Puglia

Puglia – Italy’s Best Kept Secret

“Puglia is the heel to Italy’s infamous boot, and home to some of the brightest seas, most diverse art and architecture, most mouthwatering peasant cuisine, and kindest people in all of Italy.”

– Giovanna Dell’Or

With the millions of tourists visiting Italy every year coming from N America and few knowing about Puglia, this might be one of our favorite reasons for suggesting Puglia. You have the opportunity to feel like a local and not have to fight crowds of tourists.

This is only the beginning of why it is one of our favorites. It boasts 500 miles of coastline flanked by the Adriatic and Ionian Sea with beautiful turquoise waters. The cuisine is uniquely different, as is the architecture. The Greeks had a hand it, as they started arriving in the 8th century BC. The local stone is white which is prevalent, not only in the buildings, but scattered across the region and seen almost everywhere in the landscape.

This region produces 40% of the olive oil in Italy. It has over 60 million olive trees with 5 million known as monumental because they are between 400-800 years old. Then there is the wine, the people of Puglia, the art and so much history.

Please join us for an exploration like no other!

Our all-inclusive villa packages are tailored to guests who want to experience the rich Italian culture in luxury! Your heart will be torn wishing to share all you have experienced, while keeping Puglia’s secrets safe!

100% ALL-INCLUSIVE VILLA

Spacious En Suite Accommodations
Dinners by Private Chef
Open Bar
Hand Selected Italian Wines & Spirits
Five Tours Include Wine with Lunch
Olive Oil & Cheese Tastings
Optional Truffle Hunting
Cooking Class
Montalcino Wine Tasting
Montepulciano Historic Wine Cellar Tasting
All Gratuities & Taxes
Conveniently Located Between
Rome & Florence

PUGLIA VILLA

A vacation here is a magical mix of nature, sea, food, art, and relaxation. Over 50 million olive trees, miles and miles of golden beaches caressed by blue sea, and a fantastic climate with more than 300 sunny days per year make Puglia one of Italy’s most appealing regions.

SAMPLE TOUR

Customizable for groups of 10 or more

DAY 1 – SATURDAY
Transfer from Bari or Brindisi airport, or pre-hotel arrangements/transfers; cost based on participation. Check-in time 5:30pm. Welcome Reception followed by dinner.

DAY 2 – SUNDAY
Brindisi — Breakfast and Dinner at the villa. Enjoy a guided stroll from one side of the old city to the other with a short boat ride, marveling at the millenniums-old port and it’s rich history. We will be delighted at lunch by a wine tasting at Numero Primo.

DAY 3 – MONDAY
Egnazia — Breakfast and Dinner at the villa. Our first stop is a guided visit of Museum and Archaeological Park of Egnazia where marvelous painted pottery and marble sculptures help explain the evolution of art and society throughout the centuries. Outside, you will recognize some typical elements of a Roman city: ruins of the Forum, Thermal Baths and the Via Trajana. After the museum tour we will visit a cheese maker for a Mozzerella and Burrata demonstration with light lunch, then we’ll enjoy a tasting with a local olive oil producer.

DAY 4 – TUESDAY
Cooking Class— Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner at the villa. Chef Katie will teach us to make the very unique Pugliese pasta called cavatelli, to be shared at lunch. Enjoy the villa for the afternoon, or choose to explore Ostuni — often referred to “the white town”.

DAY 5 – WEDNESDAY
Grottaglie & Locorotondo — Breakfast and Dinner at the villa. Today, Grottaglie is an important center in the traditional art of decorated pottery. We’ll visit a local artist who will explain how she is carrying on a family tradition. Afterwards we will drive to Locorotondo
for lunch and wine tasting, followed by a visit to the Cardone winery — Marianna and her brother now carry their grandfather’s vision into the future.

DAY 6 – THURSDAY
Bari and Polignano a Mare — B, D, at the villa. We will visit Bari and afterwards stop for a seafood lunch on a terrace near the sea. Then, we’ll visit one of the most iconic and often photographed cliff towns — the charming old town of Polignano a Mare. After a walk thru the old town centre, perched atop limestone cliffs, above crystal
clear water, we’ll descend to Lama Monachile, also known as the Beach of Polignano (pictured on front).

DAY 7 – FRIDAY
Conversano — Breakfast and Dinner at the villa. Guided walk through the marvelous alleyways of Conversano, where the coexistence of Lords, Abbesses and Bishops was never easy. See what remains of an important heritage: the Castle, Monastery and Cathedral. After so many
exceptional experiences, we have saved one more for the last day. A visit to Il Frantoio, a 500 year old farm, where timeless tradition and culture intertwine, for an olive oil tasting and lunch.

DAY 8 – SATURDAY
After breakfast, 10am check-out, then embark on your other European travel plans. Sicily anyone? Details for optional transfers to airports available on request: cost based on participation.

Allow us to make your Italian Dream Vacation become a reality!

Please Read Disclaimer

PLEASE NOTE: Groups require minimum participation. If not met, you will be notified by 7/6 months prior and a full refund will be issued for payments made by check. Credit card payments incur a 3.5% bank fee (Canadian Cards Incur 5%) Bank Fees are subject to change. We recommend not purchasing any non-refundable airfare etc. until such time.

Once a trip is confirmed all deposits and payments are 100% non-refundable. We highly encourage purchasing Travel & Medical Cancellation insurance to protect your travel investment. We are not responsible for any fees you might incur that insurance or trip cancellation does not cover. Policies differ, but best to purchase cancel for any reason policies that always require purchasing with 1st payment of your trip (10-21 days based on company).

Should the Italian government raise taxes, or fuel increases, while rare, additional collection will be required prior to departure. All details are accurate as of posting, but may be subject to change, other restrictions may apply.

Puglia Villas Travel

Puglia; Italy’s Best Kept Secret

POLIGNANO A MARE, Italy — Puglia has some of the brightest seas, most diverse art and architecture, most mouthwatering peasant cuisine and kindest people in all of Italy — including strangers who will go out of their way to lead you to one after another stunning beach on impossibly lapis-lazuli waters. Puglia is the heel to Italy’s […]