Escape to
Puglia & Matera

Escape to Puglia & Matera -Culinary & Wine Retreat

Discover Puglia and the ancient city of Matera – southern Italy’s most enchanting destinations – where centuries-old olive groves meet whitewashed villages, turquoise Adriatic waters shimmer against limestone cliffs, and cave-carved dwellings tell stories of millennia past. This handcrafted, luxury food & wine journey blends culinary immersion with cultural discovery. You’ll stay in elegant countryside estates and historic boutique hotels, savor exquisite regional cuisine, and learn age-old Apulian cooking techniques – all set against the stunning natural backdrops of Puglia’s coastlines and Matera’s stonecarved Sassi – a true expression of Basilicata’s agricultural soul.

DAY 1 : WELCOME TO PUGLIA – BARI, MONOPOLI AND THE ADRIATIC COAST

HIGHLIGHTS  April 13, 2026 Monday
Monopoli walking tour | Private boat cruise | Check-in at Masseria Brigantino | Welcome dinner & wine tasting (L, D)

Begin your adventure in Bari, where you’ll be greeted by your tour host and driver before heading south to the charming seaside town of Monopoli. Enjoy a guided walking tour through its ancient streets, dotted with whitewashed homes, medieval churches, and the 16th century Castle of Charles V. Weather permitting, embark on a private boat cruise along the dramatic coastline to witness the jaw-dropping sea caves of Monopoli and the cliffs of Polignano a Mare – a sight best seen from the water.

Later, check into the serene Masseria Brigantino, a restored 17thcentury farmhouse nestled between ancient olive groves in Fasano. With rustic-luxe rooms, a tranquil pool, and countryside charm, it’s the ideal Apulian retreat.

That evening, gather for a traditional welcome dinner featuring local specialties like orecchiette pasta, grilled vegetables – paired with a guided tasting of Puglia’s exceptional wines, including Primitivo and Negroamaro.

DAY 2: INDULGE & IMMERSE – COOKING IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

HIGHLIGHTS  April 14, 2026 Tuesday 
Leisurely morning | Olive grove bike ride | Hands-on cooking class (B, D)

Wake up to a slow breakfast by the pool, with homemade focaccia, fresh fruit, and locally made cheeses. Spend the morning relaxing at the Masseria or take a guided bike ride through scenic roads lined with ancient olive trees and stone walls.

In the evening, don your apron for a hands-on Apulian cooking class led by a local chef. Learn to make traditional dishes like focaccia, panzerotti, orecchiette and taralli using garden-fresh ingredients. Share your creations over dinner with regional wines.

DAY 3: THE FAIRYTALE TOWNS – ALBEROBELLO & LOCOROTONDO

HIGHLIGHTS  April 15, 2026 Wednesday 
UNESCO-listed trulli homes | Garden-to-table lunch | Hilltop Locorotondo (B, L)

After breakfast, set off on a scenic drive to Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its trulli-whitewashed stone houses with conical roofs that feel straight out of a fairytale. Enjoy a private guided walking tour through its labyrinthine streets, learning the story behind this iconic architecture. Next stop, visit to a family-run oleficio – olive oil factory and explore the production process from harvest to press and enjoy their freshly crafted olive oils.

Stop for lunch at a charming garden trattoria, where seasonal produce and local wines steal the spotlight. In the afternoon, explore the picturesque hilltop village of Locorotondo, known for its panoramic views and white wine. Wander its quiet lanes and an aperitivo wine tasting with Locorotondo’s DOC white wines at a local enoteca.

Return to the Masseria for a peaceful evening under the stars.

DAY 4: FROM CAVES TO CULTURE – CASTELLANA GROTTE & MATERA

HIGHLIGHTS  April 16, 2026 Thursday 
Castellana Grotte tour | Check-in at Il Belvedere Matera | Tuk-tuk Sassi tour (B, L)

Check out and head inland, stopping first at the Castellana Grotte, an awe-inspiring network of underground limestone caves filled with dramatic stalactites and stalagmites—Italy’s most famous cave system.

Continue to the spellbinding city of Matera, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited settlements. Check in at Hotel Il Belvedere, perched above the ancient Sassi cave dwellings, with sweeping rooftop views that are especially magical at sunset.

This evening, explore the labyrinthine streets of Matera on a fun and informative tuk-tuk tour, winding through ancient alleys, churches carved into rock, and cinematic landscapes used in films like The Passion of the Christ and No Time to Die.

Dinner at leisure in Matera’s atmospheric old town.

Belvedere Hotel Matera Sorrento Food Tours

DAY 5: THE TASTE OF TRADITION – ALTAMURA’S OVER THE TOP CHEESE & BREAD EXPERIENCE

HIGHLIGHTS  April 17th, 2026 Thursday 
Cheese-making at a caseificio | 700-year-old bakery visit | Forest cabin lunch with wine tasting (B, L)

Today is a true taste sensation. Travel to Altamura, famed for its DOP protected bread and world-class cheeses. First, visit a family-run caseificio (cheese factory) where you’ll make your own mozzarella and burrata, with guidance from artisan cheesemakers

Next, tour a legendary panificio (bread oven), operating continuously since 1306. Smell the heavenly scent of wood-fired loaves and sample the still-warm bread with olive oil and local salt.

The grand finale? An exclusive lunch in a private forest cabin, hidden in the hills – a favorite retreat for celebrities like Stanley Tucci and Meryl Streep. Enjoy a curated tasting of incredible cheeses- like their blue with primitivo grapes, local wines, and rustic dishes surrounded by nature and intimacy. This is more than a meal – it’s an unforgettable culinary experience of a lifetime.

Return to Matera for your final night in Southern Italy.

DAY 6: ARRIVEDERCI, PUGLIA – TRANSFER TO BARI – April 18, 2026 Friday

After breakfast, enjoy a relaxing transfer to Bari, filled with memories of food, culture, and connection.

WHY THIS JOURNEY IS UNMISSABLE

• Intimate group size for personalized experiences
• Stay in authentic, stylish accommodations (historic masseria & boutique hotels)
• Daily gourmet experiences with private chefs, winemakers, and artisans
• Explore UNESCO heritage sites, sea cliffs, and ancient towns
• Curated access to places even celebrities treasure

INCLUDED:

• Limited to just 12 guests to ensure exclusivity
• Price per person (double occupancy): € 3.195
• 3 nights in Fasano – luxury countryside Masseria (pool & spa) 2 nights Matera boutique hotel -rooftop overlooking the Sassi
• Daily breakfast, 4 lunches, 2 dinners, hands-on cooking class,
• Tours:
• Guided walking tour of Monopoli and Alberbello.
• Tour of Castellana Grotte- Italy’s most famous underground cave system
• Boat Tour Monopoli/Polignano to view cave coastline weather permitting).
• Tuk-tuk tour of Matera and Sassi
• 2 wine tastings- *Fasano – including Primitivo di Manduria and Negroamaro *Locorotondo – 4 wines -DOC
• Olive oil tasting at family olive grove and visit production area,
• Visit caseficio – cheese factory and make your own mozzarella and burrata
• Visit paneficio – 700 year old bakery in Altamura DOC bread
• Exclusive lunch and cheese tasting and wine in forest venue
• English speaking guide and private driver for transportation listed in the itinerary

HOW TO BOOK? email Tamara at   [email protected] for private booking link. 

NOT INCLUDED

• airfare/flights
• personal items
• food & drinks not listed in the itinerary
• travel insurance and travel medical insurance

Q & A

• Transfers available from Naples/Sorrento to Bari €100 pp
• What to pack?  Appropriate clothing for weather temps, light jacket/rain jacket, sweater, trainer/sneakers- comfortable walking shoes, swimsuit.
• What’s the weather in April? Daytimes in Puglia- mild temperatures that can reach up to 64°F/18°C, with plenty of sunshine making the days feel pleasantly warm and evenings cool.
• Are solo travelers welcome? Absolutely! It’s a great way to meet new people in a fun and safe environment
• Terms and Conditions
  By booking Puglia & Matera Culinary Wine Retreat at Sorrento Food Tours, you acknowledge and agree to the following terms:

1. All bookings require full payment at the time of booking. There are no refunds available. If you are unable to attend the tour, and you let us know earlier than 4 months from the tour start date, we can transfer your booking to someone who can take your place, or we can transfer you to a future tour, within two years (subject to availability, and to payment of any price difference). We highly recommend you purchase travel insurance to cover you (and others under your booking) in case of change of plans or family/health emergencies.

2. We reserve the right to cancel a tour (with plenty of advance notice) and in this case you will be moved to another tour of your choice if practicable, otherwise any amounts paid will be fully refunded.

3. We note that accommodation is only included if you chose the booking option with accommodation, otherwise you will need to book your own accommodation. Also not included in the tour price: flights to Bari, travel insurance, wine/alcohol beyond what is included in itinerary (apart from the wine degustation, where all wine is included). We will enjoy breakfast and most lunches together each day, but evenings will mostly be free for you to explore local restaurants on your own.

4. Puglia & Matera Culinary Wine Retreat (Sorrento Food Tours) includes walking around old towns on uneven cobblestone streets, variable weather, and being a passenger in a tour bus/van. These activities all involve a risk of accidents, injuries, illnesses, and weather-related incidents. By booking, you acknowledge that you understand and acknowledge these risks and you assume full responsibility for your own health and wellbeing during the tour, and the health and wellbeing of dependents and any others included under your booking. By booking, you release Tamara Whiteside and Monica di Martino and any related parties from any liability for any accidents, injury or illness that you might incur during the Tour. You confirm that you or related parties will purchase travel insurance to cover you (and any dependents, related parties or people included under your booking) for any accidents, injury or illness during the tour.

5. In addition, you agree to wear flat, grippy shoes at all times. If you choose to wear any other shoes, you do this at your own risk.

6. Puglia & Matera Culinary Wine Retreat (Sorrento Food Tours)  involves consumption of alcohol. The consumption of alcohol can heighten the risks mentioned in the previous paragraphs. By booking, you acknowledge this fact, and assume full responsibility for your own consumption of alcohol during the trip. You agree to consume alcohol within your own sensible limits and so that you do not cause injury, discomfort or annoyance to yourself or other people around you.

7. You agree that you will purchase travel insurance to cover yourself (and any related or dependent parties travelling with you) for change of plans, health emergencies (including emergency medical treatment and ambulance services), accidents, and lost or stolen goods.

8. By booking, you release Tamara Whiteside and related parties from responsibility for any lost or damaged items or personal property during the Tour.