Italy trip to Apulia

Arrive at Bari airport, collect your rental car, and check into your hotel. Enjoy a free afternoon to relax or begin a tailor-made Italy travel with local suggestions for food and hidden gems.

Wander Bari’s long seafront, admire the elegant Murat district, and lose yourself in Bari Vecchia (Old Bari) along the Adriatic Sea. Taste street food, soak up the sea breeze, and colorful history.

Take a private drive to Castel del Monte, the UNESCO-listed fortress built by Frederick II, famed for its octagonal design and astronomical symbolism. Explore its chambers and towers with a local guide before returning to Bari.

In Bari’s Old Town, join a three-hour guided street food tour, sampling focaccia, sgagliozze (fried polenta), panzerotti, local pickles, cured meats, mozzarella, and creamy burrata, paired with Apulian wines for the full flavor of the region.

Take your rental car to discover Ostuni and Alberobello. In Ostuni, enjoy a guided walking tour through the white city with sunlit alleys, stairways, flower-filled courtyards, craft shops, and traditional restaurants overlooking the sea and olive groves.

In Alberobello, explore the famous trulli on a two-hour guided walk and learn why this village is among the best places to visit in Italy and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Enjoy a free day along the Adriatic between Polignano a Mare and Monopoli. In Polignano a Mare, explore cliffside beaches, wander whitewashed lanes, and savor a coffee in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II.

In Monopoli, discover a centuries-old harbour town with one hundred hamlets, lively boutiques, inventive restaurants, and sea view bars.

Trek quiet trails through the Torre Guaceto Nature Reserve, passing ancient settlements and olive groves, with sea views and a salty breeze leading you to the historic Torre di Guaceto.

This guided walk blends natural history with local stories and ends with a swim at Shells Caletta, a small cove perfect for travelers looking for authentic, tailor-made adventures.

Drive from Bari to Taranto (about 1.5 hours), the city of two seas, set between the Mar Grande and Mar Piccolo.

Explore noble palaces, underground ruins, and a layered past that stretches from Magna Graecia to modern-day fishing traditions. Cross the stone bridge rebuilt after the 1883 flood and the ponte girevole (swing bridge) from 1887, then dive into the old town’s maze of alleys off Via Cava, lined with artisan workshops.

Join a boat ride on the Mar Piccolo, discover Taranto’s subterranean archaeology, and finish the day with fresh seafood at a no-frills family-run trattoria.

Explore Taranto marina, known as Taras after Taras, son of Poseidon, and the nymph Satyria. Legend tells of a dolphin leaping from the Ionian Sea as a blessing and the origin of Taranto, the city of dolphins.

Enjoy a 2-hour boat tour with a professional skipper and an aperitif on board. Spot dolphins, savour Apulian flavors and local stories.

Drive about 1.5 hours from Taranto to Lecce, arriving in time to wander the baroque streets of this art-filled city.

Join a guided street food tour, sampling local specialties as you pass churches, piazzas, and carved-stone facades. After the tour, keep exploring Lecce’s historic alleys at your own pace.

Join a hands-on orecchiette cooking class, complete with a tasting of local products and wines. Learn from Nonna Maria, who’ll show you the traditional technique using just flour, water, a wooden board, and a simple knife.

Then sit down to enjoy your handmade orecchiette, served with regional specialties, an authentic, down-to-earth moment you won’t forget.

Drive to Bari Airport and return your rental car, enjoying one last scenic stretch through Apulian countryside. Squeeze in a final espresso or local bite if time allows.

Take a moment to reflect on your tailor-made experiences, regional flavors, and warm encounters that shaped your Italy itinerary. Have a safe flight home!