Gems Of Puglia - NY

SOUTHERN VISIONSActive & Cultural Vacations

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with over 800km of coastline, there is no better wayto experience the true coastal wonders of Puglia thanby luxury cruise. This itinerary offers a diversity ofways to explore the rugged coastline, the quaintinterior towns and the old-world charm of this regionthat comprises the heel of Italy’s boot. By day you willbe fascinated by Puglia’s endless orchards of twistedolive trees, beautiful masserie (farmhouses),whitewashed hilltop towns and interesting “trulli”,and by night your taste buds will be tantalized by theregion’s culinary delights! Remember, this is like noother travel itinerary in Italy. You may choose any orall of each day’s activities, or you may choose to breakfrom the schedule and explore on your own. Youmay even choose to simply relax with a book, a bottleof local wine, and watch the beautiful life of Puglia goidly by. Whatever options you choose, this is YOURvacation, and we are here to facilitate your ownparticular journey.

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uglia is the unspoiled gem of Italy without thecrowds and the canned tours of more wellknown parts of the country. Puglia is truly

another country in the country and we have built anitinerary not only unique to this unique land, but webelieve unlike any adventures currently offered inEurope. We offer a chance to live Puglia as a nativewhile experiencing personalized service on par withthe great hotels and resorts of the world. A group ofno more than 6 guests will be guided by local adventureentrepreneur Antonello Losito, a native of Puglia withover 7 years of travel expertise. From the momentyou are met in Bari until long after you return to yourhome you will feel the effects of this magical land, andSouthern Vision’s dedication to your unmatchedexperience.

You will exchange experiences with this ancient landthrough biking, culinary instruction, wine tasting, and

An Intimate Guided Adventure and Luxury Cruise

of the Magical Land of Puglia.


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Itinerary Overview

Day 1 - Sunday12:00 pm - Pick Up in Bari - We will meet you at theairport in Bari to begin your Pugliese Adventure. Wetravel to Conversano for our introduction to life inPuglia.

1:00 pm - Introduction to Southern Visions and ApulianCuisine - We will take your luggage, answer yourquestions, and feed you some of the freshest foodsin all of Europe; and give you time to exploreConversano. We provide maps, suggested shopping,and view into the rest of the week.

6:30 pm - L’Aperitivo - An introduction to Apulianwine (yes, you get to drink it) with emphasis on therole of wine at the Italian table and how advances inenology and viticulture are making Pugliese vineyardssome of the most sought after in the world.

8:00 pm - Dinner at il Pashà Restaurant – Locateddirectly in front of a medieval castle and one of themost authentic restaurants in all of Puglia. We willguide you in making selections that will harmonizewith your own interests while creating new favorites!

Lodging “Corte Altavilla” - Quaint, and at the sametime luxurious, this family run hotel exemplifies whatwe mean by Personalized Service.

Day 2 - Monday - Puglia by Bike - Today we are goingto immerse ourselves in the “land of the trulli andcaves”.

7:30 am - 8:30 am - Breakfast Italian Style - croissants(cornetti) and caffe or cappuccino are the perfect fuelto begin a day of walking and biking.

9:00 am - Private van transfer to Alberobello (pleasecome dressed in biking attire).

10:00 am - Guided Walking Tour of Alberobello - Thecity of Trulli, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Trulli are ancient dwellings with conical roofs believedto be a funnel for the soul to reach heaven. Alberobellois a city almost entirely built from the 1500 + ancienttrulli. The Trulli are still utilized to this day for dwellings,inns, shops and services and make for a magicalmorning experience.

11:30 am - Meet by the bikes for our daily route talk,bike fitting & safety talk. Biking is the easiest way tocover the most ground on a trip to Puglia. Puglia haslow difficulty terrain and makes for leisurely riding.We provide our guests with the most reliable andsafest equipment in the industry.

12:00 pm - Bike tour along the Itria Valley - Rollinghillsides dotted with whitewashed trulli and colorfulwildflowers make spinning through the countryside’sextensive network of stonewall-lined roads a delightfulway to spend a day. In the afternoon we will travel ashort distance to Locorotondo, a picturesque hilltoptown named aptly for its curious circular shape.


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1:00 pm - Lunch stop in the farm village of San Marcofor a mozzarella making demonstration and lunch.Puglia is home to some of the finest mozzarella in theworld, and you will have the chance to discover howit is made, and perhaps more importantly; eat it!

2:30 pm - Afternoon ride and visit of Locorotondoand Martina Franca - Enjoy a leisurely spin fromLocorotondo to Martina Franca takes us through thescenic Valle d’Itria and past beautiful masserie(farmhouses). Martina Franca’s elegant baroque

architecture and quaint shops make it one of Puglia’smost interesting destinations.

4:00 pm - Private van transfer to Conversano - Aftera great ride we send you home in the van with drinksand snacks to give you a recharge.

6:00 pm - Cooking class with Patrizia - Tonight providesanother fabulous opportunity to taste the best ofPuglia and learn how to make it at home. Patrizia isa legend in this region for her brilliant use of localingredients and precise instruction. This trip is likebeing on the set of your very own Food Networkshow!

Lodging “Corte Altavilla”

Day 3 - Tuesday - Going out to sea!

9:00 am - Meet by the bikes for daily route talk

9:30 am - This morning we will make our way fromConversano to Polignano a Mare, an ancient villageof Greek origin. Set on beautiful, limestone cliffs abovethe Adriatic, this gem of a town has views of thesparkling Mediterranean that can’t be beat. This willbe a good excuse to taste what is considered the bestgelato in the region! From Polignano a gentle andshort ride up to Monopoli will build your appetitefor lunch.

12:30 pm - End of the ride in Monopoli

1:00 pm - Transfer onto the boat “Monny”! Welcomedrink onboard and introduction to life as a Pugliese


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Mariner – By bike you have seen the historic gems ofinterior Puglia. Now on the sparkling deck of thelegendary “Monny” you will experience a Puglia untilnow only known to the Pugliese sailors and fishermen.Sunrise and sunset on deck will make you feel asthough the Monny belongs only to you. We will giveyou the low down on life onboard and set you freeto explore the bustling port of Monopoli.

As the sun sets you will see Monopoli’s historic centrecome alive during the “passeggiata”, a traditional Italianevening stroll in town.

Evening Dinner On your own in the old town (dinnersuggestions and map provided).

Overnight on board

Day 4 - Wednesday8:00 am Breakfast on board - Ahh, cappuccino and asea breeze…heaven…

9:00 am - Boat transfer to Villanova di Ostuni andmooring.

1:00 pm - Lunch onboard - The traditional Mariner’slunch kicked up a few notches to encompass thedelicacies of the sea and the grand tradition of freshness

that is Pugliese cuisine. After lunch, we jump back onland to explore the brilliant Città Bianca (white city)of Ostuni or extend your day with a walk into thebeauti ful natural sett ing of Lamacornola.

3:00 pm - Optional walking excursion at Lamacornola– This walk will take you from the stunning seasideto a natural preserve of olives, eucalyptus, and ancientdwellings. More evidence that Puglia is a land untoitself.

7:00 pm - Private transfer by van from Monny to IlFrantoio.

8:00 pm - Dinner at Il Frantoio (Often the dininghighlight on all trips in Puglia). Rosalba manages thekitchen which doesn’t work as a restaurant. Theydecide to “offer” dinner when they can harvest freshingredients from their own backyard. Once againSouthern Visions’ connections have guaranteed a mealat this legendary Masseria. It’s a journey in the localcuisine re-imagined; each plate in served with anexplanation about the ingredients, a particular wineto match and even a unique olive oil for each course.Simply magic…

Overnight on board.

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Day 5 - Thursday8:00 am Breakfast on board

9:00 am - Boat transfer to the World Wildlife FundOasis of Torre Guaceto and mooring

10:30 am - Free time to explore the site. Optionalwalking excursion in the park

1:00 pm - Picnic lunch along the beach – After athought provoking and soul uplifting walk, we providea fabulous picnic lunch on the beach before jumpingback on the boat.

3:00 pm - Boat transfer to Otranto – On our way wewill stop for a swim in the crystal clear azure waterson one of the many fabulous beaches lining the coastto Otranto.

5:00 pm - Welcome to Otranto - Otranto is borderedby two seas, the Adriatic and Ionian. This city has longbeen the gem of the Salento peninsula. You will havea chance to visit the beautiful Aragonese castle that

once protected the town and learn about the town’sturbulent history at the famous cathedral before sittingdown to enjoy a dinner of fresh seafood, for whichOtranto is famous.

8:00 pm - Dinner on your own in the old town (dinnersuggestions and map provided).

Overnight on board.

Day 6 - Friday8:00 am - Breakfast on board.

9:00 am - Boat transfer to Santa Maria di Leuca.

10:00 am - Optional bike ride to S.M. di Leuca - Todayis a ride never to be forgotten. We pedal the incrediblecoastline between Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca,situated at the very heel of Italy’s boot. From thefamous thermal town of Santa Cesarea Terme, to thecoastal fishing villages of Castro and Tricase Portoyou can feel the Byzantine influence. Those on theride will stop for a traditional lunch along the sea.

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1:00 pm - Lunch on board in S. M. di Leuca - For thosewho choose to remain onboard, The captain willarrange a lunch much like the legendary sailors of

8:00 pm - Dinner in a local restaurant devoted tofresh ingredients and the fabulous Salice Salentinowines of Salento.

Overnight on board.

Day 7 - Saturday8:00 am Breakfast onboard – We say farewell to ourAmazing captain and crew.

9:00 am - Private van transfer to Lecce.

10:30 am - Guided Walking Tour of Lecce – Commonlyreferred to as the Florence of the South, Lecce, morethan any other town in Puglia, has retained its historicand cultural identity. Its “Leccese baroque” historiccentre stands above all others in its beauty. Vibrantshopping, beautiful cathedrals and coffee on everycorner, this lively and inviting town is the perfect placeto end a wonderful journey.

12:00 pm - Arrivederci!

7 days/6 nights - 6B/4L/4D (1 picnic)

Departure Dates:08/06 - 15/6 - 22/06 - 29/0606/07 - 13/07 - 20/07

Trip Size:4-6 Participants

Arrive/Depart:Conversano/Lecce

Accomodations:**** Hotel and Premiere private Boat

Cruise itineraries are available with weeklydepartures from June to July (Starting Day: Sunday)with a minimum of 4 participants and includedaily van support as well as the full-time servicesof a professional guide. Contact us for any otherdesired date.

The Gems of Puglia:An Intimate Guided Adventure and Luxury Cruise of the Magical Land of Puglia

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Salento.

Gems Of Puglia - NY

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