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Italy

Cooking in Puglia

Program No. 25616RJ
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Start
Food & WineSmall GroupNew
Length
10 days
Rating
New
Activity Level
Starts at
4,499
Special Offer
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
10 days
9 nights
What's Included
17 meals ( 8B, 3L, 6D )
3 expert-led lectures
10 expert-led field trips
4 hands-on experiences
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
8 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in available from 03:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously)
Afternoon:
After checking in at the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session. Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Program-related transportation will be primarily via motorcoach (unless specified otherwise), necessitating ascending/descending a few steps. Meals will include wine, coffee, and water with other beverages available for purchase. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. During the winter months, some stores are closed during the afternoon hours. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/weather conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. We’ll then enjoy a welcome cocktail together at the hotel before dinner.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow road scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the full day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting on/off motorcoach. Driving about 153 miles; approximately 2.5 hours throughout the day. Walking about 4 miles, approximately 4 hours in both morning and afternoon. In Lecce flat terrain. In Otranto, cobblestone streets, stone-paved alleys, and slight inclines typical of a medieval hilltop town. Some areas are uneven and may involve short uphill stretches and a few steps.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board our motorcoach and ride to Lecce. During the ride, Our Group Leader will give an on-site lecture on the Baroque Treasures of Lecce. Lecce is “The Florence of Southern Italy”, a town where losing oneself is more than an accident on the way. It is a duty of intellect. Lecce, home of the Baroque, is more than an architectural style, a way to relive the past. Time in Lecce passes through its tortuous streets, through places that you would never recognize, because the streets change perspective continuously. Those who see it are dazzled at first glance. The white that pervades Lecce, unusual and exotic, fills the eyes with wonder. All thanks to the typical Lecce stone, also called "gentle stone", like the tuff that has constituted the soul and heart of the Baroque in Lecce. We will explore the historic center of Lecce.
Lunch:
At a restaurant in Lecce. During lunch we will enjoy a "Taranta” performance, a dance connected to the name of the tarantula, a spider famous in ancient popular culture, because its bite triggered, according to legend, major psychomotor crises, which lasted for days. The movements that characterize the dance, known as tarantella, reproduce the convulsions that follow the bite of the tarantula, a spider that lives mainly in southern Italy, especially in Puglia. The dance, in the ancient culture of southern Italy, was accompanied by the sounds of tambourine and rattles and had the purpose of freeing those who were bitten by the tarantula from the state of delirium into which they had fallen.
Afternoon:
We will ride to Otranto, off the beaten track, is the easternmost town in Italy, where turquoise, crystalline waters embrace ancient history, showing all its unique splendor. The town is a treasure chest full of priceless treasures such as the wonderful small scenic squares, the Aragonese castle and the churches that house are of great value. The imposing Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata, built on an early Christian temple, contains one of the most representative works of art of the Apulian culture of the Middle Ages: the large floor mosaic created by a group of artists led by the Basilian monk Pantaleo. Scenes from the Old Testament, chivalric cycles, medieval bestiaries and scenes from the Romance of Alexander are arranged along the development of the Tree of Life, retracing the human experience from original sin to salvation. We will visit with our Group Leader the Cathedral di Santa Maria Annunziata.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off motorcoach. Driving is about 45 miles; approximately 1.5 hours throughout the day. Walking about 3 miles, approximately 2 hours total for the day. At I Giardini della Grata, the walking is on uneven terrain. In Alberobello the terrain consists mostly of stone-paved streets, including ancient cobblestones, small hills, and uneven alleys with some steps.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will ride to “I Giardini della Grata” the medieval gardens of Ostuni for an experiential walking field trip through a productive agricultural area where ancient fruit and vegetable varieties are cultivated. The visit includes a seasonal tasting of the varieties found in the field, followed by a light aperitif with crudités and snacks (oil tarallini with ancient grain flours and lupins in brine). We’ll then continue our ride to Alberobello. We will walk with our Group Leader throughout this UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alberobello, which is situated on the second step of Le Murge, south of the Canale di Pirro. As we explore, this fairy tale town, we soak in the sights of the iconic white limestone trulli with their conically pointed roofs. Our Group Leader will give an on-site lecture on The Fairytale Architecture of Puglia’s Trulli’.
Lunch:
On your own in Alberobello
Afternoon:
Free time in Alberobello. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration. We will then ride to the Masseria Casina Vitale for our first hands-on cooking lesson (orecchiette, handmade pasta) with an expert local chef. The Masseria is located in a sunny corner of the Apulian countryside, between Itria Valley and Salento. It's a wide expanse of greenery, majestic old trees of oaks and olive trees, aromatic spontaneous vegetation and ancient stone walls as a backdrop to the structure dating back to the 1800s.
Dinner:
At the masseria, we will enjoy the results of our cooking lesson along with other dishes prepared by the chef.
Evening:
Returning to the hotel, the rest of the evening is at leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off motorcoach. Driving is about 118 miles total; approximately 2.5 hours total, with stops for field trips at various locations. Walking about 3 miles approx. 2.5 hours total. In Bari narrow, stone-paved streets with some uneven surfaces and steps; mostly flat terrain. In Polignano a Mare the terrain is generally flat but can be slightly uneven in places with stone-paved alleys. At the Masseria the walking is on mostly flat terrain and some sections with natural stone paving.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board the motorcoach and head to Bari, the capital of Puglia bathed by the Adriatic Sea and famous throughout the world for the relics of Saint Nicholas preserved in the Basilica of the same name; legend has it that this important place of worship was built to hide the Holy Grail. Walking through the “Citta’ Vecchia” (old Town) visitors discover its most authentic character, with signs of its past scattered through the local alleyways. At the doors of an alley stand the women who prepare the famous “orecchiette” (handmade pasta) on the pastry boards armed only with water, semolina and knives. The houses lean against each other and at every corner there are churches, monuments and views to photograph. Here visitors can breathe an atmosphere frozen in time, in a place where everyone knows each other and the smells of the kitchens mix with the sea breeze. We will see the Basilica of San Nicola, the outside of the cathedral and the castle, and the main square of the Old City. We will then board the motorcoach and head to Polignano a Mare.
Lunch:
On your own in Polignano a Mare.
Afternoon:
Ater lunch, we'll explore the old part of the village on foot and have a stroll along the waterfront. Polignano a Mare, a medieval village, enclosed by high walls and boasting magnificent cliff drops over the sea, has always represented the history, culture and the soul of its local people. Visiting the old town is like walking around a postcard. Every corner seems made on purpose to take hundreds and hundreds of photographs. It has prehistoric origins and the cliff on which it is built was coveted land even in Roman times. Now it is made of white houses, narrow streets, caves full of charm, and magnificent panoramic balconies overlooking the sea, from the top of an empty 24-meter drop. We will then ride to the Masseria Casina Vitale for our second hands-on cooking lesson (focaccia).
Dinner:
At the masseria, we will enjoy the results of our cooking lesson.
Evening:
Returning to the hotel, the rest of the evening is at leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off motorcoach. Driving about 16 miles, approximately 30 minutes throughout the day. Walking about 1/2 mile; approximately 2 hours between walking and standing on uneven surfaces.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board our private motorcoach and ride at a local Masseria in Ceglie Messapica a farm nestled in the breathtaking landscape of the Valle d’Itria and the Murgia dei Trulli, for a visit featuring the captivating story of a farm that has preserved ancient traditions for four generations. We will visit the stables to get up close with the cows and learn about the breeding techniques used. After exploring the milking parlor, you'll observe a detailed explanation on how to perform a proper milking, a key moment for obtaining high-quality milk. The visit continues in the milk storage room, where you'll see how the milk is stored and prepared for processing.
Lunch:
At the Masseria.
Afternoon:
We will return to the hotel for some free time. We will then ride to the Masseria Casina Vitale for our third hands-on cooking lesson (panzerotti and pucce).
Dinner:
At the masseria, we will enjoy the results of our cooking lesson.
Evening:
Returning to the hotel, the rest of the evening is at leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off motorcoach. Driving about 20 miles, approximately 30 minutes throughout the day. Walking about 1/2 mile; approximately 2 hours between walking and standing on uneven surfaces. Includes some steps to access the underground olive mill.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will ride to the Brancati ancient farmhouse located in the heart of the centuries-old olive groves. with an underground olive oil mill dating back to the Messapian era. Here you can discover the tradition of extra virgin olive oil and its artisanal production. We will visit its hypogeum oil mill – an underground “green gold mines” that bear witness to generations of olive oil production, a truly precious cultural reservoir worth discovering. We will return to the hotel.
Lunch:
On your own in Ostuni
Afternoon:
Free time. We will then ride to the Masseria Casina Vitale for our fourth hands-on cooking lesson (tiella).
Dinner:
At the masseria, we will enjoy the results of our cooking lesson.
Evening:
Returning to the hotel, the rest of the evening is at leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off motorcoach. Driving is about 167 miles; approximately 3 hours throughout the day. Walking about 2.5 miles; approximately 2 hours; Sassi is very rocky; several steps and slopes; be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Via motorcoach, we will ride to Matera where we will embark on an expert-led walking field trip of the Sassi di Matera, a rare jewel of Basilicata, a miracle of time that reveals itself to the visitor with an overwhelming charm. Matera in the past was a crossroads of peoples and cultures, just as today it arouses the interest of visitors from all over the world despite not being one of the classic tourist locations. In Matera there is neither the sea nor the mountains, yet the "little" that there is to do in this city represents the essential thing capable of bringing back to life what is being lost today. Hence the white flag that was assigned to the city, whose color indicates surrender, that sense of peace that can be felt walking through the winding streets of the old city, admiring the viewpoint of the stones and appreciating the hospitality of the locals who tickles the heart. Matera owes its charm to the crypts and rock churches that arose following the Byzantine and Benedictine monastic settlements, but above all to the stones declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993. To understand the importance of the stones we must take a leap into the past, imagining that until sixty years ago they represented the housing complex of the population of Matera, made up exclusively of farmers. Today the stones represent the essence of Matera, a testimony of the past that crystallizes the era of the 1950s. The labyrinth of houses that seem to fit together gives life to a singular panorama with a homogeneous and always elegant color, from which the bell tower of the Cathedral stands out. It is impossible to be disappointed by Matera and its wonderful landscape. Impossible because it is a city that leaves a profound mark, so much so that many speak of "Basilicata sickness". We will be joined by a local expert for a lecture on Matera's Stones: an Archive of Cultural Heritage.
Lunch:
At a restaurant in Matera.
Afternoon:
We will return to the hotel.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy what you like.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off motorcoach. Driving about 46 miles, approximately 1 hour throughout the day. Walking about 1 mile on uneven surfaces.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will ride with our motorcoach to Grottaglie, nestled in the beating heart of Puglia, is a gem of culture and art. Famous for its historic ceramic tradition, the city is home to the Quartiere delle Ceramiche, where shops and laboratories reveal age-old secrets. Here, the art of ceramics merges with modernity, giving life to unique pieces that tell stories of clay and fire. The art of Grottaglie is a sensory journey that enchants and inspires, an experience not to be missed by anyone visiting the beautiful region of Puglia. We will start with a visit to the museum of ceramics located in the castle and we will then continue to the ceramic district. br> We will return to the hotel.
Lunch:
On your own in Ostuni.
Afternoon:
Free time.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Share some of your favorite experiences from the program with your fellow Road Scholars.
Evening:
At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
At the hotel depending on departure time. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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