Undiscovered Italy - Puglia, Matera and Lecce

Accommodation

Eden Beach Club Hotel, Torre Canne di Fasano

The immediate surroundings of Hotel Eden feature the charming atmosphere of a typical ancient Italian village. Set in the historic centre of Torre Canne, the 3 star superior Beach Club Hotel is just 100 yards from the sandy beach.

It also boasts a restaurant, partially covered rooftop garden, panoramic rooftop swimming pool and a bar. There is a free bar from 6.00pm to 10.00pm serving local spirits, wine, beer, soft drinks and tea and coffee every evening.

The en-suite rooms are spacious and have a balcony, flat screen tv, a mini bar and air conditioning. We stay on a half board basis with continental buffet breakfasts and 3-course evening meals with a choice of menu. The dinners are traditional Italian fare and everything is carefully prepared and beautifully presented.

Free WiFi is available throughout the hotel and the outdoor pool is usually open from late May to September.

Excursions & Itinerary

Day 1 - Fly to Italy

Fly from your local airport to Italy. On arrival at Bari Airport you will be met and transferred to our hotel in Torre Canne, where we stay for seven nights. Seven breakfasts and seven dinners are included in the hotel.

Day 2 - At Leisure

Today is at leisure, enabling you to relax in the comfortable surroundings of the hotel, or to make your first discoveries in Torre Canne. Perhaps take a stroll along the beach or enjoy a lunch of local seafood in one of the resort’s restaurants.

Day 3 - Included Lecce and guided walking tour

Our first included excursion takes us to Lecce, the 'Florence of the South', famous for its Baroque churches and buildings carved from local stone, where we have a guided walking tour of this city which is filled with Baroque monuments. The ‘old town’ is compact, which makes it easy to visit the main sights including the cathedral, the Basilica di Santa Croce, the ancient Roman amphitheatre which dates from the second century and the old Jewish Quarter. After the walking tour there will be time at leisure for you to make your own discoveries in this beautiful Baroque city and perhaps enjoy a refreshing drink in one of the pavement cafes or hunt out some bargains in the vast array of shops.

Day 4 - Included Alberobello and Ostuni Tour

This morning we head to Ostuni. Visible for miles around, Ostuni is a gleaming tumble of painted buildings and dramatic brick-built palaces, perched on three hills and surrounded by olive groves. Ostuni’s whitewashed old town lends the town its second name as the ‘White City’ of Puglia, and there are few places as atmospheric found anywhere else in the region. Stroll through the narrow streets spanned by elegant archways or perhaps relax in a pavement cafe and just enjoy the views. We then continue through the countryside and the Itria Valley. Keep your eyes peeled for your first view of those unique hobbit-sized cone-roofed Trulli houses that look like they’ve come straight out of a fairytale book. Alberobello is the best place to see and visit the famous trulli houses, whitewashed cones made of stones held together, traditionally without mortar – there are over 1300 of them here.

Day 5 - At leisure

Another day at leisure in Torre Canne. Perhaps enjoy a drink in one of the pavement cafes or simply take it easy and relax in the comfortable surroundings of the hotel and soak up the sun by the swimming pool.

Day 6 - At leisure or Optional Tour of Locorotondo, Castellana and Martina Franca

Today is again at leisure or you may wish to join our optional excursion to enable you to see even more of this wonderful region of Italy. We start by visiting the whitewashed hilltop town of Locorotondo. Locorotondo means ‘round place’ and this small town is as delightful as its name suggests. Its round historical centre is picture perfect with picturesque alleys and houses with flower bedecked balconies. We’ll also visit one of the local vineyards to sample the crisp white wines Puglia is noted for accompanies by some local delicacies. Our next stop is to the amazing caves at Castellana, one of the most beautiful and spectacular caves in Italy. Our guided tour along an easy pathway explores a stunning underworld where caverns, canyons, fossils, stalactites and stalagmites in astonishing colours capture the imagination. One of the most impressive sections is the White Cave, which takes its name from the rich, white alabaster that lines it. The more original formations include the "eccentric stalactites", which defy the laws of gravity: they grow sideways, in some cases then turning upwards, creating spectacular shapes. Our last visit of the day is a short visit to the hilltop town of Martina Franca. The town's jewel is its lovely historic centre, a memorable maze of winding alleys, where whitewashed simplicity sits side by side with baroque extravagance.

Day 7 - Included Matera and Sassi Caves Tour

Today we leave the region of Apulia and drive into the neighbouring region of Basilicata where we visit Matera. One of Italy’s oldest cities, this amazing place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today it is famous for its ‘Sassi’, 8th century cave-dwellings carved into the hillsides. We’ll have a guided tour of the rock church and caves which were first created by monks. They were inhabited right up until the 1960s and are one of Basilicata's most famous sites.

Day 8 - Homeward Bound

It’s ’Arriverderci Italia’ today when we return to the airport for our flight back to the UK. If your flight is in the morning or over the lunchtime period, we will take you to the airport after breakfast. If your flight is in the late afternoon or evening, there will be time at leisure before leaving for the airport. Due to the amount of walking and steps involved during this tour, it is not recommended for people with walking difficulties.