Puglia tour, history, folklore,wine and food

Taste and Slow - Trasimeno Travel Sas, Via Novella 1/F, 06061 Castiglione del Lago, Perugia. Tel. 075-953969, Fax 075-9652654 www.tasteandslowitaly.com - [email protected] Day 01

Arrival at the airport.

Meeting with the tour leader and transfer to by private bus.

Accommodation in a 3 or 4 star hotel in Mono- poli, a nice village with a perfect position for visiting Puglia.

Dinner and walk through the historical centre of Monopoli with the tour leader. Monopoli The harbor is very charming. Every 14th of August the inhabitants, together with the tourists, take the sta- tue of the Virgin in procession from the Cathedral to the harbor, from where it sails, recreating an evocative show.

Day 02

After breakfast, departure with the tour leader to by private bus. Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996, it is well-known all around the world.

The biggest “trullo” in the town is called “Trullo So- vrano”.

Built in the 18th century, it has been renovated ac- cording to the testimonies of the oldest inhabitants. Today it is a museum: the building consists of two floors and it has furniture of that period. During the summer, it hosts plays, orchestra and jazz concerts, Alberobello poetry and cultural events.

Meeting with a local guide and tour of the town. Take a nice walk in two historical areas -Monti and Aia Piccola- and ta- ste the typical town products.

In the afternoon, departure for Locorotondo. Enjoy a degu- station session of the renowned wine.

Standing on a hill, Locorotondo is a typical small village: the white color of the houses contrasts with the green of the surrounding vineyards.

Return to the hotel. Locorotondo Dinner at your leisure and overnight stay at the hotel. Day 03

After breakfast, departure with the tour leader to Ostuni by priva- te bus. Guided tour of the “white village”.

The historical centre of Ostuni is one of the most beautiful in Italy and it is worldwide renowned for its peculiar architecture and for the shining white color of the houses. The sunset gives this enchanting place a fantastic look.

Lunch at your leisure.

Ostuni Departure to , well-known for its baroque architec- ture and for the Festival della Valle d’Itria.

It is located in the southern Murgia, on the border between the provinces of Taranto, Brindisi and .

Departure to Cisternino, where you will have the opportunity to have dinner in a typical village restaurant.

Taste the typical dish inside the so called “fornello”, a butcher’s shop with a barbecue, a wood-burning oven and a dining room. Choose the meat and take a seat: after weighing it, the butcher will serve you the grilled meat accompanied by a pleasant hors d’oeuvre of salami and in-oil pickles.

Return to the hotel and overnight stay.

Martina Franca Day 04

After breakfast, departure with the tour leader to Matera by private bus.

Meeting with a local guide and tour of the city. Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993, Matera preser- ves a unique landscape made of caves dug into the rock. Until the 60s they housed the local inhabitants; today they are wonderful peculiar villas. Matera is a very old town with evi- dences from the Paleolithic era. In its surroundings they have recently found prehistoric areas with interesting ar- cheological findings. Matera Lunch at your leisure. In the afternoon, visit of , one of the nicest villages in Puglia and home of a peculiar type of bre- ad protected by the Slow Food Organization.

The bread of Altamura is one of the most popular ba- kery products in Italy and in the world: in 2003 it gained the DOP denomination. Dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption, the Cathe- dral is a real religious, civil and historical symbol of the town.

Pane di Altamura Return to the hotel and overnight stay.

Day 05

After breakfast, departure with the tour leader to reach Lecce by private bus, a wonderful city characterized by the baroque style of the churches and palaces.

Guided tour of the historical centre.

Visit of a laboratory that makes papier-machè masks with the possibility of seeing the making of a small masterpiece.

Lunch at your leisure.

In the afternoon, visit of Otranto. See the Cathedral and the Castle of Otranto

Lecce Transfer to a “Masseria”, a typical house of the countryside of Puglia, for an exclusive experience!

Learn how to cook the typical “orecchiette” with a nice cooking lesson and a pleasant degustation session accom- panied by fascinating music and the “pizzica” dance.

Return to the hotel and overnight stay.

Otranto Day 06

After breakfast, departure with the tour leader to reach by private bus.

Visit of a local farm which makes an excellent cheese and the typi- cal mozzarella. Lunch at the farm. In the afternoon visit of Grottaglie -famous for its ceramics- and free time for shopping.

Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 07

After breakfast, departure with the tour leader to reach Egna- tia by private bus.

Guided tour of the archeological area followed by a visit of the .

In the afternoon, take a relaxing walk along the promenade of Polignano and taste the local ice-cream in a popular ice-cream parlor.

Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

Castellana Grotte Day 08

After breakfast, departure with the tour leader to reach the airport by private bus.

End of the tour.

Tour information:

• The tour will be available with a minimum of 16 paying participants. • Upon request, it is possible to take part to a fishing day • The tour can be changed according to airport and flights’ schedule • Round trip flights’ reservation available • Booking cancellations insurance available

Services included :

• 8 days and 7 nights in 3/ 4 star hotels in b&b treatment. • Tour leader for the whole duration of the tour. • Local guide for 6 half-days. • Private bus with driver for the whole duration of the tour • 1 wine tasting. • 1 “Altamura DOP bread” tasting • 1 cooking demonstration of hand made pasta. • 1 ethnic music event of traditional music from Puglia. • 1 papier-machè laboratory. • 1 small lunch/tasting based on the local mozzarella. • 2 dinners Not included:

• Anything which is not expressly mentioned in the list above. • Baggage insurance. • Travel health insurance. • Entrance fees to the museums. • Tips and personal expenses

DAY ITINERARY MEALS 1 Arrival and transfer to the hotel in Monopoli D 2 Guided tout in Alberobello, wine tasting in Locorotondo B 3 Visit of Ostuni, Martina Franca and Cisternino B - D 4 Guided tour in Matera, evening in Altamura B - D 5 Guided tour in Lecce, cooking lesson in a “masseria” in Otranto B - D 6 Visit a farm in Gioia del Colle, free time in Grottaglie B - D 7 Visit Castellana Grotto in Egnatia, free time for shopping in Polignano B - D 8 End of services B

B = breakfast L = lunch D = dinner

Taste and Slow Italy - Trasimeno Travel Sas, Via Novella 1/F, 06061 Castiglione del Lago, Perugia. Tel. 075-953969, Fax 075-9652654 www.tasteandslowitaly.com - [email protected]