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savouring the south:
our puglia tour and culinary holiday
Our 2023 Weeklong Tours are now sold out. We still have some availability for private tours in 2023. Please contact us for more info.
Our first 2024 Weeklong Tour Dates are:
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May 25 - June 1, 2024
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September 7 - 14, 2024
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September 21 - 28, 2024
We asked ourselves: what would our dream Puglia Tour look like? We have crafted a week-long Puglia vacation full of unique and fascinating foodie experiences, amazing excursions, delicious meals, stunning sights, and interactive and fun cooking classes, incorporating the very best that this incredible region has to offer.
For our Puglia Tour we will be based in the Salento region, in the gorgeous town of Lecce, the 'Florence of the South,' renowned for its stunning architecture, warm and friendly locals, fantastic restaurants and bars, and buzzing local life. We have hand picked Lecce's best accommodation, Mantatelurè, as your home for the duration of your stay. Below you will find a detailed itinerary, dates and prices for this incredible Puglia vacation.
We hope you will join us for this unforgettable week of culinary and cultural immersion.
Rates and Dates
Our 2023 Weeklong Tours are now sold out.
Our first Weeklong Tour dates for 2024 are:
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May 25 - June 1, 2024
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September 7 - 14, 2024
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September 21 - 28, 2024
We are also available for Private and Custom Tours and Day Tours. Please contact us for further details or to join the waiting list for sold out Tours.
The Savouring the South weeklong tour costs €3600 per person.
This price includes ALL of the following:
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Luxury accommodation at Mantatelurè in the heart of beautiful Lecce
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All meals, including great local wines, water and coffee
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All transfers - just travel to the nearest airport or train station, and we'll do the rest!
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Excursions to the region's most fascinating destinations
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Two hands-on cooking lessons, a wine tasting dinner and a market visit with Chef Gianna
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Pizza Lesson in Lecce's top rated Pizzeria with Pizzaiolo Maurizio
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Unique, authentic and fascinating foodie experiences, including:
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A vineyard visit with guided tour, tasting and a sumptuous castle dinner
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Olive oil experience
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Gelato and coffee tastings
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Mozzarella and Burrata making
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Guided visit to a historic Masseria (farm estate) with farm to table lunch
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Guided walking tours of Lecce, Otranto, Gallipoli, Polignano a Mare, Galatina, Castro and Ostuni
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Boat trip along the Adriatic Coast of Castro
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Refreshments and gelato stops scheduled in our itinerary
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All entry fees
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Local taxes and gratuities
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Cultural experiences
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Connections with local people
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Memories for a lifetime
Not included: flights, travel insurance and personal expenses (that is, anything not included in the itinerary, such as shopping trips or unscheduled gelato stops - though please note that we do include gelato in the itinerary...)
Prices are based on double occupancy. We warmly welcome single travellers. However, as our rates are based on double occupancy, there is a single supplement of €500 to cover the additional accommodation costs.
Day 1: Welcome to Puglia!
Arrivals | Welcome Aperitivo | Lecce Walking Tour | Traditional Dinner
Welcome to Lecce! We will pick you up from the nearest airport, Brindisi International, or Lecce Train Station, and bring you to your beautiful Puglia holiday home for the week. Our exclusive guest house, Mantatelurè, is a serene oasis in the heart of this bustling baroque town. Settle into your luxurious air-conditioned room in this intimate restored Palazzo from the 16th century, and let the golden tones of the Leccese stone (and sunshine) warm your soul.
We will welcome you in style, with an Italian Aperitivo of snacks, cocktails and local wines in the beautiful courtyard where we will gather to meet your fellow travellers and discuss the week ahead. Our Italian adventure begins with a guided tour of Lecce's historic centre, admiring the dazzling detail of the baroque architecture unique to this region.
After our stroll through Lecce's Centro Storico we will sit down and relax at our favourite local restaurant, run by a friendly family, where we will feast on a traditional Salentino feast with local wines. After a leisurely dinner, for those who have energy, we will partake in the evening Passeggiata, a Leccese tradition, to admire the city aglow in golden light as locals fill the cobblestone streets. Continue on for an optional nightcap at a fantastic local wine bar or head back to Mantatelurè for a well-earned rest.
Savouring the South: Day by Day
Day 2: Glorious Gallipoli & Cooking Class
Historic Gallipoli Tour | Seafood Lunch with a view | Cooking Class 1 & Full Dinner
Every day will start with a delicious breakfast, including local pastries freshly baked in-house at Mantatelurè, served al fresco in the lovely courtyard.
This morning we will head to the seaside town of Gallipoli, with its Greek-inspired, fortified Centro Storico perched like a pearl on the turquoise Ionian Sea. Stone walls and a medieval castle hide narrow streets of whitewashed buildings, where nets, herbs and tomatoes hang in doorways and windows, and friendly locals smile as you wander the cobbled maze. We will visit its famous fish market, the most important in the region, and explore the old town - including an optional visit to its glorious beach - before settling down for a delicious meal at an elegant seafood restaurant overlooking the sea.
Back in Lecce, we will take a break before meeting our wonderful Chef and Cooking Instructor Gianna Greco. At her beautiful cooking school, set in a historic palazzo just around the corner from the Duomo, we will partake in our first hands-on cooking class. Together we will learn the art of mozzarella-making before we prepare a full Salentino meal from scratch as Gianna reveals secrets and techniques handed down through the generations of her family. After your lesson you will sit down in the School's beautiful courtyard for a wonderful meal where you will enjoy the fruits of your labour.
Day 3: Ancient Trees & the Valle d'Itria
Tour & Picnic at Ancient Olive Farm | Ostuni, the White City | Polignano a Mare
Today our Puglia Tour takes us into the Valle d'Itria area of Puglia and to a historic Masseria, home to a pre-Roman olive mill and some of the oldest olive trees in Europe: ancient, gnarled living monuments. After a fascinating tour through the trees and the underground mill, we will enjoy a picnic lunch of delicious local dishes prepared by the owner's family.
After lunch we will head to the "White City," Ostuni. Perched atop its hill in the Valle d'Itria, at first glance the city looks like something out of a movie set. We begin our Ostuni tour with a gelato tasting at one of the very best gelaterie in Puglia - the only one in the region to be named as one of the top 50 in Italy. Then we set off for a short walking tour to explore corners and passageways that hide delights at every turn. There will be free time for some extra exploration, shopping or, if you prefer, relax with an aperitivo at one of the town’s many bars.
Later that afternoon we will make the short drive to spend the evening in Polignano a Mare, the Pearl of the Adriatic, a famed town clinging to the cliffs over the sea. After a walk to enjoy the views and explore the town we will enjoy a special coffee unique to Polignano. For dinner we’ll share a fish and seafood feast in a beautiful restaurant inside the historic town wall, before relaxing on the drive back home to Lecce.
Day 4: Pizza Perfection, Wine and a Castle
Pizza Lesson and Lunch | Winery Tours & Tasting | Sumptuous Castle Dinner
Take a leisurely start to the morning with some free time to relax. Then we head to Lecce's most beloved Pizzeria for our interactive Pizza Making class. Owner Maurizio is famed in Lecce not only for his amazing pizza, but for his passion for quality ingredients and his vivacious personality. After learning about the history and process of Neapolitan Pizza, Maurizio will teach us the fine and always-fun art of pizza making. With his expert guidance we will create, from scratch, our very own Neapolitan-style pizzas, which we will enjoy at our own celebratory street party, paired with local wines and craft beers.
After a short break we'll head to a fantastic local winery located in a historic castle, surrounded by flowering gardens and acres of vineyards. Here we will explore the castle and grounds, learn about their winemaking process and visit their wine museum and cellars.
Entering the castle, we will continue our gastronomic adventure with an aperitivo paired with delicious finger food. We will then savour a private four-course meal in the castle itself, served by our own waiters, with paired wines to match each course. An unforgettable evening in beautiful surroundings.
Day 5: Otranto, Coast & Dinner with Friends
Historic Otranto | Exploring the Adriatic Coast | Wine Tasting Dinner with Gianna
Today begins with a journey to the stunning seaside town of Otranto, Italy's easternmost city, recognized by UNESCO and named as one of the "Borghi Piu Belli d'Italia" (most beautiful small towns in Italy). We will explore its winding streets and seaside promenade on our guided walking tour, including a visit to the Cathedral with its mosaic tree of life floor. Enjoy some free time for strolling, sipping an aperitivo with a sea view or shopping in the town's quaint shops.
From Otranto we’ll head south along the Adriatic Coast, enjoying the sea views on the most spectacular stretch of road in Southern Puglia. Our destination is the town of Castro, the Pearl of the Salento. There we will enjoy the stunning views, Byzantine frescos and ancient walls before settling down for a wonderful seafood lunch. After dining, we’ll make the very short drive to the marina, boarding a boat and exploring the spectacular and historic caves that line Castro’s shore.
We’ll return to Lecce after our adventure on the water, reconnecting with our friend, cooking teacher and professional sommelier Gianna who will host us for a special dinner of Salento specialities, paired with guided tastings of her favourite local wines.
Day 6: Galatina, Masseria & Lecce by Night
Galatina | Farm to Table Feast at a Historic Masseria | Lecce Evening Passeggiata
Today our Tour will begin with a journey to the beautiful baroque town of Galatina. Famed for being the birthplace of Pasticiotti, the iconic pastry of the Salento, we’ll sample the best in the region (and therefore the best in Italy) before visiting the spectacular Basilica of St Catherine of Alexandria, a medieval masterpiece with walls covered in graphic frescos.
From Galatina we will head to an ancient Masseria (farmhouse) nestled in the Salento countryside for a tour of this fascinating building that has been welcoming guests since the Middle Ages. There we will enjoy a farm-to-table feast, tasting authentic traditional recipes. Everything we eat - from the cheese to the wheat in the pasta to the meat - is grown and produced on the farm.
After our return to Lecce, we will gather in early evening to take part in the passeggiata - the Italian evening stroll. This is when the city comes alive and how the locals spend their evenings, on the street, people watching, grabbing delicious street food, enjoying a gelato and socializing. It's our favourite time to enjoy Lecce and admire the golden stone change as the sun sets. We will be your guides as we reveal the best of Lecce by night, enjoying drinks, sampling streetfood delicacies, and embracing the town's unique nighttime culture.
Day 7: Cooking & The Coast: A Grand Finale
Exploring Salento's Coast | Beach Lunch | Cooking Class 3 | Our Farewell Party
We've saved the ultimate Puglian coastal experience for today. We'll stop at beautiful spots along the Adriatic coast and relax on one of the best private beaches in the region. Take a dip in the clean, clear turquoise water, or take a break in the shade of an umbrella and breathe in the ocean air. We'll enjoy a relaxed lunch on the beach and take a gelato break at one of the region's best cafés, on a terrace overlooking the Adriatic.
Then it's back to Lecce for our final Puglian cooking class with the wonderful Gianna, where we will create our farewell feast together. We will stroll to the market to select fresh seasonal ingredients for our menu, and after a coffee break at a great local bar, we'll head to the school to create another divine dinner of traditional dishes. After our fabulous hands-on cooking lesson we will celebrate with a festive party in the courtyard garden, drinking fabulous wines, sharing our freshly-made dishes, and reminiscing about our week together.
As we celebrate our final evening in Puglia, don't be surprised if we have some special treats up our sleeves - be prepared to celebrate and have fun in true Pugliese style!
Day 8: Arrivederci! Until we Meet Again!
Farewell Breakfast | Transfers to Airport or Train Station | Arrivederci, alla prossima!
After a final breakfast, bid goodbye to Lecce and your new community of friends. We will escort you to Brindisi airport or Lecce train station for your journey onward. The week may be over, but we hope the memories and friendships last a lifetime. We sincerely hope this is not goodbye, but rather, until next time - or as the Italians say, arrivederci, alla prossima volta!
Cooking Experience Lezioni di Cucina
Your beautiful cooking school in the heart of historic Lecce
In the shadow of the Duomo, in an ancient palazzo, is Puglia's best cooking school. Learn the secrets of Salento cuisine from Gianna Greco, chef-sommelier - owner of Cooking Experience. Gianna is extremely passionate, fun and vivacious, whose cooking classes show that her love of Pugliese cuisine is as infectious as her laughter.
Your Home for the week: Mantatelurè
Exclusive Guest House in the Centre of Lecce
You will stay in the gorgeous exclusive guest house, Mantatelurè. The palace dates from 1550, and was gloriously converted and opened to rave reviews in 2013. The owner, Marco, has retained the building's original charm and added the best modern amenities, to create a unique and serene environment with luxurious rooms and unparalleled personal service.
Optional Upgrades
All of the rooms at Mantatelurè are exceptional. Each unique room is stylishly decorated, with comfortable beds, air-conditioning, TV with Sky channels, specially programmed radio, a pillow menu, and all the amenities you can count on from an exclusive guest house. However, for those who want something extra-extra-special, the following room upgrades are available at a small extra cost per stay:
• Deluxe suite with jacuzzi spa bath and separate private entrance | €350 extra
• Suite with jacuzzi spa bath OR one-bedroom Apartment | €250 extra
• Junior suite with mezzanine level and king shower | €180 extra
Tours Dates: Book Now!
Our 2023 Weeklong Tours are now sold out.
Our first Weeklong Tour dates for 2024 are:
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May 25 - June 1, 2024
-
September 7 - 14, 2024
-
September 21 - 28, 2024
We are also available for Private and Custom Tours and Day Tours. Please contact us for further details or to join the waiting list for sold out Tours.
Order of activities subject to change. Some activities are subject to weather. If weather does not permit an activity, we will do our utmost to reschedule that activity. However, as life is unexpected, changes may not be possible; therefore please note that our itinerary is subject to change due to forces beyond our control.