Puglia & Southern Italy Escorted Tour – Bari, Lecce, Matera & Naples (9 Days)

Discover Authentic Southern Italy on this immersive escorted tour through the sun-drenched region of Puglia and beyond. From the whitewashed lanes of Bari to the Baroque splendor of Lecce, the ancient cave dwellings of Matera, and the legendary ruins of Pompeii, this carefully curated itinerary blends history, culture, gastronomy, and coastal beauty.

Ideal for travelers seeking an off-the-beaten-path Italy tour, this journey combines UNESCO World Heritage Sites, regional cuisine, and expert-guided sightseeing — all with seamless logistics and first-class accommodations.

✈️ Day 1 – Thursday: Depart for Italy

Board your overnight flight to Bari and prepare to explore one of Italy’s most authentic and captivating regions — Puglia.

🌊 Day 2 – Friday: Arrive in Bari

Welcome to Puglia, the spectacular “heel” of Italy surrounded by the turquoise Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Arrive in Bari, a vibrant port city rich in maritime history.

Transfer to your hotel and enjoy leisure time to relax or explore independently before your evening orientation meeting with your Tour Manager, followed by a welcome dinner.

Overnight: Bari
Meals: Dinner

🏰 Day 3 – Saturday: Bari Vecchia & Optional Alberobello

Explore the charming historic center of Bari, known as Bari Vecchia. Wander through revitalized medieval alleys and visit:

• Bari Cathedral

• Basilica of San Nicola, home to the relics of St. Nicholas

• Castello Normanno-Svevo, a 12th-century Norman fortress

Enjoy free time to soak up Bari’s lively piazzas and café culture.

In the afternoon, join the optional excursion to Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its iconic Trulli — whitewashed limestone dwellings unique to the region.

Optional: Alberobello & Trulli Tour
Overnight: Bari
Meals: Breakfast

🍷 Day 4 – Sunday: Masseria Experience & Lecce

Today, visit a traditional Apulian Masseria for a memorable farm-to-table lunch featuring regional specialties and local wine.

Continue to Lecce, often called the “Florence of the South” for its elaborate Baroque architecture. Highlights include:

• Piazza del Duomo

• Roman Amphitheater (2nd century BC)

• Basilica di Santa Croce

Enjoy time at leisure to explore Lecce’s elegant streets and dine independently.

Overnight: Lecce
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

🌅 Day 5 – Monday: Leisure in Lecce or Salento Peninsula

Spend the day at leisure or join the optional full-day tour through the breathtaking Salento Peninsula, where the Adriatic meets the Ionian Sea.

Drive along dramatic coastlines, discover fishing villages and watchtowers, and enjoy a regional lunch. Continue to Otranto, Italy’s easternmost town, surrounded by ancient defensive walls.

Return to Lecce in the evening.

Optional: Full Day Salento & Otranto with Lunch
Overnight: Lecce
Meals: Breakfast

🫒 Day 6 – Tuesday: Matera & Olive Oil Experience

Travel to extraordinary Matera, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited settlements.

En route, learn about Apulia’s prized extra virgin olive oil — often called “green gold.” Upon arrival, explore the UNESCO-listed Sassi di Matera, prehistoric cave homes carved into limestone cliffs and adapted over millennia into living spaces.

Dinner at your hotel this evening.

Overnight: Matera
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

🌋 Day 7 – Wednesday: Pompeii & Naples

Journey toward Naples, stopping at the extraordinary ruins of Pompeii, preserved beneath volcanic ash after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Walk through remarkably preserved streets, temples, and forums that reveal daily life in ancient Rome.

Arrive in Naples with time at leisure.

Overnight: Naples
Meals: Breakfast

🏛️ Day 8 – Thursday: Naples Historic Center

Begin with a panoramic tour overlooking the Bay of Naples, stretching from the Sorrento Peninsula to the volcanic Campi Flegrei.

Explore Naples’ UNESCO-listed historic center filled with lively piazzas and narrow streets. Enjoy free time to visit the Archaeological Museum, explore underground Naples, or stroll along the seaside promenade.

Farewell dinner this evening.

Overnight: Naples
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

✈️ Day 9 – Friday: Depart Italy

Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

Meals: Breakfast

✅ Escorted Southern Italy Tour Includes

• Round-trip flights (New York–Bari / Naples–New York)

• 7 nights First Class accommodations

• 11 meals (7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners)

• English-speaking Tour Manager throughout

• Local expert guides

• Entrance fees per itinerary

• Masseria lunch experience

• Olive oil tasting & cultural insights

• Hotel porterage & city taxes

• Wireless earphones for guided tours