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The Heel Is Rising ⏤ Puglia & Basilicata
Spring to Fall 2019

 
from 600.00
Guests:
Dates:
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MASSERIA AMASTUOLA 1.jpg
from 600.00
Guests:
Dates:
Quantity:
Book Now

Maritime Matters and Rustic Charm

Join chefs and foragers on their daily tour of the countryside and food markets where local artisans, fishmongers, cheesemakers, butchers and farmers are masters of turning humble ingredients into the mouth watering dishes known as “la cucina povera” (food of the poor). Visit artisan olive mills where home-produced oil is lavished in golden abundance on everything, and build up a thirst cycling along the breezy Adriatic coast for a wine tasting on a traditional Lampara boat. Then, cross over to Basilicata, the “arch” of the boot, and you’ll find an entirely different landscape with its own customs, culture and incredible mystery.

Destination

Country Italy
Region Puglia, Basilicata

Price OptionsPer Guest

6 days Journey Duo $3,280
If Booking Solo + $350
9 days Journey Duo $6,480
If Booking Solo + $550

Journey Highlights

  1. Max Group Size 8 guests
  2. Pick-Up & Drop-Off Location Bari Airport
  3. On-Ground TransportPrivate Vehicle & Ride Assist Bikes
  4. Travel Style Cultural Immersion, Food & Wine

What's Included*

6 days 9 days

About your Host

In curating UNCOVR journeys, I draw upon what I love most about travel, which is to get to know people on a more personal basis. So we go where the locals go and do what the locals do. We create a more intimate, more personal travel experience, recognizing that the real value of travel is emotional. Each time I return home changed, better. My goal with UNCOVR is that our guests do, too.

Featured Local Experiences

Private Locally Farmed Dinners
Ride Assist Bike Tour Through the Valle d’Itria Wine Route
All About Puglia’s Mouth Watering Cheese
Scenic Picnic Lunches and Tastings
A Peak into the World of Lecce’s Palaces and Art Scene
Beach Cleaning Activity (optional)
& More

Featured Retreats

Masseria Moroseta
Masseria Potenti
Sextantio Le Grotto Della Civita / Il Palazzotto ›

Featured Vineyards & Wineries

Cantina Moros Di Claudio Quarta
Sarolo Organic Vineyard
Tenuta Macchiarola
Polvanera Organic Winery
Enoteca Dai Tosi
& More

About your Host

In curating UNCOVR journeys, I draw upon what I love most about travel, which is to get to know people on a more personal basis. So we go where the locals go and do what the locals do. We create a more intimate, more personal travel experience, recognizing that the real value of travel is emotional. Each time I return home changed, better. My goal with UNCOVR is that our guests do, too.

Featured Local Experiences

Private Locally Farmed Dinners
Ride Assist Bike Tour Through the Valle d’Itria Wine Route
All About Puglia’s Mouth Watering Cheese
Scenic Picnic Lunches and Tastings
A Peak into the World of Lecce’s Palaces and Art Scene
Explore Grottaglie with Ceramic Artist Enza Fasano
Beach Cleaning Activity (optional)
& More

Featured Retreats

Masseria Moroseta
Masseria Trapana
Castello Di Ugento
Sextantio Le Grotto Della Civita / Il Palazzotto ›

Featured Vineyards & Wineries

Cantina Moros Di Claudio Quarta
Sarolo Organic Vineyard
Tenuta Macchiarola
Azienda Agricola Elena Fucci
Polvanera Organic Winery
Cristiano Guttarolo Cellars (Natural Wines)
Enoteca Dai Tosi
& More

* Journey inclusions might change based on availability. However, our promise to deliver uniquely curated local experiences will dictate any potential changes.

Journey Itinerary

Day 1: Awe-Inspiring Masseria and the City of Lecce

You will be picked up in Bari at 9.30 in the morning to be transferred to our first awe-inspiring masseria retreat outside of Ostuni to settle for 2 nights. After check in and lunch, UNCOVR will sweep you off to your first local experience - an olive oil tasting at a thousand year old grove, followed by a fascinating history lesson on regional olive oil production and a picnic lunch. In the afternoon, a personal tour guide in Lecce will take us behind the city’s closed doors on a tour of private palaces and then pass us on to a modern papier mache master for an art scene tour. We will then have our meet and greet dinner back at the hotel, spoiled by a local recognized chef.

Day 2: 28 Picturesque Miles

After breakfast, we will start off a leisurely bike ride in a nearby area and ride through historic towns of Alberobello, Locorotondo, Cisternino, Ostuni, finishing in Martina Franca for a total of 28 picturesque miles. We will take the opportunity to stroll through Martina Franca, Ostuni and Alberobello and enjoy a picnic lunch. Followed by a visit to a cheese-producing masseria to taste some of Puglia’s mouthwatering cheeses. The day will be nicely rounded off at a small family-owned restaurant specializing in regional dishes for an amazing dinner.

Day 3: New Retreat, Local Ceramics & Soulful Dinner

We will enjoy a leisurely morning with breakfast and pool at our masseria before checking out to transfer to our next hotel - a 16th century farmhouse in the countryside of Manduria. In the afternoon, we will discover a nearby ceramics heaven and relish a soulful dinner and a wine tasting at a local organic winery.

Day 4: Puglia's Coastline

We will start the day right by driving along the awe-inspiring coast of Puglia and stop by a beautiful grotta for a few mandatory pictures and an optional dip. We will have lunch in the heart of the historic town of Otranto. We may then choose a scenic bike ride down to the southernmost tip of the peninsula and then wine and dine ourselves into oblivion at a beautiful and uniquely designed vineyard.

Day 5: Visit of Matera & Horseback Riding

After breakfast, we will make our way to the stunning historic city of Matera and take our time to explore this UNESCO World Heritage gem and 2019 European Capital of Culture. We will catch a first-class view of the city at sunset while horseback riding the nearby hills and visit a very special and festive place for a delightful local feast.

Day 6: Organic Winery Visit

We will end on a high note with a rose tasting at a beautiful organic winery. Then sadly and reluctantly say goodbye and see you next year as we savor one more breakfast fit for the kings at Matera. Transfer to Bari.

Day 1: Awe-Inspiring Masseria and First Local Experience

You will be picked up in Bari at 9.30 in the morning to be transferred to our first awe-inspiring masseria hotel outside of Ostuni to settle for 2 nights. After check in and lunch, UNCOVR will sweep you off to your first local experience - an olive oil tasting at a thousand year old grove, followed by a fascinating history lesson on regional olive oil production. We will then have our meet and greet dinner back at the hotel, spoiled by a local recognized chef.

Day 2: 28 Picturesque Miles

After breakfast, we will start off a leisurely bike ride in a nearby area and ride through historic towns of Alberobello, Locorotondo, Cisternino, Ostuni, finishing in Martina Franca for a total of 28 picturesque miles. We will take the opportunity to stroll through Martina Franca and enjoy a picnic lunch. We will then visit a cheese-producing masseria and taste some of Puglia’s mouthwatering cheeses. The day will be nicely rounded off at a small family-owned restaurant specializing in regional dishes for an amazing dinner.

Day 3: New Retreat & Soulful Dinner

After breakfast and checkout, we will set our sails to the beach to enjoy the sun and a seaside picnic. Once sufficiently sunkissed, we will make our way to our next harbor - a luxurious masseria surrounded by a serene olive grove. We will enjoy dinner on the property as this one-of-a-kind location is something to savor.

Day 4: Visit of Lecce

A personal tour guide will take us behind Lecce’s closed doors on a tour of private palaces and then pass us on to a modern papier mache master for a tour of this historic city’s art scene. We will then explore our senses with a wine tasting and delicious dinner at a local vineyard.

Day 5: Puglia's Coastline & Chef's Table Extravaganza

We will start the day right by driving along the awe-inspiring coast of Puglia and stop by a beautiful grotto for a few mandatory pictures and an optional dip. We will have lunch in the heart of the historic town of Otranto. We may then choose a scenic bike ride down to the southernmost tip of the peninsula. Our hotel for the next two nights is a 17th century castle with all the modern luxuries you could dream of. Dinner - a Chef’s Table style extravaganza, prepare to be awestruck!

Day 6: Farmers' Market Run

After a delightful breakfast, we will trail an amazing local chef on his daily farmers’ market run and learn about the ingredients that make local cuisine so simple yet so inspiring. We will continue our day on the water with a grotto tour, then enjoy some beach time or explore a local gem of Gallipoli.

Day 7: Visit of Matera

We will transfer to Matera, the 2019 European capital of culture and settle in one of the best local hotels the rooms for which were built thousands of years ago. We will discover a nearby ceramics heaven and relish a soulful lunch and a wine tasting at a local organic winery. The evening will be left free to roam and enjoy the ancient jewel of Italy.

Day 8: Horseback Ride

With enough time to appreciate an amazing breakfast with a view, we will then continue with a morning horseback ride and admire the city from a different, more spectacular angle. We will show you around a few not-to-be-missed local gems and have a local feast with a wine tasting at an adorable restaurant.

Day 9: Organic Winery Visit

We will end on a high note with a rose tasting at a beautiful organic winery. Then sadly and reluctantly say goodbye and see you next year as we savor one more breakfast fit for the kings at Matera. Transfer to Bari.

01.UNCOVR_Still+Image_Puglia.jpg
 
 

Traditional Architecture, Modern Accommodations

Alberobello is known for its ancient dwellings called trulli, Locorotondo is named after its circular structure, and Ostuni has its famous white houses. Visit an array of towns to compare diverse architectural experiences at a handful of contemporary hotels, ranging from the opulent to the pared-back. Find traditional farmhouses in Puglia promoting agricultural traditions in relaxing settings like Masseria Salamina, a majestic fortress of the 17th century, repurposed for our times. When in Matera (Basilicata), known for its ancient cave dwellings, tap into your ancestral roots at Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita, an unparalleled standard for a boutique hotel with the particularity of being set in an ancient cave.

 
 

Vineyards, Olive Trees and Landscape Design

Take your time at Masseria Amastuola, a resplendent winery overlooking the sea. Its vineyard was designed by the acclaimed Fernando Caruncho, whose philosophical approach to landscape design is rooted in Ancient Greek thought. Caruncho’s design for the vineyard, with its parallel waves of vines and carefully dotted olive trees, recalls the region’s rich history and when it was part of  Magna Graecia, “Greater Greece.” Expect tours, tastings and the comfort of luxurious rooms at the 15th century farmhouse, family-run since the 1980s.

 
 

Novel Customs and Aperitivo Culture in Matera

By now, you’ll have visited restaurateurs like Floriano Pellegrino in Lecce and illustrious artisanal ceramicists like the Fasano family in Grottaglie. After sightseeing in Matera, enjoy a special aperitivo, an after-work ritual institutionalized in the cities of Northern Italy that involves a glass of wine or a spritzer. Thanks to the passion and entrepreneurial spirit of wine-loving Venetian Gian Paolo Buziol, visitors to the South can now enjoy the most representative Italian wines at Enoteca dai Tosi, an ancient cave converted into an upscale sanctuary for the love of wine.

Puglia & Basilicata's Exclusive Travel Insights & Interviews
In Conversation with Gian Paolo Buziol of Enoteca dai Tosi
In Conversation with Gian Paolo Buziol of Enoteca dai Tosi

Originally from the Veneto region, Gian Paolo Buziol fell for Matera in the early 2010s. Today he has successfully married his passion for wine with his entrepreneurial sense and nurtured a labour of love: the Enoteca dai Tosi, an upscale wine bar set in a historic cave.

Read More →
In Conversation with Ceramists Giovanna Alò and Enza Fasano
In Conversation with Ceramists Giovanna Alò and Enza Fasano

Puglia is certainly known for its unique geological landscape, but the town of Grottaglie in Taranto is particularly renowned for its ceramic production. We spoke with mother Enza Fasano and daughter Giovanna Alò, fourth and fifth generation ceramists respectively, about the artisanal traditions of their hometown.

Read More →
In Conversation with Chef Floriano Pellegrino of Bros' Restaurant
In Conversation with Chef Floriano Pellegrino of Bros' Restaurant

Founded by 2 brothers in the inviting town of Lecce, Bros’ Restaurant grew to be a labour of love.

Read More →
Puglia & Basilicata's Exclusive Travel Insights & Interviews
A Turn Around Puglia and Basilicata
A Turn Around Puglia and Basilicata

If you think you know a place, try looking at it through the eyes of another. You will find their awe intact. This is what happened to us, a photographer, Stephanie Gengotti and journalist, Giada Valdannini, travelling with UNCOVR Travel between Puglia and Basilicata.

Read More →
Contemporary Architecture in Puglia: Antonio Annicchiarico, CGA Studios, Andrew Trotter
Contemporary Architecture in Puglia: Antonio Annicchiarico, CGA Studios, Andrew Trotter

Tourism has proven a driving resource in the development of Southern Italy, with major investments in the roads and infrastructure being made. But how do you avoid the fast, easy mass tourism, which is notsustainable in the long run and neither respects the local economy nor the heritage?

Read More →
Around the World with Your Loved One ⏤ Interview with Creative Duo Nuria Val & Coke Bartrina
Around the World with Your Loved One ⏤ Interview with Creative Duo Nuria Val & Coke Bartrina

Sooner this year, as we was departing for our gastronomic and oenophilic tour of Puglia and Basilicata, we had the chance to be joined by the creative duo of Nuria Val and Coke Bartrina.

Read More →
La Peschiera at Monopoli: A Soul Awakening Experience
La Peschiera at Monopoli: A Soul Awakening Experience

Formerly a fisherman’s hatchery of the 19th century, La Peschiera today is a luxury hotel with 13 rooms that bring the mind, body and soul into harmony with the great expanse of the Adriatic sea they face. Each room has a private terrace and direct access to the natural seawater pool for an intimate and peaceful atmosphere

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Masseria Amastuola ⏤ A Heartwarming Experience Inside a Unique Countryside Vineyard
Masseria Amastuola ⏤ A Heartwarming Experience Inside a Unique Countryside Vineyard

About fifteen kilometers in-land, Crispiano is a small town that expresses another side of Puglia. Worth a visit for the distinct countryside estate and vineyard Masseria Amastuola alone, the region is deeply tied to rural life and the cultivation of wine and produce

Read More →
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

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