Arrive in Lecce and make your way from the train station to your accommodation, which is located 800 meters away in the historical center. You can walk this distance or take a taxi, with an estimated fare of EUR 15. Settle into a charming B&B that will serve as your base for the next two days. This afternoon, you have free time to explore Lecce at your own pace. Discover the main monuments of the city, which feature distinctive Baroque architecture and reflect the region’s rich artistic heritage. Spend the evening in Lecce.

Lecce is often called the “Florence of the South” due to its elaborate Baroque buildings crafted from local limestone.

Begin your day with a visit to Otranto, a small seaside village facing the Adriatic Sea. Explore the Norman Cathedral, where you can see the unique ‘Tree of Life’ mosaic floor. Spend time hiking along the coastline, where you encounter Mediterranean vegetation, local flowers, and historic Saracen watchtowers overlooking the sea. After your hike, return by train to Lecce and spend the night at your hotel.

Otranto’s cathedral mosaic was completed in the 12th century and is one of the largest in Europe.

Meals: Breakfast

Start your day with a private transfer to the train station, then board a train to Ostuni. This striking hilltop town, close to the seashore, is known as the “white city” because of its fortress of whitewashed buildings clustered on the hillside. Upon arrival, a private transfer takes you from the station into the town center. You have free time to explore Ostuni’s enchanting maze of Greek-style narrow streets and admire its Mediterranean architecture. In the evening, enjoy dinner at a typical local restaurant before spending the night in a hotel in Ostuni.

Ostuni’s dazzling white appearance comes from centuries-old lime-based paint used to reflect sunlight and keep homes cool.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Spend the morning hiking through the countryside surrounding Ostuni. Walk among millenary olive groves rooted in red, clay-like soil, and take in expansive views of the Adriatic Sea. At 4pm, a private transfer brings you to Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its distinctive dry-stone dwellings called trulli, located in the Itria Valley. Settle into your accommodation in the historical center of Alberobello. Later, participate in a wine and typical product tasting before your overnight stay.

The trulli of Alberobello are built without mortar, a technique that dates back to prehistoric times and is unique to this region.

Meals: Breakfast

Today you set out to explore the Itria Valley, walking along an old aqueduct route toward Locorotondo. As you travel, you pass through landscapes dotted with olive trees, vineyards, and traditional trulli structures. The walk offers a close look at the region’s rural scenery and agricultural heritage. After reaching Locorotondo, return by train to Alberobello for the night.

Locorotondo is renowned for its circular old town layout and whitewashed houses, typical of Puglia’s architectural style.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, you transfer to Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site recognized for its ancient ‘Sassi’ cave dwellings. Upon arrival, check into your accommodation before joining a guided visit of the ‘Sassi’ area. Explore these rock-hewn homes, which have been inhabited since Paleolithic times and are carved into the cliffs overlooking a deep canyon. Later, experience a tasting of local products. Overnight in Matera.

Matera is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, with settlements dating back over 9,000 years.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Embark on a hike across the Murgia plateau, which faces Matera. As you walk, you will see 8th-century rock churches decorated with Byzantine frescoes, and take in a landscape of open pastures and traditional stone farmhouses. There is also an opportunity to observe several species of falcons in flight. In the evening, enjoy dinner at a typical trattoria to sample local flavors. Spend the night in Matera.

The Murgia plateau is known for its rugged karst terrain and is part of a protected regional park surrounding Matera.

Meals: Breakfast