Lecce & Puglia: Baroque Wonders, Culinary Delights & Trulli Adventures

Upon your arrival in Lecce reach the hotel on your own and check in (transfer available as an optional extra).  In the afternoon, enjoy a small group walking tour of the city (the tour starts at 15.00 hrs). In the evening, enjoy a private walking tour of the city. Discover the elegance and refinement of Lecce, a city that echoes history and art, on a 3-hour walking tour! Begin your walking experience in Piazza Sant'Oronzo and stroll through the historic center admiring Lecce's Baroque churches and monuments. During the tour, you will come across many artisan shops, that produce artefacts practicing the ancient art of papier-mâché. Your guide will tell you all you need to know about the importance of the city's Baroque art and the historical influences from the Roman era. Admire the Duomo, the Basilica of Santa Croce, the amphitheatre, and the Roman Theatre. Continue walking by the Castle of Charles V and have a look at its exterior as well as the facades of various ancient buildings.Overnight in Lecce.

After breakfast you will enjoy a small group tour to discover the famous culinary culture in Apulia. Visit the vibrant local market and the traditional food shops with the Cesarina and immerse yourself in a private cooking class at the Cesarina's home to learn the secrets of the most famous dishes of Leccese cuisine! During the visit to the local markets or the traditional Lecce food shops learn how to recognize the best ingredients for the perfect Italian meal. Then, attend a private cooking class in the morning or in the afternoon, learn the secrets of the Lecce recipes and have fun by learning how to reproduce the Italian specialities at home. Meet the Cesarina and help her select the right ingredients first, and then assist her in the preparation of an authentic Leccese 3-course menu; taste the fruit of your labour paired with a selection of local red and white wine.Overnight in Lecce.

After breakfast at the hotel enjoy a full day of a small group tour of Valle D’Itria. Depart from Lecce, the first stop is Polignano a Mare, the town of Puglia, which has a great charm for its uniqueness, with the cliffs that overlook the sea, the historic center that "tells" the civilizations that have inhabited these places and the food and wine of the area. The tour continues for Alberobello, one of the Italian sites included by UNESCO in the World Heritage List and the capital of the Trulli. The historical center is in fact made up entirely of these pyramid-shaped buildings that make it unique in the world. The next stop is Locorotondo, in the circuit of the most beautiful ancient villages of Italy, with its flowered balconies. Continue to Ostuni, also known as the White City, due to its quaint old town that was once entirely painted with white lime. The return to Lecce is scheduled in the late afternoon.Overnight in Lecce.

Enjoy your last breakfast in Lecce and if time permits take the last walk to say “arrivederci” to the city or do some shopping. Transfer to the airport or train station is available as an optional extra.