Active Food Adventures in Puglia - 6 Day Culinary & Cycling

We will meet your flight arriving into Bari Airport and take a quick tour of the enchanting old city of Bari Vecchia.  Here the local ladies still make pasta by hand sitting outside their houses.  Their speed and precision will amaze you!  Depending on the time of day we will also make a stop in the striking cliff-top town of Polignano a Mare and taste some of the town’s famous gelato. From here we’ll shuttle you to your luxury home for the next four nights, Masseria Torre Coccaro. Welcome to Puglia! 

After a thorough bike fit it’s time to explore Puglia on two wheels!  Your ride begins with a lovely climb into the chic and beautiful hilltop town of Cisternino, where you will enjoy sweeping views of the Itria Valley.  You will have time for a coffee or gelato to recharge your batteries before continuing along the ridge of the Murgia plateau to Ostuni, a stunning white citadel with breathtaking sea views. After lunch on your own in Ostuni we’ll visit a fascinating olive oil estate for an in-depth tour and tasting. Then it’s back on the bike to return to Masseria Torre Coccaro for a relaxing evening and dinner.  

This morning we will shuttle you to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Alberobello, to visit the famous “trulli” houses with our excellent local guide.  These cone shaped dwellings are unique to the region and in Alberobello you see a concentration of over 1,000 trulli houses. We’ll also stop at a cheese maker for an insider’s look at the wildly indulgent burrata cheese. Today’s route is a circular ride deep into the Itria Valley to visit stunning Locorotondo – known for its excellent dry white wine made from local Verdeca grapes. Here in Locorotondo, meander the atmospheric alleyways bedecked with geraniums and citrus plants. Continue on to Martina Franca – a must-see town for its marvelously intact historic centre, beautiful Baroque architecture, and stunning palazzo.  After your ride we will shuttle you back to your hotel for a relaxing afternoon and evening

Following check-out at your hotel, our guide will take you to Lecce, the capital of the Salento Province.  Known as the ‘Florence of the South’, the city hosts amazing Baroque masterpieces and treasures of Italy. On arrival in Lecce we’ll enjoy a light lunch at one of the city’s many “trattorie” before embarking on a dedicated walking tour where our guide will reveal the secrets of the imposing architecture and millennia of fascinating history revealed before your very eyes.  Then check-in to your luxurious accommodation, La Fiermontina. This afternoon meet up with local chef, Gianna Greco, to visit the simple food market at Porta Rudiae, to buy produce for today’s cooking class. From here it’s a short walk to her beautiful cooking school in the heart of Lecce’s old city. Gianna will share secrets of the region’s culinary traditions while you get hands on in making a delicious 4-course dinner.

This easy trekking will let you discover Porto Badisco, through a pleasant walk along ancient paths, immersed in wonderful scenery. Our guide will share with you a story of ancient history and modern lifestyle. With his knowledge and very strong passion, your active guide will tell you amazing stories of a bygone era and will make you literally walk through history - from the Mesozoic period to the present day - on the path that was once part of the tropical coral reef of the African promontory “Apula”. You will learn about the living conditions of the first inhabitants, admire inscriptions and graffiti into the caves and also pick up fossils, the clear evidence of a lost world! Completely surrounded by unspoiled nature and the lush, colorful, fragrant Mediterranean vegetation, you will discover the very rare plants growing on this cliff edge, enjoy stunning views and also feel a sense of freedom. The morning’s hike will end with a tasting of local specialties and products. After the hike, there is the option to visit the coastal city of Otranto on your own before we transfer you back to Lecce.