid farewell to your new friends as your trip comes to an end. Check out of the hotel and make your way to Salento Airport to catch your flight home – or choose to extend your stay and experience what else Italy has to offer.