IL BORGO DI ALBEROBELLO

Catamaran Cruise from Salento Ionian Coast

This catamaran cruise to the most southern tip of Puglia offers up a kaleidoscope of colours and coastal scenes. You'll join the boat from Torre Vado and make waves towards Capo Leuca, while taking in the sea grottoes and rocky coastline from a vantage point like no other. Hop aboard in Torre Vado, south of Gallipoli, and begin your coastal adventure to the southernmost point in Puglia – a place where the Ionian Sea turns into the Adriatic. And such a dramatic location commands some impressive sights to see along the way, including sea caves that you'll stop to take a peek at.Watch sandy beaches pass by and sit back while soaking up all the different colours of the sea, including emerald, bright blue and turquoise. On the way back, you'll also anchor up for a well-deserved swimming stop in front of a sea cave, too.

Gallipoli Morning Visit from Salento Ionian Coast

Get a real snapshot of local life in Gallipoli with this morning visit to the city. With your knowledgeable guide, you'll explore the ancient old town – wall-to-wall with baroque-style architecture – and lose yourself in Gallipoli's café-lined cobbled streets.Arrive in the city early morning, and you'll start your guided tour. Stopping by baroque chapels and maze-like lanes beneath the 14th-century walls, you'll soon see why the ancient Greeks called this the ‘beautiful city'. You'll also visit an underground oil mill for a taste of the Mediterranean golden nectar. Head to one of the corner cafés in the cobbled backstreets, shop the boutiques, or take a walk along the promenade – the views are outstanding. But the real star of the show is watching the locals chatter back and forth as they go about their business – it's Gallipolini life to a tee. You'll return to the resort early afternoon.

Lecce Half-day Visit from Salento Adriatic Coast

Discover why the city of Lecce is one of Puglia's must-sees. This half-day tour lets you take in all the historical highlights on a guided walk, while stopping for plenty of photos and even a taste of some local artisanal ice cream while you're there.

Lecce Half-day Visit from Salento Ionian Coast

Discover why the city of Lecce is one of Puglia's must-sees. This half-day tour lets you take in all the historical highlights on a guided walk, while stopping for plenty of photos and even a taste of some local delicacies while you're there.With buildings adorned with gargoyles, cherubs and gremlins, Lecce's version of baroque will distract you with its sheer ornateness as you wander around. You'll head into the city known as the ‘baroque pearl of Salento' for free time to explore.See all the main showstoppers, including the cathedral, the Piazza del Duomo and Roman amphitheatre. You'll round off the tour with an artisanal ice cream tasting before returning to your resort.

Otranto by Night from Salento Adriatic Coast

Elevated above the turquoise hues of the Adriatic Sea, the town of Otranto is filled with all manner of eye-catching spots. On this evening tour, you'll visit the medieval centre and enjoy some free time to browse the stalls that set up once night has fallen.

Lecce Tour with Snack from Central Puglia

This full day tour shows off one of Puglia's stars – Lecce. You'll walk alongside baroque masterpieces in Lecce, have a street food lunch and explore during some free time. There's culture, history and sights all wrapped into one in the city known as the 'Florence of the South'.

Martina Franca, Alberobello & Tastes from North Ionian Coast

Puglia's Itria Valley is all olive groves, pretty towns and those characteristic white ‘trulli' houses – and this tour takes in two of its most characterful spots. You'll begin the day exploring Martina Franca old town, then head to Alberobello, the so-called ‘capital of the trulli houses', and wind down with a wine tasting.

Matera tour with cave homes and local food tasting

Matera has a lot going for it – it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, European Capital of Culture 2019 and a cave city dating back over 5,000 years. Tour its historic lanes and ancient cave dwellings, try local Basilicata food and wine, then choose to visit the cave house museum or a rupestrian church. Anna, one of our expert local guides, says, ‘The cave houses of Matera were once considered a shameful place to live, best known for poverty, disease and crime. Nowadays, many caves have been transformed into chic homes, restaurants, and hotels.'Considered one of the most outstanding and intact troglodyte settlements, Matera's big draw are the ancient cave dwellings known as ‘sassi', which translates to ‘stones'. First up, we'll check out the baroque quarter, where churches and palaces are built on top of the caves. Next, we'll venture into the Sasso Barisano and Sasso Caveoso areas to see ancient sassi carved into the flanks of Gravina canyon. The dramatic setting overlooking the wild, rocky landscape is all part of the charm.You'll pause for thought in the old quarters, where inhabitants lived in squalor up until the 1950s, which was when the whole population of around 20,000 was rehoused. Wandering around today's visually arresting town, it seems hard to believe how tough life once was here. You'll also get to try typical food and wine at Lucany Restaurant, before choosing between an optional visit to the cave house museum or a rupestrian church, cut into the rock.