Compare A Week In... Puglia 2019 by Tauck vs Gourmet Food & Fine Wine Tuscany Tours by Alma Italia

Day 1 Arrive in Bari, then welcome to Matera

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Palazzo Gattini, Matera. A transfer is included from Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport to Palazzo Gattini, set in a 15th-century stone palace in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Matera. Join us for a rooftop welcome reception, followed by dinner in a local restaurant.

MEALS : D

LODGING : Palazzo Gattini

PORTOFCALL : Matera, Italy

Day 2 The Sassi of Matera & a 13th-century castle

Hop aboard a tuk-tuk for a ride through the winding streets of Matera. The cave dwellings you will see here made their debut in Paleolithic times and were lived in until 1960. Go inside a typically furnished cave home, before driving to Alta Mura, the "City of Bread" for a taste of local life. Take a guided tour inside 13th-century Castel del Monte this afternoon, one of the best-preserved castles in southern Italy and a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it also is featured on the Italian version of the one-cent euro coin! Spend the evening at leisure back in Matera.

MEALS : B

LODGING : Palazzo Gattini

PORTOFCALL : Matera, Italy

Day 3 Baroque treasures of Lecce

Drive through the countryside to Lecce today, stopping en route at a winery known for its Puglian Primitivo wine. Enjoy a tasting tour and lunch and continue on to your hotel in Lecce. A guided walking tour on cobbled city streets includes a close look at its Baroque architectural gems, the ornate 15th-century Chiesa di Santa Chiara; the 2nd-century Roman Amphitheater, unearthed in 1901; the Piazza del Duomo; and the allegorically dressed Basilica de Santa Croce, a must-see site inside and out. Spend the remainder of the day exploring as you wish.

MEALS : B, L

LODGING : Risorgimento Resort

PORTOFCALL : Lecce, Italy

Day 4 Galatina, Otranto & Zoe entertainment

Head to nearby Galatina, home of the "Tarantella," for a tour of the Basilica di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria where you will view impressive frescoes depicting biblical stories. On a visit inside the Baroque Chiesa di San Paolo, see the church well that was reputed to have healing powers from magic spiders. After lunch, drive to the fortified seaside town of Otranto for a guided walking tour of its historic sites. See its famous castle and visit its medieval cathedral, home to a magnificent floor mosaic (and wooden coffered ceiling) along with its macabre crypts. Dinner tonight at an authentic masseria delights with a family-style farm-to-table menu that showcases ingredients grown on site and "Officina Zoe" pizzica folk music and dance.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Risorgimento Resort

PORTOFCALL : Lecce, Italy

Day 5 Through Puglia to Ostuni & on to your Masseria

Spend the morning at leisure, before driving to an Apulian masseria for a tour of its grounds and a lunch featuring locally produced ingredients. En route to your masseria hotel in Savelletri di Fasano, explore the multi-level medieval city of Ostuni, charming with whitewashed houses.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Masseria Torre Maizza / Masseria Torre Coccaro

PORTOFCALL : Ostuni, Italy

Day 6 Trulli in Alberobello

Discover the cave homes of Alberobello today. Walk down narrow alleys of the tightly packed "barnyard district" of Rione Aia Piccola, where some 400 whitewashed trulli, once inhabited by the region's farmers, still stand strong today. Nearby, visit the two-story Trullo Sovrano; now a museum, it was built in the 18th century for the local priest and houses religious relics from the past. Time at leisure lets you explore and sample a taste of local fare. This evening's dinner at a classic Puglia seafood restaurant gives you an opportunity to savor the catch of the day fresh from the sea.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Masseria Torre Maizza / Masseria Torre Coccaro

PORTOFCALL : Alberobello, Italy

Day 7 Seaside Polignano a Mare & a farewell dinner

Built into a rugged ravine pitted with caves and painted with deep blue grottoes, Polignano a Mare is renowned for its cliff diving, for inspiring the song "Volare" by Domenico Modugno, and, according to the locals, ice cream. Enjoy time to wander in town before returning to your resort. Join us for a farewell dinner tonight.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Masseria Torre Maizza / Masseria Torre Coccaro

PORTOFCALL : Savelletri di Fasano, Italy

Day 8 Journey home

Tour ends: Savelletri di Fasano. Fly home anytime. Transfers are included from Masseria Torre Maizza or Masseria Torre Coccaro to Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport or Brindisi Airport, regardless of time or day of departure. Ask at booking about extending your stay with additional hotel nights in Savelletri di Fasano or in Bari. You should allow three hours for flight check in.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Savelletri di Fasano, Italy

Day 1:  Arrival

On arrival at the airport, you will be greeted by your new friends from Alma Italia. You can relax in the safety and security of a private transfer to your hotel. The next four nights you will be staying in a stylish boutique hotel in the heart of the Chianti Classico producing region. Spend the afternoon taking a swim in the stunning outdoor pool with a panoramic hilltop view overlooking the Chianti scenery, followed by sunset drinks on the terrace before dinner at the hotel. Bliss!

Vineyard sunset

Day 2: Chianti wine and olive oil tasting

Your local English speaking Alma Italia wine guide will meet you at your accommodation after breakfast for a full day of the best wine tasting in Tuscany. Indulge your love of Italian food in Tuscany, and enjoy a full-day tour that combines a cooking class and wine tasting. Following the cooking class enjoy lunch at the estate tasting yet more wines and tasting local olive oils.

In the late afternoon visit the village of Fiesole, overlooking Florence admiring the view before driving down the hill to experience the Renaissance capital of Italy up close. The town and its surroundings are full of charm, character, and history. Enjoy a traditional Tuscan dinner in a trattoria in Florence adored by locals for generations paired with their wine suggestions.

Florence bridge

Day 3: Relaxing cycle through the Tuscan countryside

Your Alma Italia guide will meet you at your accommodation after breakfast for a morning bike ride – Our private rides are tailored to clients’ specific preferences and biking abilities . You’ll cycle at your own pace on peaceful country lanes, through an endless panorama of vineyards, olive groves and centuries-old stone farmhouses. Along the vineyard cycle route enjoy a morning tour and tasting, and you’ll also enjoy a truly delicious Tuscan lunch featuring local products and wine pairings in a stunning Tuscan wine

estate. Relax with private transfers back to your accommodation for a swim in the pool and time to soak up some early evening sun.

Vine bike Tuscany wine tours

Day 4: Explore Siena and the surrounding vineyards

Enjoy a slow morning with a late breakfast and time to relax and enjoy the panoramic outdoor pool with incredible Chianti vineyard views. For those who want to be pampered by different wellness treatments, the hotel offers a range of spa treatments. Private wine tours in Tuscany should be relaxing after all!

Your Alma Italia host and driver will arrive later to take you into Siena for the day! Siena, built on three hills and surrounded by well-preserved walls, is filled with fine examples of Gothic architecture and has one of the world’s most unique piazzas, Piazza dal Campo, dominated by the greatest Gothic building in Tuscany, the Palazzo Pubblico.

Siena Duomo Italy wine week

Day 5: Maremma – Tuscany by the sea

In the morning, relax as your private driver whisks you through the beautiful countryside to the Maremma coast in southern Tuscany. You will feel instantly renewed as you see the blue Mediterraean sea stretch out before you. We will stop on the way to visit an esteemed award winning up and coming vineyard run by 2 generations of the same Tuscan family. You will notice how the proximity to the sea impacts on the wine, so different to that of Chianti Classico but no less delicious! The Maremma is now widely regarded as one of the regions to experience the best wine tasting in Ital and is definately a highlight on our private wine tours in Tuscany

The next Four night’s accommodation will be in an elegant, historic and unique small hotel situated on Tuscany’s Argentario peninsula. A former island off the coast of Tuscany, now connected to the mainland via three narrow sandbars, Monte Argentario is a hidden beach paradise for those looking to mingle sea and mountain fun, all in one place. A special place where the Italian elite seeking out a hidden getaway enjoy the groves of Argentario’s coastline. The two restaurants (one of which is Michelin star) offer unique atmospheres, they share mouth-wateringly good traditional Italian dishes with a modern twist, taste bud tingling vintages and stylish surroundings.

Tuscany wine tours

Day 6: Monte Argentario by private boat

A special day today as your Alma Italia guide takes you on a private boat for a day on the water to explore the coastline of Monte Argentario and Isola Giannutri, an incredible small island unspoiled and breathtaking in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park. Shaped like a half moon , the island of Giannutri will bedazzle you with its unique underwater world and the ruins of imposing Roman villas. It is a simply stunning place to explore and relax with a lunch on the island and swimming in the crystal clear waters to refresh yourself in the afternoon.

Monte Argentario by private boat Italy tours

Day 7: Port Ercole and Morellino di Scansano

A day to explore. Head to 16th century Forte Stella at Porto Ercole, built in the shape of a star and a remnant from the island’s former Spanish invaders. Take a walk along the high-end boutiques of Porto Ercole towards the ‘borgo antico’ or old part of the village, continue towards the ‘la rocca’ fortress for amazing views with lunch in the old town. Or simply relax and enjoy the panoramic Seaview from the pool.

In the afternoon we will continue our wine tasting Italy tour with a visit to vineyard in Morellino di Scansano, now one of the most popular appellations for local Tuscans who consider the small area as offering some of the best wine tasting in Tuscany.

Vineyard san Gimigiano

Day 8: Italian food and wine by the beach

Bike to the Beach!

Your Alma Italia guide will meet you at your accommodation after breakfast for a full day of beaches, biking and of course, some of the best wine tasting in Italy. – Our private bike routes have optional extensions, so you can choose the perfect amount of biking to suit your ability. The ride takes you through medieval towns, beautiful vistas and ends at the Tyrrehnian sea with a swim along the way. Enjoy an amazing local lunch to end the trip – A wide range of local flavours ensure a stunning Tuscan lunch paired with wines in a memorable setting. Late afternoon (chauffeured) transfers back to your accommodation.

Tuscany wine tours

Day 9: Time to say Arrividerci

After a final breakfast in the hotel, relax with private transfers to the airport for your flight home.