Southern Italy: Amalfi Coast & Puglia

Ciao! Welcome to Italy. Your adventure begins on the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Amalfi Coast, in the small town of Minori. The Amalfi peninsula is a land of rocky coasts, cliff-top vistas, bright seas, tiered lemon groves, whitewashed villages, steep cliffs and blue skies. You'll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight to meet your local leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive in Minori Town early, why not take a self-guided stroll in search of some gorgeous panoramic views of the coast. Or you could just plant yourself at a sunny piazza cafe and enjoy a macchiato or a gelato.

You have a free day to explore Minori and Amalfi Town (just a quick bus ride away) today. If you're after a relaxing walk with a few cultural highlights, maybe stroll from one side of the town to the other and visit the Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea and the Chiostro del Paradiso. If you’re after something more active, maybe head out on a walk through the Valley of Mills. Or you could hop on a bus to the Valley of Dragons to reach pretty Ravello – for centuries, its lofty position and sunny, dry climate have beckoned writers, artists, musicians and travellers. Ravello also boasts two magnificent villas, the 11th-century Villa Rufolo – once the home of Wagner – and Villa Cimbrone – a 19th-century mansion with sprawling gardens and great views over the Gulf of Salerno. You could also take a half-day walk along the narrow trail of the famous Sentiero Degli Dei (the Walk of the Gods) through forests and fields of wildflowers, olive groves and vineyards.

This morning, set off by train to Italy's east coast, where you’ll spend the next two nights in Trani, known as the 'Pearl of Puglia.’ Once an ancient trading hub for merchants travelling to the Near East, this bustling port town is a favourite summer yachting destination. When you arrive, hit the limestone streets on a walking tour to explore the historic centre and its medieval churches, the most notable being the white cathedral that rises from the seawall by the ocean. Later, maybe head out with your fellow travellers and kick back on the waterfront to watch the sophisticates of Puglia clink glasses of Moscato di Trani in cosy bars.

Today is a free day to explore all that Trani has to offer. You might like to visit the dramatic Cattedrale di San Nicola Pellegrino, which begun in 1099 and has taken over two centuries to finish – the soft, white-pink limestone Norman cathedral is dedicated to the famously foolish St Nicholas the Pilgrim, whose bones lie in the crypt below the church. Inside, it’s bright, airy and simply furnished, with the remains of a 12th-century mosaic near the main altar. You might also head to the castle built by Frederick II – the king of Sicily, Italy, Germany, Jerusalem and the Holy Roman Emperor in the 13th century. Or maybe explore the medieval Jewish quarter, built in all-white stone, and its two largest synagogues, the Scola Nova and the Scola Grande. Fishermen sell the day’s catch in the marina, so maybe head there for dinner and grab a glass of wine harbourside.

Head south today to Lecce – the Baroque architecture here is so distinctive it has its own name, barocco leccese! Elaborate palazzi (mansions) complement a defensive main square, while Roman ruins and magnificent allegories dance across ornate facades. The university gives the town a lively feel, and there are little boutiques, antique shops and delicious delis to explore, here. Take a tour of the town with a local guide, then have your afternoon and evening free to explore at your own pace.

Embrace a free day to explore Lecce. If open, maybe step beneath the city and see the restored Roman amphitheatre excavated in the 1930s. Built in the 2nd century AD, the remarkably intact theatre seated 15,000 people. Overlooking the arena is the Colonna di Sant'Oronzo – a statue of Lecce's patron saint mounted on a Roman column. Maybe check out the Basilica di Santa Croce’s facade of sheep, dodos, cherubs and monsters, or head to the Piazza del Duomo. Used in the past as a defence against invaders, the square's openness is bordered by a 12th-century cathedral, a 68 m (223 ft) bell tower, a 15th-century Episcopal palace and an 18th-century seminario. In the afternoon, meet up with your group for an aperitivo with local specialties like friselle, taralli, puccia, bombette and burrate.

This morning, head to a local masseria to meet an olive oil producer. Learn how the techniques have changed over the millennia, then try a taste for yourself. Some olive trees here are thought to be close to 3000 years old and the farm has been active since Roman times. Continue to Ostuni and have some time to explore its narrow streets before moving on to Alberobello – a UNESCO World Heritage site. The town’s beehive-shaped trulli – small, dry-stone houses built from local limestone in the 14th century – are the big drawcard here. The origins of the buildings are unclear, although it's possible the mortar-less dwellings were created to be easily dismantled in a feudal tax evasion scheme. Wander the Old Town quarter of Rione Monti, where thousands of trulli and souvenir shops rise over the hill, or head over to Rione Aia Piccola and see trulli family dwellings.

After breakfast today, you’ll leave the fairytale town behind and move on to Matera – home to another ancient and unique style of home. One of the oldest cities in existence, Matera's otherworldly sassi – stone houses formed from natural grottoes and tufo cliffs overlooking a gorge – are a haunting and bittersweet insight into ancient life here. The Old Town’s resemblance to Jerusalem has attracted film directors of biblical epics, but its dark interiors were the scene of poverty in the mid-20th century. Duck down into the sassi through the knot of staircases and alleyways that snake through the limestone ravines and take a guided tour to appreciate both its ancient and modern history. Tonight, you’ll stay in accommodation with balconies that overlook the sassi.

This morning is free for you to explore the narrow alleyways and caves of Matera before boarding a local train to Bari around lunchtime. Sitting on a small peninsula in the Adriatic Sea overlooking Greece, Bari is the prosperous capital of Puglia. The tangled streets of its Old Town – Bari Vecchia – conceal Romanesque churches, a market, medieval piazzas and a Swabian castle. The Basilica di San Nicola was built to hold the relics of St Nicholas, which were stolen from Turkey by local Bari fishermen and have made the city a place of pilgrimage since 1087. Maybe take a walk along the stone walls, with the sea lapping on one side and the medieval town on the other. Maybe see out your last night with a group meal by the harbour, sampling local limoncello and some of the city’s famous seafood.

Your journey will come to an end after breakfast today and you are free to depart at any time. If you would like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent to organise additional accommodation.