For the ultimate Italian food & wine experience visit us in Lecce, Puglia for authentic Puglian foods, award winning wines and breathtaking sightseeing experiences.
Famous across Italy for its amazing food, wine and terrain our home of Puglia is a top destination for Italian cuisine. At the heart of Puglia's Salento region is the beautiful Salentine capital of Lecce. A beautiful baroque town away from the tourist hustle and bustle of Rome and Florence it remains as it was. Respected by Italians Puglia is a favourite holiday destination for its delicious authentic foods, locally produced wines, sunshine, cultural sites and beaches.
"Unspoilt Italy: Fall head over heel for Puglia's Salento region" The Guardian
"Lecce - a must see - one of the best baroque towns in the world" - Tripadvisor
"Salento is also full to brimming with small sleepy towns that are off the tourist trail but greatly worth visiting for their unspoilt historic centres and their unassuring genuineness" - Thethinkingtraveller.com
Our 8 DAY ITINERARY Day 1:Arrivals - Benvenuti! Welcome to Puglia! You will be met by our meet and greet service at Brindisi Airport and transported in our comfortable transport to the luxury accommodation in the historical centre of Lecce. Once at the accommodation you will be warmly welcomed and shown to your stylish room.
Day 2: Full Day Luxury Wine Tour with Olive Oil and liquor tasting and an evening in Lecce After breakfast you will be collected from the accommodation by our private transport and taken on a full day luxury Wine Tour. You will visit the first family run vineyard where you will be taken on a vineyard tour by the proprietor where they will share their rich family history and their wine making process. Once the tour is complete you will enjoy an expert wine tasting session with salami and cheeses. Next stop is the award winning olive oil and liquor producer where you will have the opportunity to take part in a tasting session. The luxury transport will then take you onto the second vineyard where you will enjoy an intimate lunch with fine wine pairings and explanations by our expert sommelier. Once early evening arrives you will be met at the accommodation for a guided moonlight sightseeing tour of Lecce. Once the tour is finished you will be free to wander around the historical centre and take in the sights of "Piazza duomo" the cathedral square, Piazza Sant'oronzo and the many beautiful churches and shops. We have many recommendations of where you could enjoy a special evening meal.
Day 3: A day trip along the coastal road with fresh seafood in Gallipolli and sightseeing in Santa Maria di Leuca After breakfast you will be collected and taken on a guided tour of the beautiful scenic coast of Puglia. Travelling from Lecce down to Santa Maria di Leuca our guide will take you on an interesting journey through history. Stopping off at Gallipoli which is an intriguing town on the Ionian sea in the Salento peninsula of Puglia famous for it's history and fresh seafood. It's seafood is so fresh in fact that many Italians enjoy eating it raw or "crudo". Whilst in Galipolli you will visit the wonderful fresh fish and seafood market along the popular seaside port and have to opportunity to try it's famous shellfish and fish caught fresh that morning. Gallipoli is a beautiful town to walk around and to do a spot of shopping. Once you have had adequate time to wander around you will continue your tour along the coast to the breathtaking Santa Maria di Leuca.
Day 4:Wine tasting with tour and an evening in Otranto After breakfast you will be collected from your accommodation by our private transport and taken on a guided tour of an award winning vineyard. You will be taken around the vineyard by our wine expert and be shown the wine making process. After the guided tour you will be taken to the wine tasting area and receive an expert tasting session which will be accompanied by a tasty light lunch of local cheeses, meats, fresh bread and taralli. You will have the opportunity to purchase your favourite wines before our private transport returns to accompany you back to the accommodation in Lecce. In the late afternoon our shuttle will arrive at your accommodation to take you to the breath taking Otranto. This wonderful seaside village will stay in your heart forever with its picture-perfect blue waters, white buildings and gothic castle which make Otranto an absolute must see. You will be free to take a stroll around the village and choose the perfect place to eat dinner. Our transport will collect you at the end of the evening to take you back to the accommodation in Lecce.
Day 5: Visit to Ostuni, an afternoon in Locorotondo and an evening trip to Alberobello After breakfast you will be collected from your accommodation and taken to visit the incredible Ostuni. You will spend the morning wandering around this spectacular white coastal town and taking in it's amazing sights. After Ostuni you will be taken to the nearby beautiful town of Locrotondo. You will be free to take in the sights of this picturesque town and enjoy a delicious lunch. In the early evening you will be taken to the centre of Alberobello for a wonderful evening in this unusual town. Known for its streets filled with only trulli houses the whitewashed stone huts with conical roofs are delightful to wander around and to look inside. Today the trulli are often shops where you can enjoy a spot of shopping and buy souvenirs or restaurants where you can enjoy an evening meal. After your evening of sightseeing our luxury transport will collect you to take you back to your accommodation in Lecce.
Day 6: A free day to enjoy the historical sights of Lecce After so many wonderful Apulian experiences day 6 is a well earned free day where you can step out into the historical centre of Lecce to enjoy all of the sights that this beautiful city has to offer. You will be free to visit the many piazza's, churches, cathedral, artisan shops, boutiques and restaurants at your leisure.
Day 7:Cookery Masterclass in the Masseria and an evening in Martina Franca & Polignano a Mare After breakfast you will be collected by our private transport and taken to a famous Masseria for a cookery masterclass. Here you will take a cookery masterclass hosted by an expert chef where you will be shown how to make famous dishes using local ingredients as seen on TV. After you have made and cooked your fantastic lunch you will sit down to enjoy your lunch with a glass of locally produced wine in the spectacular scenery. Our private transport will then arrive in the afternoon to take you to Martina Franca and Polignano a Mare for a guided tour. After the tours in Polignano a Mare you can enjoy a walk along the coast and take in the beautiful sights at your leisure. At the end of the evening our transport will collect you to take you back to your accommodation Lecce.
Day 8: Departures - Arrivederci In the words of the famous song "Time to say goodbye", sniff. On the day of departures you will be escorted back to Brindisi airport with all of your fantastic memories and experiences ready to share with your friends back home. Buon Viaggio!
Holidays run from Friday to Friday. Subject to terms and conditions. Anything not listed above is not included in the holiday. Flights are not included in the price of the holiday. The local airports for this holiday are Brindisi and Bari Airport.
Traditional cookery classes
Some of the best traditional foods in Italy come from Puglia, the region in the heel of Italy’s “boot.” You'll leave your hearts (and stomachs!) in Puglia where its deeply-rooted "cucina povera" tradition means its food is fresh and delicious, relying on the best seasonal, local produce.
Fine Seafood Dining in Puglia
Puglia is famous for it's fine dining. Being perfectly positioned for the fresh fish and seafood of Porto Cesareo it doesn't get better than this. As part of our Food & Wine Holiday we provide an insiders guide to the local food, shops and restaurants for you to experience the unforgettable fine dining of Puglia. Our top restaurant list includes an extra special restaurant where the menu changes to accommodate the best seafood catches of the day ensuring the tastiest and freshest offerings. Enjoy an evening here tucked away in the Puglian countryside with the locals of Lecce. It is a true gem off the tourist beaten track.
The Vineyards of Puglia
Taste the award winning wines from the famous vineyards of Puglia. Join us to discover the award winning Negroamaro, and Primitivo wines in their natural variety on a luxury wine tasting tour of the Puglian vineyards. Our local expert sommelier will take you on a wonderful wine tasting experience to the hidden vineyards of Puglia. While tasting the amazing regions wines you will savour a typical Puglian antipasto including the best local cheeses, meats and taralli.