Journey through Puglia to Matera

Name: Journey through Puglia to Matera
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

1 reviews

Activity Level

Easy

Activity

Culture

Overview

Journey from the sweeping coastline of Puglia to UNESCO Alberobello and onto the ancient city of Matera.

As one of our Independent Tours, Journey through Puglia to Matera combines the highlights of Puglia with the magical city of stone, Matera – not to be missed when exploring Southern Italy. The charm of Puglia invites you in with sweet aromas of olive groves and carefully crafted vineyards. From extravagant churches and ancient towns with narrow, winding streets, to seas of olives and simple fishing harbours, this beautiful region has much to offer.

There’s no better place to begin your Puglian adventure than the quintessential town of Monopoli. Resting on the shimmering coastline, take a moment to immerse yourself in the local culture as you wander the old streets, discovering the beauty of baroque architecture around every corner. From here, you can visit one of Puglia’s most famous beaches; perched on a cliff above the crystal-clear Adriatic, Polignano a Mare is a true spectacle and well worth visiting.

From the coast, travel inland to the hilltop town of Locorotondo, truly deserving of its accolade of ‘Borghi piu belli d’Italia’ (one of the most beautiful villages in Italy). Here, we’ve arranged a wine tasting for you to sample the famous sparkling white wine, Bianco Locorotondo DOC. Next, you explore the famous Trulli houses of Alberobello, their white-washed conical roofs now recognised as icons of Puglia.

Whilst not within Puglia itself, no visit to Southern Italy would be complete without witnessing the spectacle that is Matera. As the European Capital of Culture in 2019 and the set of James Bond’s No Time To Die in 2020, there is much to discover. We’ve arranged a guided tour of the renowned rock churches and caves cut into this ancient city; it truly is fascinating and incredibly beautiful, particularly within the glow of sunset. So, help yourself to a glass of chilled wine and a plate of the local pasta to end your Southern Italian tour on a high note.

Key Information

Trip Code: T07PG
Ways to Travel: Self-Guided Holidays
Countries: Italy

What's Included

7 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of 3* & 4* hotels
All breakfasts
Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
Luggage transfers between hotels
Private car transfers between hotels
Wine tasting in Locorotondo
Guided group tour of Matera
Il Forno di Gennaro - Traditional bread making workshop in Matera

Highlights

Explore the famous Trulli house of Alberobello, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Enjoy a wine tasting in Locorotondo and a guided tour of the unforgettable city of Matera
Swim in the clear waters of Monopoli & Polignano a Mare, stunning Puglian beaches
Sip chilled white wine in the sunshine, discovering grand baroque architecture and small, local boutiques

Itinerary

First Destination: Bari
Next Destination: Bari

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Bari
Next Destination: Bari

Arrive at your first hotel in Monopoli, located on the waterfront next to the 16^th century fortress, Castello di Carlo V.

Overnight Albergo Diffuso 4*, Monopoli.

Meals included:Breakfast

A quintessential southern Italian town, Monopoli entices you in with glimpses into everyday life whilst still being a popular tourist destination. From the photogenic harbour, see local fishermen return their catch with nonnas on the balconies behind, watching the world go by.

Follow your nose through the old towns narrow winding streets, past small boutiques and tempting eateries. The Basilica of the Madonna della Madia is a beautiful baroque style cathedral, well worth a visit, as is Palmeiri Palace, an 18^th century Baroque Palace highlighting Lecce-inspired architecture. Enjoy a glass of chilled white wine on the Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi; the perfect way to end your day.

Overnight Albergo Diffuso 4*, Monopoli.

Meals included:Breakfast

Expand your exploration of Monopoli to the coastline and along the lungomare – the paved promenade that skirts the old town along the coast. There are plenty of beaches within walking distance from where you can enjoy your morning. One of Puglia’s most famous beaches – Cala Porto – in Polignano a Mare, is just a 15min drive away should you want to tick this one off the list too.

Later in the day, you will be transferred to Locorotondo where we have arranged a wine tasting for you; Bianco Locorotondo DOC is a famous sparkling white wine in Italy. You will stay in Locorotondo for the next two nights, plenty of time to see why it deserves its accolade of ‘Borghi più belli d’Italia’ (one of the most beautiful villages in Italy).

Overnight Sotto le Cummerse 4*, Locorotondo.

Meals included:Breakfast

Perched atop a hill, Locorotondo is a fantastic viewpoint to see the surrounding countryside bursting with olive groves and vineyards. Spend the morning wandering the maze of whitewashed lanes, grand baroque archways, and sipping an aperol spritz in the sun.

In the afternoon, we recommend taking the train to Alberobello (10mins – exc. Sundays). This small town is an incredibly picturesque destination which has become a must see for many travellers in Puglia. Made a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unusual districts of trulli, these white-washed conical roofed houses have become icons of the town. Wandering the trulli district is fascinating, there are also a handful of small museums and shops nearby that you can visit before taking the train back to Locorotondo.

Overnight Sotto le Cummerse 4*, Locorotondo.

Meals included:Breakfast

This morning, you will be transferred to your third and final overnight destination of Matera. Technically not in Puglia, but in the neighbouring region of Basilicata, Matera cannot be missed when visiting Southern Italy. One of the oldest cities in the world, Matera is rich in nature, history, and culture; it’s unlike anywhere else.

Today we have arranged a guided group tour of this fascinating city, giving you the opportunity to learn from the locals as you explore the unique cave settlements and historic rock churches. As the European Capital of Culture in 2019 and the set of James Bond’s No Time To Die in 2020, there is much to discover in this magical city of stone.

Overnight Hotel Belvedere 3*, Matera.

Meals included:Breakfast

Take your time exploring more of Matera. Simply wandering the streets fully immerses you into the character of the ancient city with its churches cut into the rock of hillsides and ravines. Some of the best viewpoints of the city are from Belvedere di Piazza Giovanni Pascoli overlooking the rock church, ravine and Duomo’s bell tower – perfect for a photo opportunity. You may also like to visit MUSMA, an extraordinary art museum with modern sculptures scattered in a 17^th century cave palace.

End your day with a traditional Italian meal at one of the many great restaurants in Matera. Typical dishes are orecchiette pasta, senise peppers, and Aglianico wine – one of the local red wines. We recommend choosing a restaurant with a view; sunset over the city is one of the most magical times to see Matera, glowing in the golden hour.

Overnight Hotel Belvedere 3*, Matera.

Meals included:Breakfast

Matera city is perched on the edge of the ravine, walking down to the ravine is a great morning activity (before it gets too hot). The rocky trail is quite steep in places, but the views are truly spectacular. From the ravine, you can begin to appreciate the scale of the city and the contrast between the dwellings and the more modern, grander buildings.

In the afternoon, we have arranged a bread making workshop for you. Matera bread is a delicacy of the region, it has a unique taste produced only with re-milled durum wheat semolina from the Lucanian area and is an ancient and honoured tradition. During the workshop, you will discover this ancient art within one of the city’s historic bakeries, making your very own loaf of Matera bread. End with a tasting/aperitif of the handmade products and Lucanian wine.

Overnight Hotel Belvedere 3*, Matera.

Meals included:Breakfast

Add extra nights in Matera to explore more of this incomparable city before departing for home.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

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Accommodation

Albergo Diffuso 4*, Monopoli

With various houses scattered around central reception and the communal breakfast room (all within 200m), this elegant Albergo sits right on the port of Monopoli just a short walk from the beach. Created to offer visitors the authentic way of life, door to door with locals, historic homes were recovered and finely renovated, maintaining the exposed Tuff-stone walls and adding quality furniture to provide a home away from home.

Sotto le Cummerse 4*, Locorotondo

As another ‘Albergo Diffuso’ (multi-unit hotel), houses are scattered throughout the historic centre of Locorotondo. Breakfast is taken at La Salottina where fresh pastries are baked daily using organic, local produce. In the evenings, this becomes a communal place to relax and enjoy the ambiance of this beautiful hilltop town.

Hotel Belvedere 3*, Matera

Carefully conserved from ancient homes in the Sassi, this elegant hotel stands out amongst the old caves in the historic centre of Matera. The panoramic terraces give you an excellent view over the Sassi of Matera, the hotel is also conveniently located close to the renowned rock churches, cave houses, and museums. The cave rooms are incredibly unique, built into the old rock, all with their own unique character. There are also classic rooms available that aren’t built into the rock.

Essential Information

Italy

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Italy. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/italy
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/italy
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Italy.html

Please note: it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times in Italy.

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We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Reviews

Add new review

Kat Dillon

Added June 2024

The Best Guide ever...

I took the "Reverse Puglia" trip June 18 to 25, 2024. It was a great trip and overview of Puglia. We stayed in trulias in Alberobello and a cave room in Matera. Everything about the grip was perfect, the pace, the places we visited, the food and local guides. However...

Most Inspirational Moment

Not part of the tour but Gabiele took whoever wanted to go and it was AMAZING!! In Ostuni - a little museum and a very emotional visit: La "Donna di Ostuni" And another wonderful side trip: Musei di Matera

Thoughts on Group Leader

AMAZING - Gabriele made a great trip a once in a lifetime experience. He was so knowledgeable and had such enthusiasm and love for Italy...he made the trip perfect.