Puglia: Discover the Heel of Italy - Reverse

Embark on a captivating journey through Puglia, the enchanting heel of Italy, with our "Puglia: Discover the Heel of Italy - Reverse" tour. This unique adventure offers an immersive experience into the heart of Italian culture, history, and architecture. Marvel at the Baroque splendor of Lecce and the crystal-clear waters of Salento, explore the iconic Trulli houses in Alberobello, and be mesmerized by the UNESCO-listed town of Matera. Your stay will be as authentic as it gets, with accommodations in renovated traditional buildings, including modern hotels near historic centers, four-star hotels in Ostuni, authentic Trulli houses, and comfortable hotels in Matera, providing a real taste of classic Apulian architecture. Highlights include all breakfasts, a lunch/cookery class, a wine tasting, and the expertise of a tour leader throughout your journey. Dive into the rich history, indulge in sightseeing, enjoy leisurely walks, and savor wine tasting experiences that will make your trip unforgettable.

We mostly stay in renovated traditional buildings, which give a real taste of classic Apulian architecture. We spend our first two nights in a modern hotel near the historic centre of Lecce, one night in a four-star hotel in Ostuni, two nights in authentic trulli houses (dry-stone dwellings) in Alberobello and two nights in a comfortable three-star hotel in the historic centre of Matera.Below are the hotels normally used:Lecce: Eos Hotel (nights 1-2)Our first two nights are spent at this contemporary 30-room hotel. It has a bar for a pre-dinner drink and the main Lecce highlights (plus some excellent bars and restaurants) are around a 20-minute walk or 10-minute taxi ride away.Ostuni: Hotel La Terra (night 3)In the White City, we stay in Hotel La Terra, which takes over a 13th-century building in the historic centre. This unique property has a bar and restaurant but is also close to the Ostuni highlights.Alberobello: Trulli houses (nights 4-5)Trulli are the symbol of Alberobello (perhaps all of Puglia) so a chance to stay in one of these traditional dwellings is often a highlight for our travellers. They don’t offer the same type of facilities or luxuries as you’d get at a hotel but do offer an insight into these old Unesco-listed buildings. We have a trio of accommodations we use depending on availability, namely Trulli Holiday, Trulli e Puglia or Charming Trulli.Matera: Hotel Sassi or Le Dodici Lune (nights 6-7)Opened in 1996, Hotel Sassi (above) took over a series of dwellings, some of which date to the 1500s. There’s an Italian spread for breakfast (most of the produce locally sourced) and wonderful views of Matera from the terrace. Alternatively, we stay in Le Dodici Lune, where 10 rooms are carved into the old city walls. Right in the Sassi district, it’s an excellent place to stay if you want to explore.