PUGLIA, THE LAND OF SUN, FOOD & TRULLI

Private full day guided excursion to Matera and Alberobello
The tour begins with a visit of Matera, the city used as a backdrop location for Mel Gibson’s movie, “The Passion of the Christ.” Walk down ancient streets for an overview of the Caveoso and Barisano districts, both 9,000-year-old neighborhoods of Matera known for their cave dwellings, dug into the rock the city was built on. These habitats date back to the Paleolithic age and are among the first human settlements in Italy. Continue to Alberobello, a fascinating mix of history and architecture in the heart of Puglia. Stroll through the Old Town dominated by conical-roofed trulli adorned with mysterious symbols drawn in lime, before heading back to your hotel.

Private half day guided excursion to Ostuni, including visit of an olive oil farmhouse
The gleaming white city of Ostuni sits atop the last hill of the southern Murgia plateau. Looking out from its fortifications, your eye is drawn over a plain full of ancient olive trees toward the crystal blue waters of the Adriatic Sea. While in Ostuni, you will take a walking tour through narrow streets lined with whitewashed buildings, ending at the town’s sophisticated Gothic cathedral. End your day with visit of a farmhouse and its original mill, where you will be treated to a tasting of olive oil, olive spread and “friselle”, a type of twice-baked bread from Puglia.