Puglia FAM Trip | 10 - 16 May 2020 | 7 Days / 6 Nights Bari, Polignano al Mare, Alberobello, Locorotondo, Ostuni, Otranto, Lecce, Gallipoli Puglia is one of Italy’s best-kept travel secrets, steeped in history, postcard-perfect landscapes, breathtaking beaches and a world-renowned cuisine. Located in the heel of Italy’s boot, Puglia proudly showcases both a rustic tranquil countryside full of ancient olive trees and magnificent towns rich in luxury Baroque architecture. Sitting between two seas, the Ionian and the Adriatic, its long coastline features white sandy beaches and crystalline blue waters. Discover this region full of charm and authenticity in our tour that combines the must-see sights of the region with a sophisticated exploration of the food and wine specific to the area. You will have the opportunity to discover beautiful towns belonging to the UNESCO World Heritage List such as Alberobello with its iconic drywall dwellings called trulli as well as many other key sights of Puglia, including Polignano a Mare, Ostuni, Lecce and Otranto. Our tour starts in Bari, the capital city of Puglia; you will discover a charming seaside city rich in history and culture, especially in the older part of town, Bari Vecchia, and savour the fresh flavours of the Mediterranean cuisine. Next it’s on to Polignano al Mare, the incredible town nestled above the rockface overlooking the Adriatic sea, before paying a visit to the “White City” of Ostuni. This town is a feast for the eyes as whitewashed walls stand proud guarding the ancient Roman olive groves which stretch as far as the eye can see. We will explore Puglia’s favorite towns in this fascinating region: these include Alberobello, lined with hundreds of limestone trulli (conical roof-shaped buildings), and Locorotondo, Puglia’s most historic and picturesque hilltop town. We will then move south to the Salento region, where the history of Italy began. We will explore beautiful port towns that once acted as a safeguard to this fertile land: Otranto and Gallipoli, a picturesque fishing Town nowadays very popular with the LGBT community from Italy and beyond. We will visit the spectacular Baroque Old Town of Lecce, the Florence of Southern Italy and discover the best kept secrets of the area. We have packed this unique fam trip with sensational activities: you will learn to cook like a local on a private cooking class; enjoy a wine tasting session of the region’s finest produce including Primitivo and robust Negroamaro; dine at all the locals’ favourite restaurants around and choose your favourite Gelato from our hand-picked gelaterias. Day 1. Sunday, May, 10 Bari Our Puglia Tour starts from Bari Airport, which has many connections to Europe and beyond. We will greet you and make our way to your accommodation, right in the centre of Bari. In the evening we will enjoy a walking tour of Bari Vecchia before our Welcome Dinner: you will enjoy a first taste of Puglia cuisine in a local environment. Dinner in Bari Overnight in Bari Day 2 Monday, May, 11. Polignano a Mare, Alberobello, Ostuni. Your Italy Gay Travels hosts will take you around Polignano a Mare, the beautiful town perched on top of the rocks hanging over the Adriatic sea. We will enjoy a succulent lunch with local delicacies. In the afternoon, we are off to Alberobello, a UNESCO world heritage sight. Alberobello’s old town is famous for its high concentration of trulli, traditional Apulian dry stone houses with conical roofs. We explore its nooks and crannies and if you are feeling naughty you can try out one of our favourite gelaterias in Italy! Afterwards we will make our way to our accommodation in a beautiful Masseria (renovated farmstead house) close to Ostuni. In the evening we will enjoy dinner in the Old Town of Ostuni. Dinner in Ostuni Overnight in Ostuni Day 3 Tuesday, May, 12 The Itrian Valley After breakfast, we will set off on a tour of the region named Itrian Valley that allows you to discover the magical surroundings of the area. We will Start from Martina Franca, one of Puglia’s most elegant cities, with its baroque and rococo buildings. You will discover its old winding streets before heading into the countryside. Passing rolling hills dotted with trulli and farmsteads we will eventually stop to have lunch in a typical Masseria and taste some local regional food. In the afternoon we will head to Locorotondo, a hilltop town famous for its charming, circular centre and characteristic white houses that makes it one of the most beautiful towns in Italy. We will enjoy dinner in one of the many restaurants of Locorotondo Old Town before making our way back to our Masseria. Dinner in Locorotondo Overnight in Ostuni Day 4 Wednesday, May, 13 Salento: Nardo’ and Gallipoli After breakfast, we head south to Salento, the Southernmost region of Puglia, famous for its history and seaside villages. First stop: Nardo’. We will pay a visit to one of the best known wineries of the area, where we taste wines that are unique to the area of Salento. The traditional varieties that are grown include Primitivo and Negroamaro. Afterwards we head to the seaside. Just 10km away from Nardo’ we find the typical villages of Santa Caterina and Santa Maria al Bagno, adjacent to the stunning Porto Selvaggio (Wild Port) Natural Reserve. We enjoy a light lunch by the sea, before making our way to our next stop. Gallipoli (which means Beautiful City) will be our home for the night: a port town famous for fishing boats and fresh seafood. Meander through the little alleyways and see the locals going about their trades. This town will steal your heart! We will visit the city and have a lovely dinner in one of our favourite seafood restaurants in town. Dinner in Gallipoli Overnight in Gallipoli Day 5 Thursday, May, 14 Santa Maria di Leuca and Lecce After breakfast we depart for the Southeastern-most point of Puglia: Santa Maria di Leuca. This area is frequented by celebrities for its awe inspiring untouched landscapes and natural beauty. We make our way to the port of the town and board a private boat to discover the magical surroundings of the area by the sea, with a glass of Prosecco in our hand of course! We enjoy a light lunch in the area before making our way to Lecce, the Baroque capital city of Salento. After checking in our luxurious hotel, in the centre of the city, we enjoy a guided walking tour of the so-called Florence of the south. We will have dinner in the historic center at a restaurant that showcases the local produce, including typical dishes such as ‘ciceri e tria’ (chickpea dish) and ‘fave e cicoria’ (chicory and fava beans). Dinner in Lecce Overnight in Lecce Day 6 Friday, May, 15 Cooking Class and Otranto After a fresh breakfast we enjoy a hands-on experience: a cooking lesson from a local chef. The lesson will focus on cooking typical Salento dishes and exploring the variety of local ingredients used. Cooking in Salento, and Puglia as a whole, is very seasonal and therefore recipes differ from one month to the next: it’s time to learn which vegetables grow in which month! We also have a ‘waste not’ attitude so don’t be surprised to see parts of vegetables used that are generally thrown away. Recipes have been handed down from generation to generation and truly represent the Mediterranean diet. The session is hands on and time is taken to ensure that everyone is happy and confident by the end of the experience. Obviously, at lunch time we eat what we’ve made The afternoon is left free for you to enjoy the city as you wish: a couple of hours for shopping, a spritz, a gelato? Feel free to do as you please, but make sure to join the group again for the evening meal: our Farewell Dinner in Lecce is an event not to be missed. Dinner in Lecce Overnight in Lecce Day 7 Saturday, May, 16 End of Services After breakfast in the hotel, it's time to say goodbye, but no tears please! A private transfer will drive you back to Brindisi airport (35 minutes drive away) or Bari airport (2 hours drive away). Ciao and see you next time in sunny Puglia! .