A Journey to Puglia
April 9, 2025 – April 17, 2025
Chef Anthony Tarro, Siena Restaurants & AAA Northeast proudly offer an exclusive food and wine experience to Italy. This incredible experience will offer accommodation at some of the finest hotels on the Eastern Coast! The trip will feature unparalleled food, wine, and cultural experiences...not to mention fabulous panoramic views! This travel vacation will be a once in a lifetime experience. Space is limited due to the exclusivity of the itinerary, so make your reservations as soon as you can!
Rates Starting at $7699 per person based on double occupancy*
To RSVP: Caroline Haylett 401-519-7851 or via email at chaylett@aaanortheast.com
Inclusions:
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7 nights hotel accommodations
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Daily breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 tastings, 3 Dinners
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Group transfer - roundtrip airport to hotel
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Roundtrip airfare from Boston
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Sightseeing per itinerary
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Local leader and insider experts
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Taxes
Hotels
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La Fiermontina Luxury Home, Lecce
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Rocco Forte Hotel Torre Maizza, Apulia
*Hotels subject to change
Day 1 Lecce
Itinerary Details:
Day 1 Lecce
Benvenuto to Italy! The boot-shaped peninsula of the Mediterranean welcomes you as you touch down for your gastronomical adventure in Brindisi, Puglia and transfer to your hotel and home for the next four evenings. Unpack and settle in before meeting your fellow travelers and your Local Leader at a delicious welcome dinner featuring local cuisine and hosted within your hotel. (d)
Day 2 Lecce
Buon giorno! Your day begins with breakfast at the hotel before you head out for a walking street food tour of Lecce, the Old City. You’ll take in some of the city’s most notable sights, like the Cento Storico, Duomo de Lecce & Piazza, Basilica di Santa Cruz, while also tasting some of the city’s most delectable offerings. This afternoon, travel to Gallipoli where you will have some time to visit Castello Aragonese and the Cathedral of Santa Agata. You may also want to spend some time perusing the nearby shops for souvenirs or local products before gathering for dinner seaside, where fresh Puglian wines are paired with local delicacies. (b,t,d)
Day 3 Lecce
Your adventure continues this morning with a day trip to Otranto! You’ll take in some of the city’s cultural sights, like the Centro Storico, a compact center comprised of narrow streets lined with bars and restaurants featuring Salento cuisine, and Cattedrale di Otranto, a Roman Catholic cathedral consecrated in 1088 and known for its beautiful floor mosaic. As we stop to take in the stunning teal waters of the Adriatic, you may want to take some time to enjoy lunch at a local seaside restaurant. This afternoon, you’ll travel to Santa Maria de Leuca, the southernmost point of Salento, where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas meet. Enjoy free time exploring this town at your leisure. (b)
Day 4 Fasano
After breakfast this morning, you and your fellow travelers will make way for Ostuni, known as “The White City” for its white-washed buildings in the old town. During a city tour, you’ll take in several of the city’s landmarks, from its museums to the arched Porta San Demetrio, one of two remaining medieval gates. You’ll have some time to browse the nearby shops before settling in for lunch on your own at a local eatery. This afternoon, your adventure continues in Fasano, your base camp for the remainder of your trip. Visit Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its famous trulli buildings. While exploring this area known for its limestone buildings, you’ll munch on Puglian food favorites. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy as you would like! (b)
Day 5 Fasano
After fueling up with breakfast at the hotel, you’re off to experience a tour highlight – a cooking class! Learn the secret behind some traditional Italian recipes and sample your masterpieces after as you dine together on your creations at lunch. Later in the day, you’ll tantalize your tastebuds again as you tour the Cantina Masseria Torricella winery. Your afternoon vineyard tour will showcase the ancient Italian art of wine-making, from crushing the grapes to bottling the beverages. You’ll feel yourself embracing the slow life of the Italian countryside as you sit back and sample some of the vineyards spirits while basking in the Tuscan sunset and nibbling on light appetizers. Tonight is yours to explore more of Fasano on your own or to settle in and relax back at the hotel with some room service for dinner. (b,l)
Day 6 Fasano
Another day in bella Italia awaits you today! Breakfast at the hotel will prepare you for your day trip to Matera, the oldest city in Italy and a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its unique cave dwellings. Later, you’ll visit Coppi Winery. You’ll tour the beautiful vineyards and savor some of the estate’s best spirits alongside a light lunch while taking in views of the surrounding fields. Return to hotel for the evening. If needed, your local leader can provide suggestions on a great spot to find some traditional Italian cuisine or indulge in some local delicacies. (b,l)
Day 7 Fasano
Your last full day of exploring the Apulia region has arrived. After breakfast, you’ll depart this morning for a quick trip to Monopoli, where you’ll stop to see the Centro Storico and Basilica Catterdrale Maria Santissima della Madia, iconic historical landmarks of the city. Lunch will be held at the world-famous Grotta Palazzese Ristorante, a terraced restaurant situated inside a natural cave and overlooking the grotto, with its first patrons dating back to the 1700s. Your three-course meal here is sure to be memorable, with its breathtaking views, unparalleled atmosphere, and refined sense of luxury. Walk off the sumptuous cuisine with a guided tour of the historic old town in Polignano a Mare, where local vendors and shopkeepers cannot wait to show you their wares. This evening, you and your travel mates will gather for a cocktail reception at your hotel, where you’ll enjoy some of the region’s lighter fares and enjoy some wine alfresco on the patio to toast to an incredible Italian adventure. (b,l,t)
Day 8 Fasano
Say arrivederci to Italy as you prepare for a full day of travel home today. (b)
