Puglia walking tour in the spring: Lecce to Bari

Day 1

We will meet in the foyer of our hotel, a classic hotel in the centre of the old town of Lecce, the 'Florence of the South'.  After an aperitivo at the roof bar of the hotel, we'll walk to a neighbouring restaurant for dinner.  (Dinner)

Day 2

Today we will spend the morning exploring the centre of this elegant city, taking a guided tour with visits to the atelier of one of city's master craftsmen, a 'cartapesta' workshop, and an extra-ordinary private museum. After lunch, the afternoon and evening are free. (Lunch)

Day 3

This morning we leave Lecce and head for Otranto.  On the way, we visit Puglia's oldest national park, for a lovely walk along the Ionian Sea, where we'll have a light lunch. (6 kms, 2 hrs, 229 mts ascent).

Our base for the next four nights is a perfectly preserved medieval port tucked behind 15th century Spanish walls above an idyllic harbour. Our accommodation is in a 5-star boutique hotel set in a 14th-century palazzo inside the town's bastions.  We'll have dinner together in one of our favourite restaurants in town.  (Lunch/Dinner)

Day 4

This morning we walk south of the town following trails along the coast, passing a number of medieval lookout towers that mark the eastern most point of Italy.  After stopping for a coffee in a strategically placed ‘agriturismo’, we’ll continue down the coast to a lovely small bay, where we will have lunch. (13 kms, 4 hrs, 335 mts ascent).

We’ll be given a lift back to our base, where the rest of the afternoon and evening are free.  (Lunch)

Day 5

Today is a lazy day, taking two sailing boats to head down the Adriatic Coast to a small bay where we'll anchor and have a picnic lunch served on the boats. There will be plenty of chances to swim in the blue Mediterranean water.  We'll return to our bases later in the afternoon, where the rest of the afternoon is free.

We’ll regroup in the evening for a lovely fish dinner in the town's best restaurant. The female chef is well-known in Puglia for her excellence and innovation.  (Lunch/Dinner)

Day 6

This morning we have a short drive inland to do a walk beginning at recently restored masseria that has a very long and fascinating history.  We will then take an easy walk through pine forests and farmlands to a 15th century lookout tower (also recently restored).  (6 km, 2 hrs, 64 mts ascent)

Here we will have a cooking demonstration in the tower, followed by lunch before driving back to our base.  The rest of the afternoon and evening is free.  (Lunch)

Day 7

This morning we leave the austere beauty of the Salento and head north to the Itria Valley in central Puglia.  On the way we will visit a family-run winery, which produces the celebrated ‘primitivo’, Puglia’s classic red wine, as well as experimenting with other, rarer, local grapes.  We will enjoy a wine tasting and then a light lunch.

Our base for the next four nights is a beautiful hotel dating back to 1790 when the estate was founded by the Benedictine nuns of St. Joseph of Monopoli. Its architecture draws on the cultural traditions of Puglia, and it features beautiful gardens and a swimming pool. Dinner is at our hotel.  (Lunch/Dinner).

Day 8

Today we enjoy a beautiful walk leaving our base along country lanes, walking through olive groves, orchards and oak forests before picking up an ancient stone path that takes us through hamlets and villages.   After a very special lunch based on homegrown produce, we will head back by bus to relax at our base (13 kms, 4 hrs, 160 ascent). 

In the evening, we'll go out for dinner at a nearby restaurant.  (Lunch/Dinner)

Day 9

Matera is an extraordinary town, not only for its past but also its future.  Although only a pleasant ninety-minute drive across wide open plains from our base, Matera seems to belong to another world.  Below the modern town, in a deep ravine, are the famous Sassi, one of Italy's oddest urban settlements, a silent medieval cave city, with prehistoric origins.   We will be taken on a guided tour of the town in the morning. 

After lunch, you will have time to further explore the town on your own, before we head back to base, where we will have dinner.  (Dinner).

Day 10

Today we walk from our base along ancient roads through vineyards, forest and cherry orchards lined with drystone walls before picking up a trail that follows an historic aqueduct to Alberobello.  This fascinating town is the capital of the ‘trulli’ district, with over 1500 of these charming, conical houses crowded into its historic centre.  (15 kms, 4.5 hours, 200 mts ascent).

After lunch, you’ll have time to explore Alberobello before we return to our base.  The rest of the afternoon is free.  (Lunch/dinner)

Day 11

This morning we leave the trulli and drive north across the rolling plains and wheat fields of Le Murghe, stopping to visit a lovely town, which is famous for its history and its churches but most of all its bread, which is renowned throughout Italy.

After a light lunch, we'll take an easy walk through forest and farmlands, climbing up to one of the most remarkable buildings in southern Italy: Castel del Monte, the mysterious, isolated octagonal castle constructed by Frederick II in the 13th century.  (4 kms, 1 hrs, 102 mts ascent)

After a visit to the castle, we’ll drive south to Bari. Once we are checked into our hotel in Bari, the evening is free.  (Lunch)

Day 12

Today you will be taken on a guided walk to explore the secrets of the medieval Bari Vecchia, the old town of Bari, a buzzing maze of tight alleyways and small piazzas adjacent to the city's port.  There are many x attractions, but the real pleasure of Bari Vecchia is simply wandering the narrow lanes soaking up the vibrant southern life.  The afternoon is free.  We’ll regroup for dinner in a nearby restaurant.  (Dinner)

Day 13

After breakfast, you’ll be able to continue your holiday.  Bari is well connected by air, rail and road to the rest of Italy and Europe.