Sustainable tourism in Puglia. Itinerant 6-day tour for small groups 2022

Your first meeting with your guide and the rest of the group takes place in Monopoli, a lively seaside town just south of Bari. Reaching Monopoli is very easy. If you are planning to arrive by train, you can look for a direct connection from the city where you are travelling from. Alternatively, you can arrive at Bari Centrale first and then continue onto Monopoli on one of the many regional trains. Bari Centrale is very well-connected to many Italian cities. If you choose to fly to Bari or Brindisi, you can reach Monopoli by train from both cities. And don't forget that if you arrive by train, you are entitled to a discount!

We advise you to plan your arrival in Monopoli by the afternoon so that you can check in at your accommodation and meet your guide and group in the early evening for a welcome drink and presentation.

The first stops on our tour are Monopoli, Polignano a Mare and the coast south of Bari. We start with a walk in the historic centre of Monopoli, taking advantage of the quiet early morning hours. We will walk along the defensive walls, passing by the castle and the beautiful baroque cathedral. In the late morning we will head to the nearby Polignano a Mare by train. After a walk together along the streets of the old town, we will enjoy a few hours of free time and relaxation. Set on a rocky spur on the sea, Polignano a Mare is a very lively and colourful city, the ideal place for a swim in the clear waters of the lower Adriatic, for an aperitif or an ice cream on one of the many terraces overlooking the sea.

In the afternoon, as the sun goes down, we will walk back towards Monopoli, taking a nature walk along the coast that connects Polignano to our arrival city. Small bays and ancient coastal towers accompany us along the way, while in the background we can enjoy the sound of the sea and the orange shades of the sunset. We will arrive in Monopoli at dusk to enjoy the evening there. In the evening, those who want to join us for an aperitif or maybe a pizza together can do so.

Today we leave Monopoli to move further south within the region of Salento. In the morning we will head to Lecce, wonder of Salento, by train. As soon as we arrive at the station in Lecce, we will leave our luggage in safe lockers and then make our way into the many winding alleys of the historic centre. We will visit the beautiful city of art, wandering among palaces, baroque churches and the remains of the ancient Roman city. Together we will discover the most beautiful corners of the city and visit the famous Basilica of Santa Croce and the Duomo. After a guided tour of about two hours, we will take a break in the capital of Salento before leaving for Ostuni.

In the early afternoon we reach Ostuni, known as the White City. As soon as we arrive, we will take a guided tour in Twizy cars, comfortable electric mini-cars powered by 100% clean and certified energy, enjoying the most beautiful streets and terraces of the city. Ostuni is one of the most picturesque places in the region and our base for three nights. After the Twizy tour, you will check in at your new accommodation and then we will all meet again in the evening to discover the alleys of the medieval centre and its fascinating architecture.

Today we cross the bucolic Pugliese landscape aboard the colourful Twizy and discover rural Puglia and its ancient farming traditions. We will travel part of the ancient road Via Traiana, following the route of the ancient Romans, crusaders and pilgrims who in the Middle Ages made their way to the port of Brindisi on their journey to the Holy Land.

We will discover treasures dating from the Neolithic period right up to more recent history: dozens of dolmens, farms and medieval churches ready to welcome us with their timeless charm. We will stop to admire the different habitats and landscapes we find in the national park, such as the millenary olive trees, wide pastures and sown fields, before reaching the coastal dunes. At lunchtime we will stop to taste some local delicacies, all vegetarian- and vegan-friendly! What better way to get to know the fruits of such a generous land than at lunch?

Today we discover the hilly landscape of Valle d'Itria, also known as Valle dei Trulli. We will visit two of the most beautiful villages in Italy, the picturesque Locorotondo and Cisternino, as well as the famous Alberobello.

On board the comfortable Twizy, we will drive along country roads, through orchards and past dry stone walls until we reach the village of Alberobello, where we discover the fascinating architecture and history of the famous trulli houses.

Finally, we will visit a small farm specialising in the production of organic olive oil. How is olive oil produced? How does the harvest take place? How can you understand the quality of an oil on the palate? The always smiling Vita, owner of the oil mill, will reveal this and a thousand other curiosities. To complete the visit, there will be a tasting of different types of local olive oil.

Today we leave the White City to move to Matera in nearby Basilicata. Before reaching Matera we will take a stop in Bari. We will arrive at Bari Centrale station in the morning and, after having safely deposited our luggage at the station, will head into the alleys of the old town centre. "C Parigi teniv 'u mare, iev 'na piccola Bari" (If Paris had a sea, it would be a small Bari) reads a well-known Bari saying. Will it really be like this?

We will discover Bari during a guided tour of the two sides of the city. First on our itinerary is Murattiano, an elegant quarter of the French era, with its majestic Art Nouveau buildings. Next we will explore the picturesque old Bari, the authentic soul of the city. This part of the city is rich in ancient traditions, street markets, narrow alleys and medieval architecture. During the walk we will discover the austerity and elegance of the Pugliese Romanesque style, visiting the Basilica of San Nicola. During our visit of the old town, we will also admire the magnificent Swabian castle, and see the now famous "via delle orecchiette", where local grandmothers make fresh pasta in the street every day.

After the guided tour and some free time in the Pugliese capital, we will travel to nearby Basilicata, reaching the Lucanian city of Matera in the late afternoon. In the evening you will check into your new accommodation before we meet again and take an evening walk through the alleys of the city of the Sassi.

Today is our last day together. Matera and its Sassi are the perfect setting to conclude our tour together. Named European Capital of Culture 2019, the city of Matera is one of the most evocative places in southern Italy.

The city is one of the oldest in the world with a history dating back at least 9,000 years. In fact, it is believed to be the third oldest continuously inhabited place in the world! Let's visit the hidden treasures of the Lucanian city together: the typical ‘cave houses’ dug into the limestone rock and a rock church adorned with beautiful medieval frescoes.

After the guided tour of Matera, we will all have lunch together in a vegetarian- and vegan-friendly restaurant before saying goodbye.

The itinerary of our trip together ends with lunch in Matera on the sixth day. From the afternoon of day six, you can organise your return home. If you still have a few more days available, we suggest you extend your stay in Matera and maybe take the opportunity to visit nearby Taranto for a day trip, which is easily accessible by bus from Matera. Contrary to its fame as an industrial city, the ancient city of Magna Graecia will amaze you with one of the most interesting National Archaeological Museums, its Aragonese castle by the sea and its lively centre. Moreover, Taranto – with its train station and direct connections to Calabria, Naples and Rome – could be the ideal city from which to return home or continue your trip around the south.

We are happy to assist you and provide you with all the necessary information on how to return home or how to travel to other destinations in southern Italy. The nearest main railway junction is Bari, but Taranto and Matera also have good train and bus connections to other cities in southern Italy or to the North of the peninsula.