Southern Splendours: Puglia to Amalfi Coast

Welcome to the coastal region of Puglia, where you will receive a warm A&K welcome before a private transfer to your hotel in Lecce, just steps from the Basilica of Santa Croce. With the longest coastline of any region in mainland Italy, Puglia offers a blend of medieval hilltop towns, picturesque olive groves and a coastline peppered with quaint villages just waiting to be explored.

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you please.

Patria Palace

Step outside your grand palazzo hotel and take to the streets on a guided walking tour. Take your time soaking up the impressive Baroque architecture as you stroll from the imposing and harmonious Piazza del Duomo to the unbelievably intricate Santa Croce and a 2^nd century Roman amphitheatre. You’ll be swept away by the profusion of artistic wonders. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure amidst the historic grandeur of your hotel, take a dip in the rooftop pool or stroll the city streets.

This evening, there’s an option to visit the charming island of Gallipoli whose terraced houses and baronial palaces exude Mediterranean charm. Immerse yourself in the local culture and dine on fresh seafood direct from the market, paired with local wine and soak up the spectacular views (additional cost).

Patria Palace | Meals: B

It’s all about Apulian food and wine today! Choose one of the following Design Your Day activities:

Otranto and Dairy Farm
Travel to a family-run dairy farm to learn about traditional Pugliesi cheese-making, before visiting the picturesque town of Otranto overlooking splendid azure crystalline waters. Explore the charming old town with its white houses and alleys paved in stone, admire Otranto’s imposing castle and sturdy perimeter walls and 11^th century cathedral, whose compelling mosaic floor depicts both Christian and pagan iconography from this period.

Gallipoli and Winery Visit
Explore the island of Gallipoli with a guided walk around the historic centre with its narrow lanes, baronial palaces and dazzling white terraced houses, and visit a local fish market offering up a veritable feast of the freshest local fish. Afterwards, stop at a local family run vineyard for a tour and tasting of some of the many fine wines produced in this region.

Cook with a local in Lecce
Try your hand at Apulian cuisine, which showcases the wide variety of produce grown in the region as well as generous bounty from the sea. Accompanied by your host, visit a local market where you'll carefully select fresh ingredients, with opportunities along the way to fuel up on espresso, cheese and antipasto. Afterwards, join your host in preparing a curated selection of local recipes, then enjoy the results of your efforts over lunch with wine tasting to complement the dishes.

Patria Palace | Meals: B

Today, head north to the village of Ostuni. Known as the "White City", it is a charming example of Mediterranean architecture featuring sun-drenched streets, quaint cobbled alleyways, and hints of the Middle Ages seen around every corner. Explore its many wonders on a guided tour, visiting its crown architectural jewel, the Rione Terra district, with its narrow streets, stairways and arches unfolding between sparkling white houses.

Later, get a slice of rural life with a visit to an olive oil producer with an ancient underground mill where you’ll gain an insight into traditional olive oil production.

Masseria Torre Maizza | Meals: B

Explore the enchanting UNESCO World Heritage site of Alberobello, a remarkable 15th-century destination. Here lies the largest cluster of Puglia's iconic structures—the trulli, distinct cone-shaped dwellings renowned worldwide. Crafted from limestone and featuring roofs meticulously built from corbelled stone, these photogenic abodes stand as an enduring symbol of the region's heritage. Wander through these captivating structures, each with its own unique story, and immerse yourself in the allure that captivates visitors from around the globe.

Masseria Torre Maizza | Meals: B

Discover the many architectural wonders of Bari, Puglia’s capital, starting in its vibrant maritime quarter. Meander its winding laneways bisected by arches and lined with palaces and churches that tell countless stories of the city’s past as a cultural crossroads for millennia.

Continue inland to medieval Castel del Monte, one of Puglia’s most profound monuments. Built by Frederick II in the 13th century, it continues to intrigue historians to this day with its fascinating blend of decorative styles.

A highly recommended activity this afternoon is an Adriatic cruise aboard your own private yacht. Sail past clifftop homes, craggy caves and colourful beach towns as you enjoy refreshments in the sunshine before dropping anchor in a secluded cove for a refreshing dip in transparent waters (additional cost).

Masseria Torre Maizza | Meals: B

Today you’ll journey westward, stopping en route for a guided exploration of Matera. Continually inhabited for over 10,000 years, Matera is considered among the most ancient cities on earth. This complex network of homes, shops, churches and monasteries built into natural caves is an authentic open-air museum, described by UNESCO as the “most outstanding, intact example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean region”.

Witness first-hand the main stages of the evolution of human history, from the dark caves of the Murgia and the rock-hewn churches and crypts of early monastic communities to the elegant streets of the Piano, rich in 17th century monasteries and palaces.

Lunch is at leisure before heading to your hotel on the Amalfi Coast.

Monastero Santa Rosa | Meals: B

Travel east along the romantic and captivating Amalfi Coast Road, considered the most scenic in all of Europe as it twists and turns tracing the dramatic shoreline from Sorrento to Ravello. Stop in at coastal towns along the way, many of which have inspired artists and writers for centuries.

Amalfi is the largest of the coastal towns, the pretty seafront setting the perfect place to recharge in one of the many atmospheric cafés which line the water’s edge before visiting the distinctive black and white patterned cathedral with its 13th century façade.

Glamorous Positano is one of the most famous of the Amalfi Coast villages, where pretty pastel-hued villas cascade down cliffs towards the glittering waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea

Alternatively, you may choose to travel to Naples to explore its Royal Palace, main square and beautiful Neoclassical buildings before a hands-on pizza-making workshop including a tasting of an authentic Neapolitan fried pizza, as well as your creation. Or you may choose to walk a 7km trail along the Path of the Gods, renowned for jaw-dropping vistas over Positano and beyond.

Monastero Santa Rosa | Meals: B

Board a public hydrofoil to the stunning island of Capri, popular since Roman times, before a smaller boat whisks you into the iridescent Blue Grotto, the sublime sea cave that features on every postcard in the area.

Browse the elegant boutiques that line Capri’s fashionable streets, visit the stunning Villa St. Michele in Anacapri which houses a 3,200-year-old sphinx, see the Church of San Michele or take a chairlift to the summit of Monte Solaro.

Another option is a private yacht voyage from Amalfi port to Capri, where you can pull into quiet beaches or idyllic coves for picnics or a swim. This itinerary includes the ethereal Blue Grotto and plenty of free time to shop or stroll the island’s scenic coastline (additional cost).

Monastero Santa Rosa | Meals: B

Meet your driver after breakfast and transfer to Naples airport for your onward flight.

Meals: B