Rome to Sorrento & Puglia - 10 Days



Who is this trip for
Age range
0 - 99Start / End
- Rome
- Lecce
Physical rating
Group size
1 - 25Meals included
16Highlights
- Capri - Discover the famous Blue Grotto sea cave (weather permitting) and enjoy plenty of free time to explore the island at leisure
- 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
- Castel del Monte - See this ancient UNESCO-listed fortress, which is octagonal in shape and shrouded in mystery
- Alberobello - Spend two nights in a Trulli, a traditional conical-shaped house made from local Italian limestone
- 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
- Vatican City - Visit this independent country to see the stunning Sistine Chapel and the Vatican's fascinating museums
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Summary
Journey from Rome to the Apulian city of Lecce on this 10-day group tour. Skip the line at the Vatican to see the Sistine Chapel on a guided tour and relax in beautiful Sorrento. Tuck into authentic Italian pizza, take a day trip to Capri and then head to Puglia, exploring Bari, Trani, and the mysterious Castel del Monte. Enjoy free time in the 'white towns' of Locorotondo and Ostuni and stay for two nights in a traditional stone 'trulli' in Alberobello. Visit the caves of Matera and end with a farewell dinner at a rustic farm.
Itinerary
Day 1
Rome
Welcome to Rome. On arrival at the airport, you will be collected and transferred to our hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 2
Exploring Vatican City
Rome - Vatican City - Rome. Today we explore Vatican City, home to the Pope and technically an independent country - another one you can tick off your list!
Departing the hotel after breakfast, we'll enjoy a guided tour of the Vatican's museums and galleries with 'skip the line' tickets. Take in the Gallery of Tapestries, the beautifully decorated frescoes of Raphael's Rooms, and of course, the Sistine Chapel. We can also admire the stunning St Peter's Basilica from the outside. This iconic landmark dominates the Vatican and is one of the largest Christian churches in the world, as well as being the pinnacle of Renaissance architecture. It is allegedly where Saint Peter was buried and titans of Italian design including Donato Bramante and Michelangelo had a hand in its creation. The tour ends in St Peter's Square, and the rest of today is at leisure in Rome.
Day 3
Rome to Sorrento
Rome - Sorrento. Setting off from Rome, we head south, passing through Lazio and Campania to reach the coastal gem of Sorrento. We have an included lunch, where you can try some authentic Neapolitan pizza before we complete our journey. The rest of today is at leisure for you to explore Sorrento. Perhaps enjoy some shopping, or sample some local limoncello. Dinner is included tonight - please dress smartly (jacket for men) as it is a formal dinner!
Day 4
Capri day trip
Sorrento - Capri - Sorrento. Today we explore the beautiful and exclusive Mediterranean island of Capri. Weather permitting, we will visit the Blue Grotto sea cave by row boat. You can enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before there is free time to explore the island. Capri was a summer home for the Roman emperor Augustus and today is popular with celebrities. After our visit, we return to Sorrento for the night.
Day 5
Dairy tour & Bari sightseeing
Sorrento - Bari. Today we make the drive south and east through Campania to Puglia, and the regional capital of Bari. On the way, we make a stop at an artisan dairy, where we enjoy a guided tour. Learn the art of traditional cheese making and enjoy a tasting session including freshly baked bread and extra virgin olive oil.
Arriving in Bari, there is time to freshen up at the hotel before our guided sightseeing tour. Starting in the afternoon, we take a walking tour through the city's narrow alleys to highlights including the Basilica of San Nicola, where the remains of Saint Nicholas of Myra are preserved, and the Norman-Swabian Castle, a 12th-century fortress built by Roger the Norman and rebuilt by Frederick II of Swabia (admission not included). We also visit the Piazza Mercantile, home to the 16th century Column of Justice. After our tour, the evening is at leisure, with dinner included at the hotel.
Day 6
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 and our hotel tonight sees you sleeping inside an unusual Trulli - a unique experience! Dinner is included.
Day 7
The caves of Matera
Alberobello - Matera - Alberobello. 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. However, you will be doing the cooking! You enjoy a personalized cooking class where you will prepare a traditional local dish. Enjoy another night in your magnificent Trulli.
Day 8
'White towns' at leisure & 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. Dinner is included tonight.
Day 9
Otranto & farewell dinner
Lecce - Otranto - Maglie - Lecce. 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.
As it is the last evening of our tour, 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 final night of our trip.
Day 10
Lecce
Our tour ends this morning in Lecce, after a final breakfast and check out.
What's Included
Meals
Breakfasts: 9, Lunches: 0, Dinners: 7
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
Aug 25
from £3,334Sep 25
from £3,334
- Save 20%Mon 18 Aug 2025 > Wed 27 Aug 2025Guaranteed Departure4 spaces of 25 left£4,155Best offer£3,334
Essential trip information
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