Puglia + Basilicata
May 2025
Puglia's theme: color. In some villages everything is white. The white beehive shaped trulli of Alberobello. Ancient white limestone pavement in Lecce. White sand beaches in Polignano al Mare. And the "white city", Ostuni. Add color in the form of vibrant black and green olive groves, jewel-toned purple and green vineyards, and a cerulean blue sea, and there is something for every palate--or palette.
Basilicata’s capital city, Matera, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ve been visiting since long before the producers of the latest Bond film decided to film here. And it’s not hard to see why they did. This very typical Basilicatan territory, known as the Lucano, is an ancient district of southern Italy whose heritage dates to the Fifth Century B.C. The town and the area are full of cave dwellings (many restored to modern standards). There is charm and mystery around every corner.
Highlights
Indescribable accommodations in a renovated convent and a cave hotel • Guided walking tours of Otranto, Lecce and Matera • Visit to La Grotta della Poesia • A visit to the tip of the toe and the Salento Riviera • A visit to Polignano al Mare and Ostuni (‘the white city’) • Tour of old sassi (cave dwellings) and Rupestrian churches • The modern day delights of ‘cucina povera’.