Puglia and the South - Undiscovered Italy

Fly from the UK to Bari, Italy.

Your southern Italian escape begins as you arrive in Bari and meet your tour manager before travelling by coach to Torre Canne, your relaxing base by the Adriatic. Once you’ve checked in, the rest of the day is yours to ease into holiday mode. Stretch out after the journey, enjoy the sea air and perhaps head to the terrace for a pre-dinner drink as the evening draws in. With the sound of the coast nearby and a delicious dinner ahead, it’s a lovely first taste of laid-back Puglian life.

Today is all about taking things at your own pace. Stay at the hotel and enjoy the pool, fitness centre or a quiet corner with a good book, or head out to explore Torre Canne’s small fishing port, tiny harbour and lighthouse. For those keen to see more, there’s an optional excursion to Monopoli and Polignano a Mare. Admire Monopoli’s whitewashed charm before continuing to cliffside Polignano, where dramatic views over the Adriatic and crystal-clear waters make this one of Puglia’s most dazzling coastal gems.

Today’s tour is a wonderful introduction to the timeless beauty of Puglia. First, visit Ostuni, the dazzling “White City”, where whitewashed houses tumble across three hills and narrow lanes lead to beautiful viewpoints, lively squares and inviting cafés. After time to soak up its atmosphere, continue through a classic Puglian landscape of olive groves, vineyards and countryside dotted with trulli to Alberobello. Here, these distinctive cone-roofed houses create one of Italy’s most memorable sights. After a day packed with character, scenery and local charm, return to Torre Canne for dinner.

Often called the Florence of the South, Lecce is a feast of Baroque beauty and one of southern Italy’s most captivating cities. On today’s tour, you’ll discover a place filled with ornate churches, elegant palaces and honey-coloured stone façades glowing in the sunshine. Wander through the old town, where graceful piazzas and marbled courtyards reveal centuries of wealth and influence, and see the remains of the Roman amphitheatre that still anchors the city’s historic heart. 

After several days of sightseeing, today invites you to slow the pace and simply enjoy your surroundings. Make the most of your coastal setting with a refreshing swim in the pool or the sea, stretch out in the sunshine or relax in the hotel gardens with nothing more pressing on the agenda than deciding where to sit next. 

Today’s excursion takes you beyond Puglia into neighbouring Basilicata for a visit to remarkable Matera. Set amid a rugged landscape, this extraordinary city is famed for its ancient Sassi, a maze of cave dwellings carved into the rock and inhabited until surprisingly recent times. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Matera is one of Italy’s most fascinating places. You’ll have time to explore its atmospheric streets, colourful piazzas and rock-hewn churches, and perhaps stop for lunch at your leisure.

Enjoy a final day at leisure in Torre Canne or choose an optional excursion into the Apulian countryside. Begin at the extraordinary Castellana Caves, where vast underground caverns, stalactites and stalagmites create a dramatic hidden world beneath the surface. Then continue to elegant Locorotondo, a whitewashed hill town known for its circular layout, pretty streets and celebrated local wines. A visit to a nearby cellar offers the chance to sample regional vintages and specialties before the day ends in Martina Franca, where a handsome Baroque old quarter waits behind the town’s more modern façade.

After a week of whitewashed towns, coastal views and unforgettable southern Italian scenery, it’s time to say goodbye to Puglia. Leaving Torre Canne behind, you’ll travel by coach back to Bari for your journey home.