Are you travelling to Italy, touring the top destinations? Have you already been to Florence, Rome and Venice and you would like to discover something new? Roll down the Adriatic Coast till you reach the heel of Italy: welcome to Puglia! We have designed the Best of Puglia in a 8-day itinerary, a short break experience so that you can enrich your holiday in Italy! It is easy to combine a visit to Puglia with other Italy's top destinations as Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, Sicily, Rome, Florence, and Venice. The Best of Puglia gives you a local glimpse of Italian lifestyle, avoiding the tourists' crowds, tasting delicious Italian food and wine, and sleeping in a typical Apulian Masseria farmhouse. Best of Puglia: small group tours for the best sightseeing Get off the beaten paths to experience the undiscovered gem of Italy, Puglia. A small group tour is ideal to plunge in a really cozy and familiar atmosphere. In this 8-day itinerary, you’ll discover the best of Puglia: Bari area and the Itria Valley, a colorful plateau at the heart of the Apulian countryside. This land offers a real taste of local life wandering in its picturesque villages (read more about the 5 charming villages in Itria Valley): Ostuni “the white city”, Locorotondo, “the round place” due to the circular old town layout and Alberobello, “the capital of Trulli houses”, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After driving through the gentle hills, peppered by vineyards, olive trees and dry-stone walls, you’ll reach the Adriatic Sea and discover two thriving and vibrant maritime ports: Monopoli and Polignano a Mare. Salento, the southern part of Puglia, is described by its inhabitants with these words: “lu mare, lu sole, lu iento” i.e. “the sea, the sun, and the wind” due to its sun-and-sea calling. But Salento is not only sea, it houses the most enchanting Baroque city in Italy: Lecce, a superb beauty of cream-colored churches and sumptuous noble buildings. From the heart of Salento roll down till the southern-eastern point of Italy, which boasts Otranto, the “East gateway”! Best of Puglia: Amazing food-and-wine experiences You will be charmed by Apulian culinary and genuine traditions! Best dinner spots Experience the best locations to enjoy a traditional dinner: Apulian Masserie were in the past ancient farmhouses and self-sufficient fortified farming villages that were restored and transformed into B&Bs, restaurants and boutique hotels. Be overwhelmed by tastes and Mediterranean smell in these places, where everything is still handmade and home-produced. Pastry and handmade gelato tradition While wandering around you will have the chance to taste the best sweets in the world, because yes, Puglia is also renowned for its pastry and ice cream! When you’ll be in Polignano you will have an authentic hand-made gelato tasting: here gelato has been handcrafted for generations and “cono tuffato” is the typical ice cream plunged into whipped cream! In Salento, there’s a gem for real foodies: the typical Pasticciotto Leccese! It's a sweet pastry filled with delicious cream and cooked in the oven, so yummy! Wine tastings Mild climate, 300 sunny days per year, 800 km of coastline from the Adriatic Sea to the Ionian Sea are the key ingredients for Apulian wine-growing tradition: high-quality wine grapes that become excellent wines. Puglia is one of the top wine producers in Italy, accounting for 17% of the total Italian wine market. During your 8-day itinerary we will guide you to taste different types of Apulian wine: Primitivo, Negroamaro, Nero di Troia, Moscato di Trani… and discover the local wineries where they are produced with passion, commitment and dedication. Discover the different grape varieties and learn how grapes are processed once they are handpicked and harvested. Dive into this rural practice which is passed down from generation. And then down in the cellar to taste these full-bodied wines! Cultural landmarks, exclusive lodging experiences and inspiring wine-and-food tastings: discover the best of Puglia in an 8-day itinerary! DISCOVER OUR PUGLIA 8 DAYS TOUR