A Taste of Puglia with Alberobello, Matera, Lecce & Polignano

Step into a postcard. From Alberobello's trulli and the ancient Sassi of Matera to baroque Lecce and clifftop Polignano a Mare, Puglia is southern Italy at its most magical.

Your Holiday Itinerary

Day1Fly from Dublin

Upon arrival in Puglia, you’ll be greeted by your Tour Manager and transferred to the 4-star Arboris Belli in the heart of Alberobello. Just a short stroll from the town’s famous trulli, this welcoming hotel offers comfort, a relaxing spa and warm Apulian hospitality from the moment you arrive. After settling into your room, a light dinner will be served before you retire for the night.

Day2Ostuni & Locorotondo

After breakfast, depart the hotel for a full-day excursion. Your first stop is Ostuni, the shimmering “White City”, where a guided walking tour reveals its tangle of whitewashed lanes and views across the olive groves to the sea. There will be some free time to browse the little shops or enjoy a coffee in one of the sunny squares.

Continue to Locorotondo, a village renowned for its circular layout and graceful white lanes that shine under the Apulian sun. Its panoramic viewpoints open out across the Valle d’Itria — a tapestry of vineyards and olive groves shaped by centuries of agricultural life — before you return to your hotel.

Day3Matera

Today you travel inland to the remarkable city of Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site and former European Capital of Culture. On arrival, enjoy a guided walking tour, bringing to life the fascinating history of Matera’s ancient “sassi” districts — cave dwellings carved into the soft tufa rock, which have provided a backdrop for films such as The Passion of the Christ and 007 – No Time to Die.

After the tour, there will be time at leisure to continue exploring at your own pace, perhaps visiting one of the rock churches or simply pausing for lunch in a local trattoria. In the afternoon, rejoin your coach for the journey back to the hotel.

Day4At Your Leisure

After a few days of sightseeing, enjoy a day at leisure. Make the most of the hotel’s restful setting — unwind in the spa, read on the terrace, or take the few short steps into Alberobello’s enchanting trulli district. Your Tour Manager will be on hand with suggestions should you wish to explore independently.

Day5Bari & Polignano a Mare

After breakfast, set out for a full day on the coast. Your first stop is Bari, the vibrant capital of Puglia, where a guided walking tour leads you through the atmospheric lanes of Bari Vecchia, the old town, past the Basilica di San Nicola and out along the lively seafront promenade. There will be free time to soak up the city’s easy-going energy.

Continue to Polignano a Mare, one of Italy’s most striking coastal towns. A guided walk reveals its ancient core, perched dramatically above a network of sea grottoes that have sheltered fishermen for generations. Enjoy some free time to take in the spectacular Adriatic views before returning to your hotel.

Day6At Your Leisure

This is a perfect day to relax and enjoy Alberobello at your own pace. With the town's enchanting trulli quarter right on your doorstep, you can wander its whitewashed lanes, browse the little shops tucked inside the conical-roofed houses, or linger over a coffee in a sunny piazza. Prefer to unwind? Simply enjoy the hotel's restful atmosphere. Your Tour Manager will also be on hand with suggestions should you wish to make more of the day..

Day7Lecce

Today’s excursion takes you to Lecce, often called “The Florence of the South” thanks to its ornate Baroque palaces and churches carved from soft golden “Lecce stone”. Enjoy a guided walking tour that leads you past the Roman amphitheatre, elegant piazzas and intricately decorated facades, before some free time to explore at your own pace. There will be the opportunity to sample a typical pasticciotto, the delicious custard-filled pastry that is a much-loved local speciality.

Day8Return to Dublin

After breakfast, there may be a little time to enjoy Puglia one last time before your transfer to Bari airport for your homeward flight. You’ll leave carrying with you a week’s worth of rich impressions, gentle moments and unforgettable sights from Puglia’s sun-drenched landscapes.