Pasta, Pastries, and Pottery in Puglia, Italy

• After arriving at the airport under independent arrangements, take advantage of the group transfer to the hotel and settle in

• Kick off your culinary journey with your Travel Ambassador Meredith Abbott at a welcome reception in the hotel

• Proceed by coach to the welcome dinner at Vita Pugliese, a restaurant dedicated to telling the Apulian story through cuisine

Included Meals: Reception, Dinner
Accommodations: Masseria Montepaolo

• Start a pasta and wine-themed day with a walking tour of the village of Alberobello to provide context on the culinary history of the area, including the trulli (dry stone huts unique to the region) and time for independent exploration.

• Head to Trulli il Castagno for a cooking class with the famed pasta grannies (nonne). With the guidance of their multi-generational expertise, you will make the local variety of orecchiette pasta by hand.

• Dine on your freshly made orecchiette for lunch in the vineyards, accompanied by Apulian wines and customary appetizers

• Tour the vineyards and meet with the fourth-generation producers while overlooking the Itria valley while you inquire about the wines you tasted at lunch and learn about navigating the industry as local producer

• In the evening, return to the hotel to enjoy a light dinner and evening at leisure

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 
Accommodations: Masseria Montepaolo

• With a daily theme of baked goods and cheese, you will enjoy a private visit to the historic bakery Di Gesù and learn how to make Altamura bread starting with grain milling alongside fifth generation baker Giuseppe di Gesù

• Learn the history of the regional specialty of durum wheat semolina and sourdough, including its designation of the Protected Denomination of Origin, as you sample other baked goods in addition to your own personally made loaf

• For lunch, head to the heart of Murgia Park for a specialized tasting at Baby Dicecca, a wooden kiosk that boasts a range of traditional cheeses and local products, such as nerone cheese (a semi-matured sheep’s milk cheese) aged in Apulian figs or Istinto Primitivo (a blue cheese) with red fruits

• Enjoy a meal accompanied by wines selected by Baby Dicecca to pair with the unique flavors of their signature cheeses

• Wind your way out of the park and return to Altamura to spend some time independently before visiting a Pasticceria to sample iconic pastries such as sospiri pugliese (small sponge cakes with lemon filling), Easter cake, and other delicacies featuring the flavors of the season like almond and strawberry

• In the early evening, return to the hotel for time to refresh before dinner

• Spend your evening in nearby Polignano a Mare for dinner at Terrazze Monachile, a seafood restaurant with panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea. Top off your meal with a creamy gelato before returning to the hotel for the evening.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Masseria Montepaolo

• Depart Bari to head further south into Puglia to explore Masseria Brancanti where you’ll learn all about “liquid gold” — olive oil

• Tour the olive groves and mill for an in-depth understanding of the art of olive oil production, an overview of the classifications and uses of olive oil, and a tasting in the garden groves

• Depart for Grottaglie and enjoy lunch at La Capasa, where dishes are served in traditional, locally made ceramics

• Stroll to the Ceramics District and visit the workshop of Nicola Fasano to see the artistry of traditional pottery techniques in action, with an emphasis on kitchen and tableware. Enjoy exclusive access to the studio during the visit and see how the cookware impacts the flavors of the final dish

• Journey onward to Lecce and check into the Grand Hotel Lecce for an evening at leisure and plenty of dinner options just a fifteen minute walk away in the historic city center

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Grand Hotel Lecce

• Get to know Lecce with a morning walking tour, focusing on the history and culture of this provincial capital city as you wind your way to the historical center of the city for a private, hands-on cooking experience

• Head to the market to gather ingredients for the meal and learn to prepare a traditional dish featuring fish and pasta with the guidance of a trained chef, followed by a lunch featuring your culinary creations and a rosé tasting

• In the afternoon, visit the Legno d’Olivo Lab, a workshop dedicated to handcrafted kitchenware made from olive wood. Discover the artisanal beauty of the local wood in the cutlery, cutting boards, bowls, and whimsical napkin holders at the workshop.

• Return to Lecce and enjoy your evening independently

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Grand Hotel Lecce

• Venture into the “heel” of Italy to explore Gallipoli where you will first meet with a local chef and get the insider’s view of the fish market and how to spot the best catch

• Roll up your sleeves for a seafood cooking class that focuses on the local favorite, Zuppa di Pesce alla Gallipolina, a hearty stew of shrimp, mollusks, and fish in a tomato and white wine broth

• After lunch, spend time in Gallipoli at leisure exploring the historic city center, strolling along the beach, or grabbing a gelato

• Meet back up with the group and gather for an aperitivo at Restaurant DolceVita with a beverage of your choice and light bites overlooking the waterfront during sunset

• Spend the remainder of your evening at leisure, with recommendations available for those in need of a light dinner

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Cocktail
Accommodations: Grand Hotel Lecce or similar

• For the final full day of programming, you’ll return to Bari and take a walking tour through Ancient Bari that combines history and food, including a visit to the nonne where you will compare your pasta handiwork from Alberobello to that of the pasta grannies

• Stop for lunch independently, enjoying some of the street food highlighted in the walking tour

• In the afternoon, head to Andria and tour Cibelle —, a textile manufacturing lab where table linens are crafted and hand embroidered by young local artisans committed to keeping tradition alive

• Return to Bari and enjoy leisure time to refresh before the final dinner

• Come together for the farewell meal and toast to the meals and memories of your time in Puglia. The final table will be at Ristorante La Bul, featuring traditional dishes from Puglia with a creative and contemporary twist.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: JR Hotels Oriente, Bari

• Sneak in one last caffe before checking out of the hotel. Avail of the group transfer to Bari Airport and dream of your next culinary journey with Sur La Table. 

Included Meals: Breakfast