Trulli & Sassi

Fly from London to Bari, the Puglian regional capital, and transfer to the 4-star Oriente Hotel for a two-night stay. Enjoy an afternoon walking tour of Bari, a characterful blend of the charismatic old town and the contemporary Murat quarter.

A tour to local landmarks today takes you to Trani, the tranquil and traditional neighbour of busy Bari, with its little lanes, harbour views and water’s edge cathedral; continue inland to the 13th-century Castel del Monte, a stark and striking octagon castle, perched atop an isolated hill and built by Emperor Frederick ll, in a blend of architectural styles.
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Travel to historic Brindisi, the end of the Appian Way, and the 13th-century departure port for the sixth Christian crusade. We view the Porta d’Oriente; Castello Svevo, overseeing the port’s western channel; and the church of San Giovanni al Sepolcro, its finely embellished Roman Column now standing alone, since its ‘twin’ was removed to Lecce, where it is known as the Colonna di Sant’Oronzo. We follow its path to Lecce for two nights at the 5-star Patria Palace Hotel.
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A day of discovery in Lecce, ‘the Florence of the south’, famed for the florid feast of carved-stone gargoyles and cherubs, adorning its Baroque buildings and turning its streets into an outdoor gallery. The tour includes the Piazza Sant’Oronzo; the Roman amphitheatre, still used for summer performances; the Basilica of Santa Croce, its classic interior counterbalanced by the Lecce-Baroque splendour of its façade; and a private palazzo, where we enjoy an aperitif and appetisers.
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Travel to Taranto, a medieval village backed by a modern town, with fishing boats and naval ships on two Ionian Sea bays, and labyrinthine Old Town alleys sometimes narrowing to single file. View the medieval Castel Sant’Angelo and cupola-topped San Cataldo Cathedral, and visit the Archaeological Museum, housed in a former convent. Continue to Matera for overnight at the 4-star MH Matera Hotel.
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Explore unique Matera, given UNESCO status as the Mediterranean’s most outstanding intact example of troglodyte settlements, its atmospheric ‘sassi’ caves stunning in their simplicity. Reached via a network of alleys and stairways, some are stone-fronted to look like streets, many are renovated and in use again, and all are overseen by the stately 13^th century cathedral, rising from its rocky plateau. Travel to the high plateau town of Altamura, its focus on the Romanesque cathedral, marked by soaring towers and stone-carved arches. Continue towards Alberobello, for two nights at the nearby 4-star Grand Hotel Olimpo.
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Tour to the town of Martina Franca, a buzzing hub of Valle d’Itria, where four historic city gates lead in to paved piazzas, a Ducal Palace and beautiful basilica. Return to the UNESCO World Heritage gem of Alberobello, brimming with character from its curious conical rooftops to its long, cobbled lanes. Time to tour the ‘trulli’, some still home to residents, others now thriving as shops, cafés, and trattoria. Enjoy a museum and wine cellar visit, with wine tasting and appetisers.
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Travel back to Bari and transfer to the airport for your return flight to London.
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