A Journey through Puglia

Treasures of Italy's ‘Deep South’
 
Experience the charm of laid-back Puglia on this self-guided journey by car (hire car included). Discover a land of olive groves, picturesque coastal scenery, splendid Baroque architecture, ancient conical houses and delicious local cuisine, and stay in traditional masserie.
A Journey through Puglia. 8 nights
A Journey through Puglia. 8 nights
 

Holiday information

 

A touring holiday in Puglia

Puglia – the heel of Italy – has a special character which goes beyond the warming influence of the solleone (‘lion sun’) that ripens the olives and lends intensity to the full-bodied Negroamaro wines. This unique appeal is perhaps best summed up by the simple, uncomplicated attitude of its people, and a sense of slowing down.
Here, traditions run deep and family ties are strong. Flavours are fresh and bold, with a lusty cuisine unafraid to draw on the abundant riches of the land. The towns and villages, too, have a laid-back, unpretentious charm; and the landscapes, while little-known and even less frequently visited, have a colourful allure, from olive groves stretching out to a red-earthed horizon to the honey-coloured coastline – peppered with caves and lapped by the waters of an emerald sea.
Our discovery of this inviting region features three masserie of character, from which you can explore at leisure. We provide suggestions on cultural visits that take in the most beautiful architectural treasures, and recommend some excellent restaurants where you can pause for a leisurely lunch of pasta and seafood accompanied by a crisp dry or slightly sparkling white Locorotondo wine, or a full-bodied Primitivo red.
 

2024

We are currently unable to take bookings for this holiday for 2024. There are, however, many other holidays to choose from, so why not browse our site some more?
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • Arrival near Porto Badisco
    Night 1: at Masseria Panareo (the first of three nights here).
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of exploration.
  • Explore Porto Badisco & the surrounding area
    Spend your time here relaxing by the hotel’s panoramic pool, visiting the splendid botanical gardens of La Cutura, walking along the coast (we suggest a route to Porto Badisco; 8.5km, 2.5hrs) and exploring nearby Otranto. This historic port sits on a rocky spur close to the stiletto ‘heel’ of Italy. Meander through the streets and alleyways of the Old Town (literally ship-shape, within its imposing fortifications), pay a visit to the Norman cathedral with its remarkable 12th-century ‘tree of life’ mosaic, then stroll along the walls, where you might find a strategically placed café for a refreshing drink and a view of the bay.
    Take a walk to Porto Badisco
    Explore Otranto
  • Porto Badisco to Sternatia: 1hr by car
    Today, take a detour west, to visit Galatina’s ornately frescoed church en route to the fortified island town of Gallipoli. Wander its maze of streets, admiring Baroque churches and picking a fish restaurant for lunch, before heading north-east. Your next two nights are spent at the Masseria Chicco Rizzo, located in peaceful countryside near Sternatia, just south of Lecce. If you wish, you can choose to stay in Lecce itself – the charming Palazzo Rollo occupies an ideal position near the city’s magnificent cathedral.
    Gallipoli
  • Explore Lecce
    Spend today in Lecce (just a short drive or train journey from Sternatia), whose Baroque splendours have earned it the soubriquet ‘Florence of the South’. Following our self-guided walking tour, admire the sumptuous architecture, enhanced by the easily carved, honey-coloured local stone (pietra Leccese), and featuring elaborately sculpted gargoyles and animals. Not everyone is a fan, of course: the Marchese Grimaldi famously claimed the façade of the Basilica di Santa Croce was like ‘a lunatic having a nightmare’; but for most people, it works. So immerse yourself in this harmonious beauty – with its astonishing number of churches – and prepare to be stupito (amazed).
    Explore Lecce
    Beautiful Baroque Lecce
  • Sternatia to Ostuni: 2hrs by car
    Continuing north today, enter the Valle d’Itria where the rolling countryside is criss-crossed by dry-stone walls (much like our own Yorkshire) and dotted with the distinctive, cone-shaped roofs of trulli  houses. You stay in the wonderfully traditional, oil-producing Masseria Il Frantoio.
  • Explore from Ostuni
    Take an early morning trip to (the trulli famous!) Alberobello to beat the crowds. Then explore the fabulous ‘white towns’ of Ostuni and Locorotondo, perhaps sampling the latter’s renowned red wines on a tasting tour at the Cantina Sociale; or head to the nearby coast or the beach. For a walk, we recommend the archaeological park of Santa Maria d'Agnono (6km, 2hrs); or you could walk or cycle in the Parco delle Dune Costiere (16km), or at Torre Guaceto (7km, 2hrs). Further afield, you can explore the Pianelle Forest, or continue as far as spellbinding Matera.
    Viisit the famous Alberobello
    Discover the white town of Ostuni
 

Accommodation

You stay at three beautifully converted traditional masserie.

In some places, we work with more than one hotel, as shown below. All are hand-picked by us and, unless there is a price implication (in which case we will contact you to discuss your options), we will tell you which one we have booked for you on your booking confirmation.

Wherever you stay, we recommend extra nights at any base (or all three!) to give you more time to explore the local area.
 

Extend your stay

What is included
  • 8 nights
  • 5 dinners
    8 breakfasts
  • detailed cultural information
  • category B car hire
 
Reviews

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We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • The information that we send to you 2-3 weeks before your holiday includes practical information about each stage of your journey so that you can travel confidently from one hotel to another, recommendations for places to visit and eat out in each place, plus cultural information about the area. Where applicable, we also provide notes for a self-guided walking tour of most cities, and some large towns. Sample travel pack >
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact us to discuss your plans.
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Italy, but not a visa (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The principal official language is Italian, though some regions have a second official language, such as South Tyrol, where German is widely spoken. The currency is the Euro. Italian time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
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