Magical Puglia with Matera
plus optional Amalfi Coast extension
Available as a private journey
Your group, your dates, our itinerary and great customer service!
Your group, your dates, our itinerary and great customer service!
Imagine yourself in the south of Italy, immersed in a food lover's paradise in an area mostly overlooked by mass tourism.
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Puglia, pronounced “pool-ya,” is the perfect region for Soirée’s discerning guests. The “heel” of Italy’s fashionable boot. Here you’ll find graceful Baroque cities, curious conical trulli, charming villages, exquisite cuisine, and glorious, peaceful beaches.
Our distinctive itinerary includes the UNESCO treasure of Matera. This city may be the world’s third-longest inhabited human settlement. The old city is famous for its cave dwellings and is often filmed as a stand in for Jerusalem in blockbuster movies. The new city is all about gracious living and sophisticated gastronomy. Optional: Extend to the stunning Amalfi Coast. Basing for three nights in the coastal city of Ravello, you’ll visit the iconic Isle of Capri, upscale Positano, and the lively town of Amalfi. The last day of this extension provides you with a fascinating immersion and overnight in Naples. Itinerary details below |
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Cave restaurant, Day 2
MAGICAL PUGLIA
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Meals: 12 (7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners)
Hotels: 5* Bari: 3 nights Lecce: 2 nights Matera: 2 nights Highlights:
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AMALFI COAST
(Optional Extension)
5 days/4 nights
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Meals: 7 (4 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner)
Hotels: 4* & 5* Ravello: 4*, 3 nights Naples: 5*, 1 night Highlights:
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Day 1: Bari
Arrive Bari, Italy today, enjoying a private transfer to your centrally-located hotel. Enjoy an included welcome dinner tonight (D)* *indicates included meals: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), and/or Dinner (D) |
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Day 2: Bari, Polignano & Cave restaurant dinner
Today we’ll explore fascinating Bari with our expert local guide. Later, we'll visit coastal Polignano a Mare. You’ll have time to explore before we make our way to Polignano's city center where we will dine at a stunning cave restaurant above the sea. (B, D) |
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Day 3: Alberobello and Grotta Castellana
Today we'll visit the lovely village of Alberobello, famous for its mysterious, conical trullo homes. After an included lunch we'll visit the spectacular limestone caves of Castellana Grotte before returning to Bari for an evening at your leisure. (B, L) |
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Day 4: Olive Oil experience & Lecce
We’re moving onward to Baroque Lecce today, a graceful city in the heart of Puglia. Enroute we’ll enjoy an olive oil experience. You’ll have time for lunch on your own in Lecce. Lecce is full of carved sandstone cathedrals, lively piazzas, and cobblestoned lanes. Atmosphere and cuisine are main attractions here. After we settle into our hotel, our expert guide will help us explore Lecce. Tonight we'll enjoy a wine & food tasting, equivalent to a light dinner. (B, D) |
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Day 5: Salento Exploration: Gallipoli
The most southern part of Puglia is known for its Greek past and dreamy beaches. Gallipoli, formerly an island-like fortress that juts into the Ionian Sea, Gallipoli retains a southern Italian charm all its own. Colorful fishing boats float around the old city walls. A Greek dialect is still spoken here, and with serene baroque architecture, it’s one of the prettiest of Salento’s smaller settlements. We'll return to Lecce for an evening at leisure. (B) |
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Day 6: Wine Tasting, Countryside Lunch & Matera
We’ll have a relaxed start this morning before heading to the Martina Franca area for a scrumptious wine tasting and countryside lunch. We’ll begin with a guided tour of the winery and leave the area fat and happy as we travel onward! Our easy drive to Matera will take us through farmland to dramatic terrain. Matera is unlike anything we’ve seen on the trip so far. Nominated for Capital of Culture in 2019 and a UNESCO World Heritage site, the city sits on a rocky outcrop in the region of Basilicata. We’ll get oriented in the city briefly before giving you the balance of the day for yourself. (B, L) |
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Day 7: Matera & Farewell
Matera is one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world, and its history goes back 30,000 years. Its most defining feature is that the homes and churches of the old city are carved out of the mountain. Matera’s warren of alleyways and expansive views are the stuff of legends. This morning we’ll enjoy a guided tour of the ancient sassi—the neighborhoods of stone dwellings. This afternoon is yours for independent exploration. Charming "less ancient" Matera, where we’ll stay, is mostly flat, largely pedestrianized, and easy to explore on foot. The views of the sassi from our hotel and the adjacent streets are stunning! Tonight we finish our Magical Puglia with Matera journey in delicious style with an included farewell dinner. (B, D) |
Day 8: Departure or continue
Your group return transfer to the Bari airport is included in your trip. Bari is about a one-hour drive from Matera.
(B)
Your group return transfer to the Bari airport is included in your trip. Bari is about a one-hour drive from Matera.
(B)
But since you’re already in the south of Italy . . .
Why not extend to the amazing Amalfi Coast?
Why not extend to the amazing Amalfi Coast?
Photo from Ravello, our base in the Amalfi Coast
If bliss could be a color, today would be Amalfi Blue
~ Lisa Fantino, author of Amalfi Blue
~ Lisa Fantino, author of Amalfi Blue
Optional Amalfi Coast Treasures Extension (sold only in conjunction with Magical Puglia & Matera)
We’ll make Ravello--far from the tourist crowds and a hidden treasure of the Amalfi Coast--home for three nights as we visit the Isle of Capri, Positano, and the town of Amalfi. Our last day will find us exploring the castles, cuisine, and archeological treasures of Naples together before our included farewell dinner and overnight in the City of the Sun.
We’ll make Ravello--far from the tourist crowds and a hidden treasure of the Amalfi Coast--home for three nights as we visit the Isle of Capri, Positano, and the town of Amalfi. Our last day will find us exploring the castles, cuisine, and archeological treasures of Naples together before our included farewell dinner and overnight in the City of the Sun.
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Day 1: Paestum, Buffalo Cheese Farm & Ravello
Our fascinating days don’t end in Matera when you extend to the Amalfi Coast! Today we’ll head to beautiful Ravello, nicknamed the City of Music, with a photo stop en route at the ancient Greek ruins of Paestum. It will be lunchtime, and so we’ll visit a nearby water buffalo cheese producer before continuing. Think of the creamiest, richest mozzarella and burrata you can imagine. Once in Ravello, we’ll get oriented and then relax. This gorgeous resort town has been attracting celebrities for centuries, including Wagner, Greta Garbo, Gore Vidal, and D.H. Lawrence, who wrote Lady Chatterly’s Lover here. But no pressure. (B, L) |
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Day 2: Isle of Capri & Amalfi
This morning we’ll head to the town of Amalfi where we’ll catch the ferry to the Isle of Capri. You’ll have time to lunch and explore Capri on your own. We’ll happily provide a bit of guidance based on your interests.
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Day 3: Morning at Leisure in Ravello & Afternoon in Positano
Take it easy this morning in Ravello before we make the short drive to Positano, a seaside resort town that cascades down to the shoreline. Playground of the rich and famous (Meghan Markle celebrated her bachelorette party here), Positano is the perfect place for shopping, lunching, and simply taking in the view at your leisure. The afternoon is yours to spend as you wish. We can help you with ideas. We’ll return to Ravello before dinner time. (B) |
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Day 4: Herculaneum & Naples, National Archaeological Museum, Pizza Lunch & Farewell Dinner
Heading over the mountains from Ravello, we’ll soon skirt the Bay of Naples with a view of the volcano Vesuvius, bound for Herculaneum. The ruins of Herculaneum, while smaller than Pompeii, were locked in time by the same eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Our local guide will help us understand what we’re seeing and remind us of the events on that fateful day in A.D. 79. We’ll enjoy a short panoramic tour of Naples before munching on authentic Neapolitan pizza in the city where the dish was born. This afternoon we’ll take a short walking tour of Naples to the Naples National Archaeological Museum where you can see the vast treasures of artifacts recovered from Pompeii. Exquisite furniture, elaborate and common household items, toys, food, remains. Tonight we celebrate together as we share a farewell dinner with a view. We’ll call it an early evening at our luxurious hotel in one of Naples most treasured areas. (B, L, D) |
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Day 5: Departure Transfer
Your departure transfer to the Naples Airport is included this morning. Arrivederci e Grazie! |
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Inclusions:
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Exclusions:
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Please inquire for custom pricing for your dates and group size
IMPORTANT FLIGHT INFORMATION
We strongly urge you to work with an airfare specialist for your international flight to Italy
At present, to avoid quarantine, travelers MUST show acceptable proof of full vaccination or negative test COVID-19 test result taken prior to travel
You are responsible for complying with all required testing and documentation
Please book your flights with the most flexible terms possible should you need to cancel or make changes
Please insure your trip
At present, to avoid quarantine, travelers MUST show acceptable proof of full vaccination or negative test COVID-19 test result taken prior to travel
You are responsible for complying with all required testing and documentation
Please book your flights with the most flexible terms possible should you need to cancel or make changes
Please insure your trip
**AIRFARE NOT INCLUDED**
This information is for your convenience only
(If you need assistance with airfare, we can recommend a trusted booking agent)
This information is for your convenience only
(If you need assistance with airfare, we can recommend a trusted booking agent)
Airports:
Arrive Bari, Italy (BRI) | Depart Bari, Italy (BRI)
OR, if extending to Amalfi Coast
Depart Naples, Italy (NAP)
**AIRFARE NOT INCLUDED**
Arrive Bari, Italy (BRI) | Depart Bari, Italy (BRI)
OR, if extending to Amalfi Coast
Depart Naples, Italy (NAP)
**AIRFARE NOT INCLUDED**
Magical Puglia with Matera
plus optional Amalfi Coast
PLEASE NOTE
This Amalfi Coast extension is only bookable when purchased with Magical Puglia with Matera
Deposits & Final Payment
The deposit amount is 25% per person, due at booking.
For your private departure, Final Payment is due at Soirée Travel Specialist’s office 120 days before departure. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply.
*100% penalty of deposit 120 days before travel if final payment is not made by 120 days and trip is not cancelled in writing
Cancellation charges
Cancellations must be received in writing and will become effective on the date of receipt, fax or email. Cancellations received by Soirée Travel Specialists are subject to the following:
Cancellation fees per person
The deposit amount is 25% per person, due at booking.
For your private departure, Final Payment is due at Soirée Travel Specialist’s office 120 days before departure. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply.
*100% penalty of deposit 120 days before travel if final payment is not made by 120 days and trip is not cancelled in writing
Cancellation charges
Cancellations must be received in writing and will become effective on the date of receipt, fax or email. Cancellations received by Soirée Travel Specialists are subject to the following:
Cancellation fees per person
- 121 days prior to departure (or more): 10% of the travel event price per person. Additional cancellation penalties may apply to planes, vessels and trains including private charters; select accommodations as noted in your proposal; exclusive private use of accommodations or venues; groups of 10 or more; or itineraries that fall over holiday or festival seasons.
- 120-91 days prior to departure: 20% of travel event price
- 90-61 days prior to departure: 50% of travel event price
- 60 days prior to departure (or less): 100% of the travel event price