Puglia and Lecce Self-Drive Tour: Explore Trulli, Matera & Baroque Gems

Arrival at Bari or Brindisi airports, pick-up the car hire and drive to Alberobello.Overnight in Alberobello.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit of the city of “Trulli”, a typical form of rural construction as appropriate, temporary or seasonal houses in the fields or permanent houses for small farmers and agricultural workers. Here you will find all types of Trulli: from the twin Trullo with two vaults, to the Trullo Sovrano, the biggest one of the city, to the Church of St. Antonio built with the methods used for the Trulli. After lunch you will head to Castellana Caves. The path to visit the caves grows to an average depth of 70 meters along two roads: 1 km (50 minutes) and 3 km (2 hours). The caves open to the public are very different in size and shape. Stalactites, stalagmites, curtains, columns and precious crystals everywhere. We will continue to Polignano a Mare, where, according to the time of your arrival, we advise you to rent a boat along the coast to visit the caves. The old town too is very interesting. Do not miss to taste the homemade ice cream of Polignano. Return to Alberobello.Overnight in Alberobello.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Altamura, well known for the production of bread. The “pane di Altamura” is a product of bakery obtained from remoulding durum wheat semolina, very famous throughout Italy. We will arrive in Matera, the city where time has stopped, named Capital of the European Culture in 2019. The visit will start, without any doubts, with the Sassi, which represent the old quarters of the city of Matera. They form a system of housing called “la Gravina”. Formerly the heart of the peasant civilization, today restructured and ennobled, these old neighbourhoods are now rehabilitated and dazzle the eyes of visitors with their beauty. Declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1993, the Sassi offer to the eyes of the visitor a unique scenario, testimony of the past. We suggest you see the majestic Church of San Pietro Barisano, the churches of Santa Maria di Idris and San Giovanni. The church of Santa Barbara is a true jewel of rock art in Matera, rich in precious frescoes. To understand the social aspect of Matera’s past you have to visit the cave houses: Casalnuovo and Vico Solitario. Return to Alberobello.Overnight in Alberobello.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Otranto: the Cathedral of Annunziata and the Aragonese Castle. Than departure to Santa Maria di Leuca, by way of Maglie where we can stop at the archaeological sites with its Dolmens and Menhirs. Leuca is the “heel” of the Italian “boot”. In the afternoon drive to Gallipoli on the Ionian coast: on the road we can visit the Natural Park of Punta Pizzo and continue along the coast to stop on the beaches, like those of Baia Verde. In the city of Gallipoli you will see a good testimony of Apulia Baroque, which has its triumph in Lecce. The Basilica of Sant’Agata, the Basilica of St. Francesco (the ten altars inside are superb), the Tafuri Palace and the Greek Fountain which, presumably, dates from the 3rd century BC. Return in the evening to Otranto.Overnight in Otranto.

Breakfast at the hotel. Leave early in the morning to reach Lecce, with its historic centre, one of the most beautiful cities of the Italian Art. The Piazza del Duomo, the Basilica of the Holy Cross and its Palace of the Celestini, all the Gates of the Old City, are the greatest examples of Baroque in Italy with those of Rome. And without forgetting the Roman remains like the Amphitheatre in the central Piazza St. Oronzo.Overnight in Lecce.

Delivery of the car at the Bari Airport or Brindisi Airport.