Suggested Itinerary
Day 1 - Puglia
Scheduled flight to Italy from your preferred airport – transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the 4* Grand Hotel la Chiusa di Chietri on the outskirts of Alberobello.
Day 2 – Locorotondo, wine tasting & Alberobello
At Locorotondo, perched on a hill overlooking the fertile Valle d’Itria, we visit the beautiful church of Santa Maria della Greca – an included wine tasting at a local winery – guided tour of Alberobello to see the white washed conical shaped trulli houses for which the Puglia region is famous.
Day 3 – Cattedrale di San Nicola Pellegrino in Trani & Castel del Monte
The magnificent Cattedrale di San Nicola Pellegrino in Trani occupies a prominent position next to the clear waters of the Adriatic and has one of the largest crypts in the world – the World Heritage site of Castel del Monte features an unusual octagonal layout and eight equally octagonal towers, built in the 13th century as a monument for Emperor Frederick II.
Day 4 – Matera guided tour & Altamura
A guided tour explores Matera’s Sassi dwellings which are carved out of the rock and are believed to be the best example of cave dwelling in the Mediterranean – Altamura was founded by Frederick II and is home to a magnificent cathedral dating from the 1300’s and the Museo Archeologico housing finds from Neolithic times.
Day 5 – Ostuni guided tour & Martina Franca
Guided tour of delightful Ostuni, stretched over three hilltops and providing extraordinary views with its white washed houses standing out against the pink tinged brown of its principal buildings – Martina Franca’s jewel is its picturesque historic centre with a memorable maze of winding alleys, where whitewashed simplicity sits side by side with Baroque extravagance.
Day 6 – Lecce - guided tour & included lunch
Guided tour of Baroque architecture in the ‘pink city’ of Lecce and the Roman Amphitheatre – included light buffet lunch in Lecce in an historic palazzo – time to wander at your leisure through the piazzas, market and winding streets or to enjoy the serenity of the 16th century Basilica della Santa Croce.
Day 7 – Grotto di Castellana, Polignano a Mare & farewell dinner
Guided tour of the Grotto di Castellana, a complex of underground limestone caves and caverns estimated to be 50 million years old – Polignano a Mare is dramatically located on top of cliffs overlooking the clear waters of the Adriatic –included farewell dinner for a taste of the typical flavours of Puglia.
Day 8 – Puglia
Transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight back home.
Tour Features
4* hotel
All excursions & guided tours included
Half board accommodation
Included lunch in palazzo at Lecce
Professional tour manager
Scheduled flights to Italy
Executive coach in Italy
One free place per 10 paying passengers
Locorotondo & the church of Santa Maria della Greco
Wine tasting
Trulli houses of Alberobello - guided tour
Cattedrale di San Nicola Pellegrino in Trani
Castel del Monte
Sassi dwellings at Matera - guided tour
Altamura
Ostuni - guided tour
Martina Franca
Pink city’ of Lecce - guided tour & included lunch
Limestone caves of Grotto di Castellana - guided tour
Coastal village of Polignano a Mare
Hotel
Seven nights at the 4* Grand Hotel la Chiusa di Chietri. Located 2km from the UNESCO listed historical centre of Alberobello, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar and a swimming pool. Dinner is served in our hotel on the first six evenings and there is a farewell dinner at a Masseria farmhouse on our last night.
Tailor-make this tour
Your tailor made tour
Here are some more suggested places of interest you might like to include:
- Gravina - Frederick II’s hunting lodge and the Monastery of San Sebastiano, famous for its cloisters
- Pinacoteca de Nittis, Barlettaa - delightful palazzo housing a wonderful collection of works by the impressionist artist Giuseppe de Nittis who took part in the first Impressionist exhibition in 1874
- Bari -guided tour takes in the 12th century Cathedral of San Sabino, the Castello Normanno-Svevo built for the Holy Roman emperor Frederick II and the Basilica di San Nicola, housing the remains of St Nicholas stolen from southern
- Trani - the magnificent Cattedrale di San Nicola is home to one of the largest crypts in the world and the Church of Ognissanti was built by the Knights Templar in the 12th century
- Gioia del Colle - 12th century castle destroyed by William the Wicked of Sicily and then rebuilt in 1230 by Frederick II after his return from the Crusades
- Bitonto - home to one of Puglia’s most beautiful cathedrals (dated between 1175 and 1200) with a façade that features a richly decorated prothyrum and rose window, while the rest of the old medieval town centre features impressive Renaissance and Baroque buildings
Tour Reviews
Reviews for Puglia & the Heel of Italy
Date of tour: June 2014
As a group we have tried other tour companies but TT came over as more efficient, far more professional and makes the life of the organiser very easy. The trip to Puglia was nicely varied, daily contrasts (not too many churches!), well paced and everyone was more than pleased with the accommodation, the guide and the driver, giving me the confidence to know that next time when using you I need not fret about how it's all going to work out. Indeed we are off to Vienna next with you! Thank you TT for making the choice of my next tour company so simple.
JG, Stansfield
Call us on
020 7064 4970
to tailor this tour
for your group
Tailor make your group tour
Remember this itinerary is just our suggestion. Tailor make this tour exclusively for your group to suit your members’ budget or preferences. You could:
- stay at a 3* hotel
- with more (or less) dinners included
- for more (or fewer) days
- include different excursions – see ‘Tailor-make this tour’ tab for suggestions
- include UK airport coach transfers
- bring a specialist lecturer
- include all entrance fees & gratuities
Call us on
020 7064 4970
to tailor make the perfect tour
for your group
