All Inclusive Weeklong Tour of Salento's Coasts and Countryside

Welcome to Salento! We’ll greet you as soon as you step off your flight at Brindisi Papola Casale Airport or any other location of your choice (must be pre-approved) and whisk you away to the traditional villa that you’ll call home for the week. As you enjoy a pleasant drive through the Italian countryside, we’ll be happy to accommodate any needed stops for essentials you may have missed, a quick bite, or of course, espresso. Upon arrival at your home in Collepasso, you’ll find a traditional Italian aperitivo ready for your enjoyment as you settle in. But be sure to save room for a locally-sourced home-cooked dinner later in the evening! While you enjoy your dinner, we’ll discuss the exciting activities planned for the week ahead while understanding your particular interests and requests, to which we’ll be happy to cater your itinerary.

After sleeping off your jet-lag, you’ll be picked up for a quick espresso and small breakfast in Collepasso’s town square. From there, we’ll begin the day’s excursions at an olive grove where we’ll enjoy tasting a variety of oils while learning about the long and rich history of olive oil in Salento. We will then travel to Otranto, a picturesque coastal town with the distinction of being the easternmost town in Italy, a characteristic that has led to a long history of conflict and rule under some of Europe’s most famous empires. We’ll immerse ourselves in Otranto’s walled city center, housing the 15th-century Aragonese Castle and 11th-century Otranto Cathedral, famous for its sweeping floor mosaics. Today, the beautiful city center is lined with art galleries, local craft shops, and restaurants for you to peruse and enjoy. We will spend almost 4 hours exploring the walled city’s winding roads and hidden passageways.

After enjoying espresso and pastries at the villa, we’ll make our way to Porto Selvaggio Nature Preserve to experience this protected park’s untouched coastline and crystal clear waters. While we encourage all to enjoy its refreshing waters and ample marine life, Porto Selvaggio’s hiking trails and beautiful coastal views offer enjoyment for all.

After enjoying the sea and sun, we’ll head just a few minutes south along the coast to Santa Caterina for gelato or aperitif before setting off on foot along a beautiful coastal walking path until we reach Santa Maria al Bagno, another small and splendid coastal village. Along the way, guests are welcome to stop to enjoy the many offerings of refreshments, local shops, and breathtaking views. We’ll continue our journey south by car to a casual local seafront restaurant, serving the freshest catch that Salento has to offer to enjoy a rather filling lunch.

From here, we’ll continue along the coast to Gallipoli, first enjoying this populated city center’s modern offerings of eateries and roadside markets before passing over a 17th century bridge to the historical city center, an island surrounded by defensive walls. Here we’ll enjoy a breathtaking sunset from the old city’s beach as we explore the shops and attractions throughout its cobblestone streets. We’ll enjoy dinner from one of the many local food trucks.

We’ll begin our morning with a short drive to Galatina, famous for being one of St. Peter’s stopping points along his trip to Rome. We’ll visit one of the most famous pastry shops in the city where we will taste the Pasticciotto, a traditional pastry unique to Salento, then we will walk through the streets of the old city and admire its historic churches and courtyards.

Afterwards, we’ll head north towards the highly regarded Salice Salentino wine region to enjoy traditionally produced Negroamaro, Primitivo, and Salice Salentino amongst other varietals. We will visit 2 or 3 wineries to taste their wines, walk through their vines, and learn about their history and current operations.

We’ll spend the evening strolling through the wonderful limestone streets of the Baroque city Lecce, nicknamed “The Florence of the South.” Between appreciating its many hidden piazzas and intricate architecture, we’ll enjoy dinner at a local eatery.

Today we return to Salento’s eastern coast to enjoy the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic sea in several of its picturesque port towns. After enjoying breakfast at the villa, we’ll set off for our first stop, Santa Cesaria Terme, a cliffside town well known as a destination for the elite, who for centuries have enjoyed the healing properties of its mineral-rich thermal baths. At the edge of town lies Spiaggia dei 100 gradini (“Beach of 100 Steps”), one of the most beautiful swimming coves Salento has to offer, and our second opportunity of the day for a refreshing dip into the sea.

After working up an appetite through our active morning of swimming (and climbing back up 100 steps), we’ll continue south to Castro for a casual seafood lunch overlooking the sea. Having our fill, we’ll make our way down the hillside to Castro Marina, where we’ll join the locals of all ages who gather along the marina’s cement docks to enjoy its calm waters cooled by natural springs. On our way out of town, we’ll stop by the Zinzulusa Cave, a massive grotto carved into the seaside cliffs, often appearing on short lists of the most beautiful caves in the world.

We'll enjoy dramatic cliffside views as we continue our journey south, until we reach the southernmost tip of Puglia and round the “heel of the boot.” At the very tip, we’ll pause in Santa Maria di Leuca, a history-rich city where the Ionian and Adriatic seas collide. We’ll visit the Basilica De Finibus Terrae (The End of Land), consecrated by Pope Julius I in 343 AD, before embarking on a boat tour to explore the many caves dotting the surrounding cliffs, inside many of which prehistoric remains have been discovered.

Taking a break from Salento’s beautiful sea, today we’ll travel north to the Valle d’Itria to enjoy Puglia’s untouched countryside. We’ll enjoy a two hour drive through the thousands of olive trees and vineyards that dominate this region until arriving at Alberobello, our first stop in the “Valley of the Trulli.” With its narrow, hilly streets lined with seemingly miniature whitewashed houses with conical stone roofs, Alberobello feels as though it came from a fairytale. Here you’ll learn about the history of the trullo and its significance to the working class of Puglia while taking in the views of the hillsides.

We’ll continue our journey through the valley to Locorotondo, a hilltop town given the accolade 'Borghi più belli d'Italia' (one of the most beautiful villages in Italy). We may be lucky enough to be visiting during one of the village’s many festivals featuring art installations and intricate decorations throughout the historical city center, but if not, we’ll still find much to appreciate amongst the winding roads throughout the whitewashed village. Elevated on the hilltops, we’ll have many opportunities for expansive views of the valley below.

We’ll stop for lunch in the third of these sister cities, Cisternino, famous for its barbecuing butchers and their traditional “bombette.” We’ll enjoy the local specialties amongst the alleyways and piazzas that seem to pop up throughout this haphazard city center before making our way out of this beautiful valley.

Ostuni, La Città Bianca (The White City), will serve as our final stop of the day. This beautiful hilltop city boasts spectacular views of the Adriatic Sea to the east and along with those of the surrounding countryside in all directions, with countless olive orchards and Masserias. Against this backdrop, we’ll enjoy an aperitivo in the historical city center. After this long day, we’ll enjoy dinner back at the villa.

During your final day, in true Salentino fashion, we'll take it slow. We'll enjoy a leisurely stroll through a local open air market that occurs daily in a different town in the region. We'll visit a local producer of sun-dried ingredients and other local flavors. If the slow life's not for you, we're happy to help you to see anything you think you might have missed during the week! We'll return to the villa for a multi-course farewell dinner.

Following a breakfast to accommodate your travel schedule, we’ll bring you to Brindisi Papola Casale Airport or any other pre-approved location for your departure. We thank you for choosing to explore Puglia with us and hope you’ve gained an abundance of memories to last a lifetime!