Apulia & Lecce, Self-Drive

Join this eight-day comprehensive tour to discover Puglia and Lecce: an unforgettable experience through Italian culture. Wander through the alleys of Martina Franca; visit Alberobello, and discover why this stunning architecture was so popular in the past and how the Trulli were built. Marvel at the one of a kind ancient town of Matera. Visit Lecce, the pearl of the Apulian baroque; Otranto, with its beautiful Cathedral and explore the old city of Bari.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

Martina Franca: known for its Baroque architecture and the music festival of the Itria Valley, one of the three major towns surrounding the Valle d’Itria. 

Lecce: the most beautiful city in Puglia, the Baroque masterpiece of southern Italy. Sometimes described as the 'Rome of the South', with a long history of rich architecture and art.

Alberobello: universally-known as the capital of the ‘Trulli’, famous worldwide for their beauty and unique characteristics, and represent one of the most extraordinary examples of Italian folk architecture.

Trani: a town located in the proximity of Castel del Monte, whose jewel is represented by his church that overlooks the Adriatic Sea and one of the most splendid Romanesque cathedrals. 

Matera: one of the most interesting, unusual and memorable tourist destinations in Italy, it is a town famous for its extensive cave-dwelling districts, the ‘sassi’. 

Otranto: a picturesque town of Puglia, famous for the Cathedral, whose mosaic floor of the 2nd century will delight you. 

Bari: combines seaside charm and historical appeal. A major cruise port, the University City is also known for its old town, which boasts churches, picturesque courtyards, and other tucked-away gems.

Day 1: ARRIVAL BARI OR BRINDISI / CAR HIRE PICK-UP – ALBEROBELLO (70km – 1hr)

Arrival at Bari or Brindisi airports, pick-up the car hire and drive to Alberobello.

Overnight in Alberobello.

Day 2: ALBEROBELLO – CASTELLANA CAVES – POLIGNANO A MARE – ALBEROBELLO (70km – 1hr)

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit of the city of “Trulli”, a typical form of rural construction as appropriate, temporary or seasonal houses in the fields or permanent houses for small farmers and agricultural workers. Here you will find all types of Trulli: from the twin Trullo with two vaults, to the Trullo Sovrano, the biggest one of the city, to the Church of St. Antonio built with the methods used for the Trulli. After lunch you will head to Castellana Caves. The path to visit the caves grows to an average depth of 70 meters along two roads: 1 km (50 minutes) and 3 km (2 hours). The caves open to the public are very different in size and shape. Stalactites, stalagmites, curtains, columns and precious crystals everywhere. We will continue to Polignano a Mare, where, according to the time of your arrival, we advise you to rent a boat along the coast to visit the caves. The old town too is very interesting. Do not miss to taste the homemade ice cream of Polignano. Return to Alberobello.

Overnight in Alberobello.

Day 3: ALBEROBELLO – TRANI – CASTEL DEL MONTE – BARI – ALBEROBELLO (250km – 4hrs)

Breakfast at the hotel. You will go north to reach Trani to visit the Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino, built between 1056 and 1186, with its magnificent portal framed by friezes and carved representations, the seaside and the historic centre with its fascinating palaces of the 5th century and its gothic and baroque churches. We will continue to a jewel of Puglia: Castel del Monte. Built on the orders of Federico II in 1240, Castel del Monte was a representative building and probably a hunting residence, testimony of the power and grandeur of the emperor. It is the most visited monument-museum of Puglia, included in the UNESCO heritage since 1996. We will arrive in Bari for lunch. In the afternoon the visit will be dedicated to the city: la Basilica di San Nicola, a church built in the 12th century to preserve the relics of San Nicola of Myra. The Cathedral of Bari, dedicated to San Sabino, bishop of Canosa. Continuing with the visit, you will see the Norman-Swabian castle, a fortress from the 12th century built by Roger the Norman and rebuilt by Federico II of Swabia. On-site, admire the Gallery of plaster-cast. During this visit, visit also the Justice column of Piazza Mercantile, with the inscription “Guardian of Justice”. It is said that that the debtors who did not pay were attached to this column. Also, go past the old walls of Aragona and through the historic centre of the city. Return to Alberobello.

Overnight in Alberobello.

Day 4: ALBEROBELLO – ALTAMURA – MATERA – ALBEROBELLO (150km – 2.5hrs)

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Altamura, well known for the production of bread. The “pane di Altamura” is a product of bakery obtained from remoulding durum wheat semolina, very famous throughout Italy. We will arrive in Matera, the city where time has stopped, named Capital of the European Culture in 2019. The visit will start, without any doubts, with the Sassi, which represent the old quarters of the city of Matera. They form a system of housing called “la Gravina”. Formerly the heart of the peasant civilization, today restructured and ennobled, these old neighbourhoods are now rehabilitated and dazzle the eyes of visitors with their beauty. Declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1993, the Sassi offer to the eyes of the visitor a unique scenario, testimony of the past. We suggest you see the majestic Church of San Pietro Barisano, the churches of Santa Maria di Idris and San Giovanni. The church of Santa Barbara is a true jewel of rock art in Matera, rich in precious frescoes. To understand the social aspect of Matera’s past you have to visit the cave houses: Casalnuovo and Vico Solitario. Return to Alberobello.

Overnight in Alberobello.

Day 5: ALBEROBELLO – MARTINA FRANCA – OSTUNI – OTRANTO (165km – 2.5hrs)

Breakfast at the hotel. Leave Alberobello for Martina Franca, passing through the Valley of Itria, the Valley of the Trulli. The old city of Martina Franca presents itself to the visitors in a spectacular labyrinth of narrow streets, its white houses and charming streets. You just have to walk in the streets of the historic centre, which seem “hidden”, designed against possible invasions. Admire its doors, including the majestic Porta Saint Etienne. We will head to Ostuni, known as the White City for the typical and blinding (especially during summer) white colour of its houses. Get lost in the narrow streets and stairs of the historic centre. We will arrive in Otranto, a city which has been attacked several times in the past by Saracen and Turkish pirates. Otranto is geographically the most easterly point in Italy, almost 75 km from the coast of Albania.

Overnight in Otranto.

Day 6: OTRANTO – SANTA MARIA DI LEUCA – GALLIPOLI – OTRANTO (175km – 2.5hrs)

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Otranto: the Cathedral of Annunziata and the Aragonese Castle. Than departure to Santa Maria di Leuca, by way of Maglie where we can stop at the archaeological sites with its Dolmens and Menhirs. Leuca is the “heel” of the Italian “boot”. In the afternoon drive to Gallipoli on the Ionian coast: on the road we can visit the Natural Park of Punta Pizzo and continue along the coast to stop on the beaches, like those of Baia Verde. In the city of Gallipoli you will see a good testimony of Apulia Baroque, which has its triumph in Lecce. The Basilica of Sant’Agata, the Basilica of St. Francesco (the ten altars inside are superb), the Tafuri Palace and the Greek Fountain which, presumably, dates from the 3rd century BC. Return in the evening to Otranto.

Overnight in Otranto.

Day 7: OTRANTO – LECCE (40km – 45min)

Breakfast at the hotel. Leave early in the morning to reach Lecce, with its historic centre, one of the most beautiful cities of the Italian Art. The Piazza del Duomo, the Basilica of the Holy Cross and its Palace of the Celestini, all the Gates of the Old City, are the greatest examples of Baroque in Italy with those of Rome. And without forgetting the Roman remains like the Amphitheatre in the central Piazza St. Oronzo.

Overnight in Lecce.

Day 8: LECCE – DEPARTURE BARI OR BRINDISI / CAR HIRE DROP-OFF (185km – 2hrs / 65km – 45min)

Delivery of the car at the Bari Airport or Brindisi Airport.

Comfortable and light clothing is the most suitable for traveling in Italy. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts, or skimpy clothing when visiting temples, religious or official buildings. Sun protection, sunglasses, a hat, and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.