Highlights of Puglia From Rome - 9 Days



Who is this trip for
Age range
0 - 99Start / End
- Rome
- Rome
Physical rating
Group size
1 - 25Meals included
13Highlights
- Rome - Start and end your journey in the Italian capital, with free time to explore the historic city independently
- Bari - Enjoy a guided tour of the Puglia region's capital city, taking in the Basilica of San Nicola and the central square, Piazza Mercantile
- Trani - Admire the whitewashed 12th-century cathedral and delve into the vibrant Jewish quarter in the city known as the 'Pearl of Puglia'
- Castel del Monte - See this ancient UNESCO-listed fortress, which is octagonal in shape and shrouded in mystery
- Matera - Explore the historic centre of the city, Sassi di Matera, which is known for its cave dwellings carved into a river canyon
- Ostuni - Stroll around this pretty whitewashed town independently, see some of the 3,500-year-old olive trees and taste the local olive oil
- Lecce - Join a guided tour of 'Florence of the South' to see the Baroque architecture of the Old Town and Piazza del Duomo main square
- Alberobello - Spend two nights in this picturesque town, famous for its conical-shaped trulli houses, made from local Italian limestone
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Summary
This 9-day tour of Puglia starts and ends in the Italian capital of Rome, with free time to visit the Colosseum, the Vatican and more. With included train travel to Puglia, explore the relaxed cities of Bari and Lecce, see the traditional trulli houses in Alberobello and discover octagonal Castel del Monte. Learn how traditional pasta is made at a rural farm, visit the UNESCO-listed cave settlements of Matera and wander through the pretty white towns of Locorotondo and Ostuni.
Itinerary
Day 1
Welcome to Rome!
On arrival in Rome you will be met and transferred to the hotel. The rest of today is free for you to head into Rome and explore at leisure.
Day 2
Rome to Bari
Rome - Bari. After breakfast you will be transferred to the train station and travel unescorted to Bari. On arrival, it's a short walk from the train station to our hotel. Meet your Tour Leader in the hotel lobby at 15:00 to commence our walking tour.
We discover the charming narrow alleyways of the historic city centre, and admire the Basilica of San Nicola, an important pilgrimage destination for Christians. We also see the 12th-century Norman-Swabian Castle, surrounded by a moat and known for its impressive Aragon walls. We'll see the castle from the outside and there is free time to explore inside the castle and enjoy the panoramic views offered if you choose (own expense). We also see the Column of Justice in Piazza Mercantile before enjoying dinner and an evening at leisure.
Day 3
Trani, Castel del Monte & Alberobello
Bari - Trani - Castel del Monte - Alberobello. After breakfast at the hotel, we leave Bari by coach and travel to Trani, known as the 'Pearl of Puglia'. We'll explore the vibrant Jewish Quarter and see the historic 12th-century cathedral, made from beautiful white stone.
After our stop in Trani we continue to Castel del Monte, a 13th-century citadel and UNESCO World Heritage Site. This octagonal castle features on the Italian one-cent coin and is shrouded in mystery, as its exact historical purpose remains unknown.
Our final destination today is Alberobello, best known for its traditional conical houses made from local limestone - these are called Trulli. The village has a fairy-tale feel!
Day 4
The cave dwellings of Matera
We visit another UNESCO World Heritage Site today with a day trip to Matera. The historic centre of this city is known as Sassi di Matera and is unique due to the large number of cave dwellings that were carved into the canyon created by the Gravina River, around 9,000 years ago! In this long history, Matera has been occupied by Romans, Byzantines, Saracens, and many other groups.
Many of the caves are still used today, as houses, pubs, hotels, and other businesses. We'll enjoy sightseeing with a local guide to take in the best of the cave dwellings. And we will also see the Roman Catholic cathedral which overlooks the city. We then transfer back to Alberobello for dinner.
Day 5
'White towns' & Lecce
Alberobello - Locorotondo - Ostuni - Lecce. Today we visit two of the iconic 'white towns' of Puglia. Our first stop is Locorotondo, a town of around 14,000 people perched on a hill. There's free time to explore this small town and enjoy the view over the surrounding countryside, including the Trulli pointing upwards.
Then we reach Ostuni, a coastal town popular with Italian tourists in summer. Ostuni is known for its ancient olive trees as well as its whitewashed buildings - many of the trees have been carbon-dated and are known to be more than 3,500 years old. Despite this age, they still produce the famous Ostuni olive oil. If you find a restaurant for lunch, you are sure to be served dishes that use this delicious local product!
After visiting these two towns, we reach Lecce, in the heart of the Salento region.
Day 6
Lecce sightseeing & Otranto
This morning we enjoy a 3-hour guided sightseeing tour of Lecce with an expert local guide. Known as the 'Florence of the South' thanks to its treasure trove of Baroque architecture, highlights of our tour include the historic Old Town and the 12th-century cathedral. We also see the beautiful Basilica di Santa Croce and Piazza del Duomo, the city's main square.
After our tour we depart for Otranto, a city known to have been ruled at times by the Greeks, Romans and Turks. Because of this, Otranto has a wonderfully diverse mix of cultures, and there is free time to explore the town and find somewhere for lunch. We recommend visiting the iconic cathedral to see its well-preserved mosaic floor, and the bones of 813 martyrs eerily displayed behind the altar.
Tonight a special dinner takes place tonight in the town of Maglie. We will be dining at Masseria L’Uliveto, a rustic farm and restaurant that is Puglia at its finest. Learn more about the food and history of the region before enjoying a dinner made using the finest local produce. Then it's back to Lecce for the evening.
Day 7
Return to Roma
Lecce - Rome. After breakfast you will transfer to the train station to travel unescorted back to Rome. There is a transfer to the hotel and the rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 8
Free time in Rome
Today is free for you to explore Rome independently. You could visit the legendary Colosseum, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Or you could tick another country off your list with a trip to the Vatican City. It's up to you!
Day 9
Rome
Today our tour comes to an end after breakfast and check-out. Safe onward travels!
What's Included
Meals
Breakfasts: 8, Lunches: 0, Dinners: 5
Vegetarian options are available on all meals throughout the adventure.
Vegetarian options availableLocal Guide
GuidedThis adventure is led by a local guide throughout. The main language of this adventure is English. Please contact us for other languages available.
Wifi
Wifi is available during the adventure. In some areas and / or accommodation / transport Wifi may be free.
Dates & Prices
Oct 25
from £2,580Nov 25
from £2,580
- Save 20%Thu 23 Oct 2025 > Fri 31 Oct 20254 spaces of 25 left£3,215Best offer£2,580
Essential trip information
Our Important Notes and Packing List cover all essentials, from necessary equipment to inclusions, ensuring you're fully equipped and informed for this extraordinary adventure and more.
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