Puglia – Italy’s Undiscovered Coast

Our vacation starts in Italy's dynamic capital, Rome, where we meet our Tour Manager and co-travelers at our central hotel, our base for the next two nights.

This evening, we enjoy a three-course dinner at our hotel. After our meal you may like to step into the vibrant city streets to soak up the atmosphere, or savor panoramic views of Rome from the hotel's roof terrace.

• Dinner

Waking in glorious Rome, we discover its spectacular sights on a three-hour guided tour. We see the awe-inspiring Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the elegant Piazza Venezia and extraordinary Roman Pantheon. Our tour ends in Piazza Navona, a lively square bordered by cafés and restaurants, where you're free to experience Rome's beauty at your own pace for the rest of the day.

Around 15 minutes' walk from Piazza Navona is the acclaimed Trevi Fountain and the wonderful Spanish Steps. Walk up the steps to reach Pincian Hill and Villa Borghese park, where you can relax in landscaped gardens or see stunning art and sculpture in the Borghese Gallery. Just across the historic Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II which spans the River Tiber is St Peter's Square and the Vatican.

If you'd like to visit the Vatican, we recommend booking ahead online

Rome offers an endless array of eateries, many alfresco, where you can enjoy a fresh pasta dish or a slice of crispy pizza al taglio with a glass of wine, and watch the world go by.

• Breakfast

Saying 'Arrivederci Roma' this morning we set off on a scenic rail journey to the unspoilt southern heel of Italy. Our route takes us directly south, then east along the gorgeous Adriatic coastline on our way to the coastal city of Lecce. From here we transfer by coach to the west coast, or 'inner heel' of Puglia, to the relaxed fishing town of Santa Maria al Bagno and our lovely seafront hotel which overlooks the brilliant blue Ionian Sea.

We spend the next four nights in this beautiful environment, a peaceful contrast to the buzzing streets of Rome. There's free time to get to know our lovely surroundings, possibly take a refreshing swim in one of the hotel pools, visit the private beach or spend some time on the sun terrace which overlooks the sea. There's also a pleasant walk along the promenade from the hotel to the town. This evening, we gather for a welcome drink followed by a buffet dinner at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today we transfer by coach to the historic town of Lecce for a guided sightseeing tour. With its fascinating Old Town of elaborate Baroque architecture, Lecce has been dubbed 'the Florence of the South', and the city's alleyways are ideal for exploring on foot. We visit the Chiesa di Santa Croce, with its intricately carved rose window, and the Piazza del Duomo, the main square, in the shadow of Lecce's cathedral. Our guided tour ends in a traditional café, where we sample a Leccese coffee, made with almond milk and poured over ice, served with 'pasticciotto' - a southern Puglian pastry filled with custard or ricotta.

We are then free to explore the town independently. You could visit the Roman amphitheater, a partially buried archaeological treasure which was excavated in 1938, below the ground level of the Piazza Sant'Oronzo. The streets are lined with cafés, bars and restaurants, and - equally enticing - shops offering local produce such as olive oil, wine and ceramics. We return to Santa Maria al Bagno by coach in the afternoon, with time to relax before dinner at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

With a full day at leisure, you're free to explore the peaceful fishing village of Santa Maria al Bagno or to simply soak up the peaceful atmosphere and enjoy our hotel's excellent facilities, sea views and small private beach. With a beautiful rocky coastline on the Ionian Sea, inviting swimming bays and sandy beaches, Santa Maria buzzes with holidaymakers at the height of summer but still retains its charm. The traditional town center is just a short walk along the promenade from our hotel, and seafront cafés and restaurants are dotted around the bay.

Above the old town is the distinctive 'Tower of the Galatena River', a set of four medieval fortress towers known locally simply as 'the four columns'. During World War Two, the town was the site of a 'displaced persons camp', and a small museum tells the moving story of refugees who were given temporary homes in Santa Maria al Bagno and how they were welcomed by the local population. When you're ready for dinner, there are several highly rated restaurants to choose from, set around Santa Maria's turquoise bay.

• Breakfast

After breakfast this morning we board a coach for a full day of sightseeing. Our first destination is one of Puglia's hidden gems, Galatina, a beautifully preserved Baroque town away from the well-worn tourist track. With some free time in this laid-back, friendly town you could visit the lovely Basilica di Santa Caterina and see its exquisite frescoes (entry is free) or enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and a refreshing drink in the piazza.

Our tour continues to the charming town of Gallipoli, known for its fortified historical center. Set on a narrow promontory which stretches out into the Ionian Sea, this ancient fishing town is surrounded by water on all sides. With free time to explore independently, you might like to visit the 13th-century castle, or find an atmospheric seafront café to enjoy lunch beside the colorful port. In the afternoon we head back to our hotel in Santa Maria al Bagno where we dine this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today we transfer to Lecce to board a train to Monopoli - a vibrant town on the Adriatic. On arrival, we take a guided coach excursion to the unique whitewashed town of Alberobello. This magical UNESCO-listed town is packed with hundreds of cone-shaped, limestone houses known as 'trulli'. Dating back to the 14th century, these houses were constructed from small stones, and designed to be easily dismantled to avoid taxes!

There's a little time to look around before meeting our knowledgeable and friendly guide, Mimmo Palmisano - affectionately known as Mr Alberobello - who hosts us at a traditional lunch in his family's restaurant before a fascinating guided tour. We continue to the hill town of Locorotondo, a few miles away, where we are free to wander the labyrinthine streets of the historic center. The town is renowned for its sparkling Spumante wine, and is surrounded by many vineyards, olive groves and 'trulli' settlements. After our tour we drive to our next base, a spa hotel near Polignano a Mare, on Puglia's beautiful Adriatic coast, for three nights. We are met with a refreshing welcome drink before dinner at our hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Lunch

After a busy few days of touring, today is at leisure to enjoy the lovely surroundings and the facilities of our hotel. You could choose to relax at one of the hotel's pools, or on its private beach, spending a tranquil day soaking up the Italian sunshine. 

In the nearby town of Polignano a Mare, you could watch the world go by from a pavement café while trying some local cuisine for lunch.

Another local treat is Polignano coffee, made with lemon zest, cream and amaretto, which you could enjoy at one of the cafés dotted around the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, watched over by the 17th-century Church of Saint Mary of the Assumption. The town's white-washed alleys open onto terraces with views of the sea and a small cove, nestled between the cliffs. 

This evening, dinner is served at our hotel.

• Breakfast

Ahead of us today is one of the highlights of our tour, an excursion to the rugged hilltop town of Matera in Basilicata, a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognized for its ancient 'sassi' cave dwellings. This evocative town is favored among directors as a movie location over the decades. Director Pier Paolo Pasolini set the story of Jesus' life here, in his 1964 classic, The Gospel According to St Matthew, and the James Bond movie No Time to Die was also filmed here.

Our guided tour takes us through the maze of winding streets and fascinating Paleolithic-era abodes, some of which were inhabited until as recently as the 1950s, and we enter one of the 'sassi' caves. We're then free over lunch to explore this incredible location at our own pace. Matera has flourished in recent years, it was European Capital of Culture in 2019, and there are many boutiques, craft shops, bars and cafés to discover.

We return to our spa hotel near Poligano a Mare for our last night on the Adriatic coast, gathering for dinner this evening in our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Your Italian vacation draws to a close this morning, so it's time to say farewell and continue your journey homewards. As you leave Puglia, you can reflect on the many images, experiences and unusual places we have seen on this tour of Rome and undiscovered Puglia. We hope you will cherish special memories of your vacation in beautiful Puglia, Basilicata and the timeless city of Rome.

Leaving the hotel, you can make your way to your chosen airport independently, ready for your flight back home.

• Breakfast