Pick up your rental car and head to the historic center of Bari. Stroll through Bari Vecchia's cobbled streets and discover architectural beauties such as the Basilica of Saint Nicholas, the Cathedral of Saint Sabinus, and the Petruzzelli Theater, Italy's fourth-largest theater. Then, head southeast through the Puglian countryside to Alberobello; the 35-mile (56 km) drive will take approximately one hour.

Accommodation:

• Standard Accommodation: Casa Albergo Sant'Antonio

After breakfast, you'll explore Alberobello, the village of the trulli. These small buildings with conical roofs served as housing for peasants and agricultural workers and are still lived in today. In the afternoon, you have several sightseeing options: Rent bicycles and explore the Itria Valley, with its olive tree groves, vineyards, and prickly pear cacti. Visit the Castellana Caves, about 20 minutes by car from the center of Alberobello. This set of corridors and underground cavities, with its arches, stalactites, and stalagmites, can be visited in an hour or two. Take the road to Locorotondo, a 10-minute drive from Alberobello. This town, known for its white wine, is ranked among the 217 most beautiful villages in Italy. Visit Ostuni, the "white city," which is aptly named. You can hire a local guide to give you a walking tour or wander about on your own. Be sure to walk to the city walls to get a view of the countryside and the Adriatic coast. Ostuni is a 35-minute drive from Alberobello.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Standard Accommodation: Casa Albergo Sant'Antonio

You take the road towards Matera, located in the Basilicata region, bordering Puglia. On arrival, you set off to explore this magnificent city and its "sassi", cave dwellings dug into the rock, in a veritable labyrinth of winding alleys. Designated European Capital of Culture in 2019, it is considered one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. We advise you to hire a local guide to make the most of the beauties of this unique city. Unforgettable...

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Standard Accommodation: Casa Albergo Sant'Antonio

Today you'll drive to Lucanian Dolomites Regional Park in Basilicata to discover two of the most beautiful villages in the region. It will take you about two hours and 15 minutes to reach the park, but it will be worth your time. Pietrapertosa and Castelmezzano seem to spring directly from the rocky mountain peaks of the Lucanian Dolomites. It seems that time has stopped here. As you walk the narrow cobbled streets of the villages, you'll discover the rural soul of the region. After your visit, it's time to make the three-hour drive to Lecce.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Standard Accommodation: Palazzo Belsanti

Today you'll explore Lecce, nicknamed the Florence of the South. From its Roman ruins to its baroque masterpieces, this city is an architectural gem. Lecce's baroque style combines mythological creatures, fantastic characters, floral and flamboyant motifs, and, in the most prestigious palaces, proud coats of arms. You'll need to focus on the details to appreciate the dazzling whole.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Standard Accommodation: Palazzo Belsanti

After breakfast, you'll take the road to Otranto, which is 45 minutes by car from Lecce. When you arrive, you will go on a beautiful coastal walk to the Punta Palascia lighthouse, which is located on Cape Otranto, the symbolic border between the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic Sea. Cape Otranto is the easternmost point in Italy. Here, you are barely 50 miles (80 km) from the Albanian coast. During the hike, you'll have the opportunity to swim in crystal clear waters. Expect to spend two or three hours on this walk, with a 328-foot (100 m) change in elevation on the outbound and inbound journeys. In the afternoon, you'll have free time to visit Otranto's medieval historic center, its Aragonese castle, and, especially, its cathedral with its beautiful, mysterious Tree of Life mosaic floor.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Standard Accommodation: Masseria Uliveto

Puglia has always been a crossroads of peoples and a meeting point between the West and the East due to its strategic location. Today you'll travel one hour south to the tip of the Salento Peninsula to see the meeting point between the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea. You'll visit two small towns on the peninsula, Santa Cesarea Terme, known for its thermal baths, and Santa Maria di Leuca, the southernmost town in Italy. If swimming or relaxing on the beach sounds appealing, Marina di Pescoluse, known as the Maldives of Salento, is your best bet.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Standard Accommodation: Masseria Uliveto

It will take you about two hours to drive to the Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport from Lecce, and you'll want to arrive early to turn in your rental car. Depending on your flight time, you could stop en route at Monopoli or Polignano a Mare to stretch your legs and enjoy a cappuccino.

Meals: Breakfast