PUGLIA, ITALY
Trani / Andria / Bari / Polignano a Mare / Fasano / Alberobello / Giola del Colle / Matera / Lecce / Otranto / Ostuni
May 11 - 18, 2024
SOLD OUT
ACCOMMODATIONS: "MASSERIA SALAMINA"
IN THE VILLAGE OF FASANO
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Enjoying street food in Old Town Bari.
Here, our friend Grace makes and sells the traditional orecchiette pasta for locals and tourists — like us!
Experience hands-on cooking classes with local chefs.
Learning how to make Burrata cheese in Andria, where the cheese originates from.
Visiting a 3,000-year-old olive tree at Masseria Brancati, Puglia.
A visit to the 9,000-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site of Matera.
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
DAY 1 - Saturday, May 11: BARI / TRANI
Group transfers from Bari airport to our resort hotel, Maré Resort, on the harbor in Trani. Balance of day to settle in, and welcome drink and dinner at lively restaurant harborside near the hotel.
DAY 2 - Sunday, May 12: TRANI / ANDRIA
Continental breakfast at the hotel. Today we begin with a casual tour of the coastal town of Trani; once the most important political center of Southern Italy. We will tour the characteristic old town, hosting a vibrant Jewish quarter; and its grand harbor and stunning Cathedral set right on the seafront. Our day continues in Andria with a visit to the Museum of Confietto, one of the oldest and famous chocolate-makers in all of Italy! Next, we visit a mozzarella factory, Famiglia Olanda, where the popular burrata cheese originates! Watch and learn how this cheese is made by hand, and then enjoy an incredible lunch featuring cheeses, foods, and wines from the region. Return to our hotel to pack for our morning departure for Bari.
DAY 3 - Monday, May 13: BARI / POLIGNANO A MARE / FASANO
Continental breakfast at the hotel. Our day begins with a tour of Bari, Puglia’s prosperous seaside capital, where tangled streets and a charming old town reveal Romanesque churches, the market, and medieval piazzas; the beautiful St. Nicola’s Basilica, home of Saint Nicolas, one of the most beloved saints; and an intimate visit in the home of a local orecchiette pasta maker. Finally, we will experience the whole range of the local street food. Our day continues with a visit to breathtaking Polignano a Mare to admire the impressive panoramas from the seaside terraces overlooking the blue-green Adriatic as we indulge in a tasty gelato, the pride of the locals. Admire the beautiful marine caves carved out of magnificent limestone rocks. Our day ends in Fasano as we are welcomed at the magnificent 16th century, Masseria Salamina, and our gracious hosts, Chiara and Filippo De Miccolis Angelini. Dinner will be enjoyed at the masseria.
DAY 4 - Tuesday, May 14: ALBEROBELLO / CISTERMINO
Continental breakfast at the masseria. We travel to the village of Alberobello, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of fairy-tale trulli, traditional dry-stone huts with conical roofs and a construction style specific only to this area of the region. We will continue with a drive through the dramatic scenery of the Itria Valley to Cistermino and Salumificio Santoro, an estate producing an extraordinary quality of regionally-specific cured meat called capocollo. We have the opportunity to observe the entire production of these locally-produced delicacies; and at the end of the experience we enjoy the products, accompanied by a glass of locally-produced sparkling Verdesca wine. In the afternoon, we return to Fasano and the masseria to attend our next cooking class with Chef Chiara, learning to make fresh pasta and focaccia in an incredible outdoor kitchen. We will enjoy the dinner we create paired with locally produced wines!
DAY 5 - Wednesday, May 15: GIOLA DEL COLLE / MATERA / SASSI
Continental breakfast at the masseria. The first destination today is Giola del Colle, where we visit an unusual artisanal pasta factory; we observe the entire production of their products that are shipped worldwide. Next, we head to Matera in the Basilicata region, another astonishing UNESCO World Heritage Site. This city has gained international fame for its ancient town, the “Sassi di Matera” (meaning “stones of Matera”), and the first human settlements in Italy. Because of the ancient and primitive scenery in and around the Sassi, many famous biblical period motion pictures were filmed in Matera, including The Passion of the Christ. Lunch is on your own and at your leisure. We return to the Masseria and free time to relax by the pool. To complete our day, we will experience dinner al fornello; we select and are served various cuts of local meats in a true butchery – a real Apulian experience!
DAY 6 - Thursday, May 16: LECCE / OTRANTO
Continental breakfast at the masseria. Early departure for Lecce, commonly nicknamed “The Florence of the South” because of its countless Baroque beauties, with its lovely centro storico (historic centre) and Roman ruins. After a private guided walking tour, we will have lunch together enjoying local delicacies including puccia (a very traditional flat bread filled with meats, cheeses, and vegetables, and pasticciotto (a sweet cake filled with lemon custard). In the afternoon, we visit the coastal town of Otranto, at the eastern-most tip of Italy, with its castle overlooking the harbor and the cathedral, with an incredible preserved mosaic pavement. Our evening concludes as we attend our last cooking class at a local masseria, where we will be involved in the preparation of a typical Pugliese four-course dinner. This remarkable dinner is highlighted by a group of traditional Pizzica folk dancers.
DAY 7 - Friday, May 17: PALOMBAIO / OSTUNI
Continental breakfast at the masseria. Today our day begins in the village of Palombaio with a visit to the lovely Cuonzo family and father, Franco who, with his family, produce some of the best organic, extra-virgin olive oil in all of Puglia. We will enjoy an informative tour of their facility and experience a typical lunch prepared by this gracious family! After lunch, we visit a market frequented by the locals on our way to our last destination, Ostuni. Regarded as an architectural jewel, Ostuni is commonly referred to as “the White Town” for its white walls and its typically white-painted architecture. Get lost in the hundred alleys, amongst workshops, and Baroque churches. Afternoon, we return to the masseria for packing, a drink by the pool and our farewell dinner.
DAY 8 - Saturday, May 18: DEPARTURE / TRAVEL DAY
Continental breakfast at the masseria. Transfers to Bari airport; departures for home destinations or wherever your travels may take you!
COSTS
Airfare
Guests to purchase own airfare using miles and preferred class and upgrades. Flight and arrival times will be coordinated. Group transfers from Bari airport to our resort hotel in Trani. Guests are free to arrive earlier or stay longer than the published itinerary, but are responsible to meet the group at stated times.
Travel Insurance
TRAVEL INSURANCE IS MANDATORY.
Epicurean Exchange Culinary Travel, in a effort to make travel with us thorough and stress-free, is partnering with Yonder Travel Insurance, a travel insurance comparison website where you can get quotes and compare travel insurance options from the nation’s top providers. Most travel insurance policies cover trip cancellation, emergency medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation and other travel loss/delay headaches.
Every travel insurance policy has a 24/7 emergency assistance number for medical and travel emergencies that may occur during the trip. Travel insurance brings extra peace of mind while you’re abroad!
Ground Costs Included
• Transfers from Bari Airport to Trani at the beginning of the tour, and return to Bari airport (or the transportation mode of choice) at the conclusion of the tour
• Transportation available throughout the tour
• 7 nights lodgings in luxury accommodations
• Private dinners in specially-selected restaurants, beverages included (except where indicated)
• 3 private cooking classes with meals prepared
• 2 private wine tours and tastings in exclusive wineries
• Professional, local guides with knowledge of the secrets and stories of the region
• Epicurean Exchange Culinary Travel custom apron for cooking classes
Ground Costs Not Included
• Round trip airfare
• Cancellation insurance
• Personal expenses and tips
• Everything not clearly included in the section “Ground Costs Included”
Inclusive Tour Ground Cost (per person, double occupancy): $3995.00; Single Supplement: $695.00
Deposit Due (per person) to Secure Reservation: $1695.00
Balance Due (per person), on or before February 11, 2024: $2300.00
Balance Due for Single Travelers (to include the supplement) on or before February 11, 2024: $2995.00
Payments: Cash or checks, payable to Epicurean Exchange, accepted. Electronic invoices available for credit / debit card payments.
Cancellation Policy: We are willing to work with all our guests should situations arise that require guests to cancel plans with us. Please understand we have guidelines to ensure that both the operator and our guests are treated fairly. With that, travel insurance is MANDATORY, to reimburse you should cancellation be necessary. Epicurean Exchange reserves the right to cancel a tour due to low enrollment or other circumstances which would make the trip non-viable. Deposits and balances paid will be refunded if the trip is canceled by the operator. Travelers can cancel up to 60 days prior to departure and receive a full refund of their deposit. Understand that as a small, boutique operator, even one last-minute cancellation can be an issue for the operator and other travelers. Therefore, after deposits and tour balances are received (60 days or less prior to departure) they are non-refundable. Travelers have the option to recruit another traveler to take their place or file with their insurance carrier to recover costs of the trip.