EXPLORE THE SOUTHERN SHORE

Explore the dream island of Capri and soak up its magical atmosphere on this full-day excursion from Sorrento.

Ravishing landscapes, crystal-clear waters, glorious sunshine and tempting cuisine have long attracted writers, artists, philosophers and rulers to this Mediterranean haven. For over 2,000 years Capri has mesmerized travellers with its extraordinary allure. Indeed the island’s first tourists were the ancient Romans, drawn to its shores in search of beauty and tranquillity. Roman aristocrats and emperors would reach Sorrento on horseback or by carriage, then sail nine miles to Capri to escape the summer heat and relax away from the pressing demands and duties of the Caput Mundi. After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD, Capri was gradually abandoned and repeatedly sacked by the Arabs and corsairs throughout the Middle Ages. It was only in the mid-1700s that the island began to regain its well-deserved fame due to the renewed interest in the region of Campania aroused by the fascinating findings unearthed in Pompeii and Herculaneum. In 1826 the rediscovery of a natural wonder, the Blue Grotto, enhanced the island’s appeal leading Capri to become one of the most sought after destinations for generations of Grand Tour travellers in the 19th century. Capri’s popularity as a peaceful Mediterranean retreat and glamorous meeting spot is still unrivalled today. Discover why on this treasure island spree.

After breakfast you will meet your guide and driver at your accommodation and reach the harbour. Here, your skipper will be waiting ready to lead you on a boat trip to Capri. Hop onto your private speedboat and let the adventure begin! You will cruise past rugged sea cliffs, marvel at astonishing rock formations and dip into the limpid waters of idyllic coves. As you navigate smoothly along Capri’s coast, your guide will point out major features of interest, including the legendary Faraglioni rocks, the soaring Arco Naturale, Villa Malaparte and Tiberius’ precipice. Depending on queues, sea and weather conditions, you might want to take a peek inside the Blue Grotto, the island’s best-known natural attraction, named after the blue light that reverberates inside this splendid sea cave. Sunlight filters through an underwater cavity creating a dazzling azure glow that must have enchanted visitors 2,000 years ago just as it still does today. In ancient Roman times this was one of Emperor Tiberius’ favourite haunts. He chose the Blue Grotto as his private swimming pool and turned it into a marine temple, embellishing the cave with several statues of sea gods. For centuries the grotto was thought to be inhabited by evil spirits and all in the area steered well clear of it whereas now it is a marvel in which everyone delights – high tides permitting. Jump aboard a small rowing boat, duck your head, glide through the low cave opening and you will find yourself in another world.

After a morning spent at sea, swimming, snorkelling and soaking up the sun, dock at the port of Marina Grande. Your guide will accompany you to the tiny world-famous Piazzetta and indicate a choice of restaurants for lunch.

In the afternoon discover more of Capri’s beauty spots from terra firma. A short taxi ride will take you to the island’s upper village, Anacapri, where you will visit the former residence of Swedish physician and author Axel Munthe. Located on a towering plateau about 320 metres above sea level, Villa San Michele embodies the dreams of its visionary creator: “My house shall be open to the sun, to the wind, and the voice of the sea, just like a Greek temple, and light, light, light everywhere!” The rooms of this 19th century hideout are filled with Dr Munthe’s original furnishings and precious collection of antiquities, including marble and bronze sculptures, fragments of sarcophagi, columns, capitals and bas-reliefs. Brightly coloured azaleas, roses and hydrangeas bloom in the lovingly tended gardens, punctuated by stone seats that once must have provided prominent guests with a welcome place to rest. As you amble under the wisteria pergola and pause on the outdoor terrace, imagine the Swedish Queen Victoria – Munthe’s special friend – revelling in the views of the dramatic cliffs cascading down into the jewel-toned waters below.

But it gets even better… enjoy an exhilarating chairlift ride up to the summit of Mount Solaro, soaring 589 meters above the sea, and feast your eyes on the spellbinding panorama stretching all the way to the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius.

Later, return to the port of Marina Grande, rejoin your skipper and sail back to Sorrento. Your chauffeur will pick you up at the harbour and drive you to your hotel after a day packed with such unbelievably fantastic sights you might find yourself wondering if it really happened.

After breakfast meet your private driver at your accommodation and relax on the ride to Pompeii. Your guide will be waiting at the excavations ready to lead you on a tour of one of the world’s most fascinating archaeological sites.

Buried in deadly volcanic ash after the sudden eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD and accidentally discovered in 1748, Pompeii is an absolute must for first-time visitors to Italy. Your guide will take you on a carefully planned trail through this incredible ancient settlement and explain the purpose and function of the foundations and buildings you will see along the way. You will also find out about the lifestyle and customs of those who inhabited them, the techniques used to uncover and interpret findings made here and the evidence that has been pieced together to give us such a stunningly vivid and accurate picture of Roman Campania. Although much excavation work remains to be done and conservation presents the curators with a massive challenge, what you can still see and touch here is simply astounding.

Step back in time as you access the excavations through the city gate of Porta Marina. Once inside, follow your guide through the ruins of the ancient city and conjure up scenes of Pompeii’s inhabitants as they go about their daily chores. Can you imagine how life must have been in this once thriving agricultural and trading centre peacefully perched in the shadow of mighty Mount Vesuvius, unaware of the imminent disaster, 2,000 years ago? How did Pompeii’s 15,000 residents spend their time? What were their occupations, beliefs and traditions? What did they eat? Which leisure activities did they enjoy? The answers to these and many more questions are securely safeguarded within Pompeii’s crumbling walls, jigsaw pieces in a tantalizing, real life puzzle just waiting to be reassembled – with a little help from your guide.

When you walk along the well-planned streets, taking the very same route once trodden by faithful temple-goers and busy market traders, you’ll notice the road building skills that were needed to set the large paving blocks in place and the high kerbs and stepping stones conveniently arranged to allow people to cross without getting their feet wet and dirty. This is just one small but significant example of the ingenuity of the ancient Romans in the fields of engineering and urban planning, achievements which remained unequalled for centuries and whose remarkable legacy continues to guide us to this day. Our culinary habits, pastimes and vices too may well have their roots here. From fast foods to spas, from red light districts to gambling the ancient Romans of Pompeii were already seasoned experts in the pleasures and transgressions of the city.

Your guide will certainly point out Pompeii’s age-old venues for public meetings: the forum, once the site of the market, administrative offices and court; the thermal baths where citizens came to relax, play sports and socialize; the temples, a source of precious clues to our understanding of the creed and religious rituals of yesteryear’s worshippers. Theatres were popular with the locals who gathered here to watch a varied calendar of shows, such as Greek tragedies, musical performances, poetry readings and the much-loved light-hearted plays that featured frauds, betrayals and brawls. You will also take a peek inside a private residential villa which provides a wonderful example of the layout of a wealthy citizen’s dwelling and the decorative tastes of the age.

Casts of the bodies of the ill-fated population, trapped forever at the very moment of death, leave the visitor with a particularly haunting memory of a cataclysmic event that has meticulously secured for us so much priceless knowledge about the Roman way of life.

After some free time for lunch your private chauffeur will drive you back to Sorrento where you may spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

In the evening a delicious tasting menu featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients will be served at a Michelin-star restaurant in Sant’Agata sui Due Golfi, located a 20-minute drive away from Sorrento.

After breakfast and check out meet your private driver outside your hotel and set off for Ravello. En route stop to enjoy some independent sightseeing in Positano and Amalfi. You will take in Campania’s most amazing landscapes and dip into the history and myths that surround its favourite seaside resorts.

Nestled between steep slopes and the sea, along an enchanting stretch of coastline, Positano strikes visitors with its magical allure and picture perfect hues. John Steinbeck captured its fascination with these famous lines: “Positano bites deep. It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone”. A jumble of pink, amber and white houses encircles the multi-coloured majolica-tiled dome of the cathedral and stands out against the lush green background of the Monti Lattari; in the foreground pebbled beaches and the crystalline waters lend touches of silver-grey and turquoise. Cheerfully patterned and exquisitely hand-painted ceramic pieces on display outside the shops and set into the walls of the buildings provide additional splashes of red, cobalt-blue, yellow and jade… Positano is a divine experiment with colour. According to a local myth the town was founded by Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, as a gift to his beloved nymph Pasitea. A glamorous resort, offering enticing cuisine, wonderful seascape views and a tranquil respite, Positano keeps attracting “willing prisoners of a legendary landscape” – as early 20th century spellbound holiday-goers used to define themselves. Explore the town’s narrow alleys filled with boutiques, pottery stores and tempting eateries, before moving on to Amalfi.

Set at the foot of Monte Cerreto, the small town of Amalfi is, nonetheless, the largest on the coast. It may be hard to believe that in its 10th and 11th century heyday this tiny jewel of a town was a maritime superpower that successfully dominated Mediterranean trade routes, rivalling Genoa, Pisa and Venice. Folklore claims that Amalfi owes its name to a beautiful nymph with whom Hercules had fallen in love. After her premature and tragic death, the Roman hero searched the world over to locate a place that could match her splendour and decided to bury her on this very spot. Above her tomb he built a town in her honour ensuring her name and charm would live for eternity.

A plaque welcomes visitors to Amalfi with the following poetic statement: “The day of judgment, for Amalfitans that go to Heaven will be a day like any other”. A treasure trove of artistic and architectural wonders, the town is sure to impress. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through Amalfi’s lively streets, revel in breathtaking views from the waterfront and take a peek inside the medieval Cathedral of Sant’Andrea, sitting proudly atop a steep flight of steps on the main square. The mortal remains of Saint Andrew, stolen from Constantinople in 1206, lie under the altar in the lavishly decorated crypt. The adjoining Cloister of Paradise, with its interlaced Moorish-style arches enclosing a garden, is well worth a visit. Originally built in 1266 as a burial place for the local aristocracy, today this peaceful corner offers a shady retreat to visitors basking in the beauty of sunny coastal sights.

In the afternoon rejoin your private driver and reach Ravello. After checking into your hotel, where you will be staying for 3 nights, spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Get a true taste of Ravello on this hands-on cooking class. A local chef will open the doors of his restaurant’s kitchen and share his secrets with you.

Food has always been central to the hearts of Campanians to such an extent that hundreds of popular proverbs and sayings in common use are inspired by gastronomy and the act of cooking. A carne ‘a sotto e ‘e maccarune ‘ncoppa (“Meat goes underneath and macaroni on the top”) means that things don’t always turn out the way they should as sauce and meat are usually on the top of the macaroni and not the other way round. A cervella è ‘na sfoglia ‘e cipolle (“The brain is the skin of the onion”) is a way to say that somebody can go mad easily since the human mind is as delicate and flaky as the outer skin of the onion. A meglia mericina: vino e campagna e purpette e cucina (“The best medicine: wine, the countryside, meatballs and cooking”) is a tribute to the therapeutic properties of exquisite cuisine.

Look after your hearts, souls and stomachs on this restorative cooking lesson. In a lovely setting, under the guidance of a friendly instructor, gourmands will discover traditional recipes, pick up some precious tips on the region’s celebrated cuisine and learn how to prepare a delicious meal in true Campanian style. After picking the seasonal herbs and vegetables needed for the cooking lesson, head for the kitchen, don your aprons, roll up your sleeves and enjoy creating simple, nutritious, but truly mouth-watering dishes.

After the class take a seat around the dinner table and tuck into your pranzo… Buon appetito!

In the afternoon you will visit a lemon grove located on the steep hills above Amalfi. Here, accompanied by one of the owners, you will enjoy an introduction to farm life and discover the difficulties and challenges of living in this enchanting, though unpromising, stretch of coast. Top off your day with a tasting of homemade lemon cake and limoncello, before returning to Ravello.

Relish the flavours of an authentic, unspoiled rural world on this half-day food and wine experience. Wine enthusiasts will have the unique opportunity to visit a farm located in the regional park of the Lattari Mountains where rare, centuries-old vineyards can still be found.

After breakfast meet your ape calessino driver in Ravello and begin your day with a pleasant ride to the winery. The estate covers eight hectares and was established in 2004 by three farming families who shared the aim of reviving ancient viticultural traditions. All of the vineyards are planted in volcanic soil and situated on steep terraced slopes, between three hundred and five hundred metres above sea level. The highlight of the farm is a historical pre-phylloxera vineyard, dating back three hundred years, where Tintore and Piedirosso grape varieties are grown. The fruit of these vines makes a valuable contribution to the estate’s much-praised signature wine.

You will enjoy a tour of the vineyards and 17th century wine cellar and learn all about the estate’s philosophy, values and production methods which centre on respect for the environment and eco-sustainability. By selecting a butterfly as one of its symbols, the estate aims to demonstrate its commitment to preserving and protecting nature and to supporting the region’s efforts to reduce the use of phytochemicals. After the visit sit down to a delicious home cooked meal made with local prime quality ingredients and paired with a selection of the estate’s wines.

After lunch your chauffeur will pick you up and drive you back to Ravello where you may spend the rest of the day at leisure. With its charming hilltop location, unparalleled panoramas and splendid gardens, Ravello has captivated countless artists, writers and musicians throughout the centuries. Founded in the 400s as a refuge from the Barbarian invasions, the town flourished under the rule of Amalfi when wealthy merchants built its most famous villas. Highlights include the Church of San Giovanni del Toro, home to the pulpit mosaics that prompted M.C. Escher to create his interweaving patterns; Villa Rufolo, whose atmospheric setting inspired the enchanted Garden of Klingsor of Wagner’s Parsifal; Villa Cimbrone, world-known for its belvedere poetically named Terrace of the Infinite.

Ravello also prides itself on a thriving tradition of ceramic-making. As you wander through its streets you’ll encounter a number of pottery shops selling beautifully displayed and exquisitely hand-painted goods, including plates, vases, fruit bowls, mugs and limoncello cups. You’ll find much to feast your eyes on in this lovely little town!

Nothing you’ve ever seen before could quite match up to Matera. History, culture and nature merge here, in this truly spectacular cave town, almost entirely carved out of rock. The unparalleled scenery and mystical atmosphere of this remote corner of Basilicata (situated between the toe and the heel on the map) make Matera a not-to-be-missed destination on your discovery journey of the south.

Matera’s origins are lost in the mists of time. You may well be standing in one of the world’s most ancient human settlements that can claim to have been inhabited continuously since the Neolithic age. The myriad natural caves in tufa limestone attracted the city’s first dwellers around 7,000 years ago. Over the centuries settlers gradually burrowed deeper and extended these grottoes, thus forging an intricate maze of tunnels, cisterns and living spaces which were occupied until as recently as the mid-20th century.

The dismal poverty and underdevelopment of the area meant that by the end of World War II entire families were still living in these prehistoric caves alongside their livestock, ravaged by malaria, without the basic elements of sanitation, electricity or ventilation. In the 1950s the government stepped in to settle the problem of these unacceptable living conditions, then referred to as “the shame of Italy”. The ancient warren was evacuated and its 16,000 cave dwellers, mostly peasants and farmers, were relocated to modern housing projects nearby. Sixty years ago Matera was well known as a national embarrassment but today the city has regained dignity and is back in the limelight with a positive spin. Those very same caves, now recovered and converted into craft shops, boutique hotels, restaurants, bars and spas, were not only declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 but also earned Matera its prestigious title as Europe’s 2019 Capital of Culture.

Your guide will meet you at your accommodation and lead you on a tour of the city’s unique tangle of caves, through its labyrinth of narrow alleys, up and down steps, past stone courtyards, enabling you to experience Matera in all its cavernous allure. The city’s main attractions are the awe-inspiring Sassi, a multi-level cluster of 1,500 natural and man-made grottoes hewn out of the rock, creating a honeycomb on the flanks of a steep ravine and used as dwellings and churches. As your guide will explain, to fully understand how people used to live inside these caves, you should definitely take a peek inside a Casa Grotta, a tiny museum that recreates the setting of a typical cave dwelling. Furnished with period fittings and tools, these homes are faithful reconstructions of Sassi before they were abandoned in the 1950s and offer a fascinating, though rather disturbing glimpse into the struggles and deprivations faced by yesteryear’s peasant families. Entire households used to share one room with their chickens and mules, all members of the family slept on one bed, ate around one small table from the same plate and collected rain water in cisterns, since there was no running water and no toilet.

However, the most striking feature of Matera is its rupestrian holy retreats. Some 150 churches, hermitages and sanctuaries, built into the rugged hillsides, attest to Matera’s role as the favourite refuge of Benedictine and Byzantine monastic communities in the Middle Ages. With their architectural virtuosity and remarkable wall paintings, these Christian temples are also evidence of the cultural fervour that animated Matera and the extraordinary artistic heights achieved by local craftsmen between the 8th and 14th centuries. You will have time to visit two of the following three churches: San Pietro Barisano, Matera’s largest rupestrian church, Santa Lucia alle Malve with its 13th century mural paintings and Santa Maria de Idris, in its unique location, perched atop the rocky spur of Monterrone.

Your guide will enrich your tour with intriguing anecdotes and riveting stories about past and present Matera, providing a stirring overview of human history from the very earliest settlers to the cave dwellers of modern times.

After breakfast and check out meet your private driver at your accommodation and set off for your hotel in Puglia. En route stop to enjoy a private tour of two charming towns in the Itria Valley.

Your guide will meet you in the picture-postcard town of Alberobello, world-famous for its iconic trulli houses. Here you will discover how an ingeniously devised tax fraud curiously led to the creation of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Trulli are whitewashed dwellings consisting of thick dry-stone walls assembled without mortar and topped by conical stone roofs. Bizarre as it may seem, these houses were originally designed in the late 15th century with the aim of fooling royal authorities and avoiding taxation, a successful trick that worked right up till 1797 when Alberobello acquired its status as a proper town. Indeed, until then, the local feudal lords, the shrewd Counts of Acquaviva, obliged their subjects to live inside trulli which could be quickly and easily dismantled. Taxation applied only to populated settlements and Alberobello could be transformed in no time into a vast expanse of rubble if the royal officers decided to inspect. Today these structures are still inhabited and constitute “an outstanding example of human settlement that retains its original form to a remarkable extent” as stated by the UNESCO committee. They also live on as a reminder of characteristic Italian artfulness. Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the town’s winding alleys lined with shops selling hand-painted ceramic artefacts, gastronomic specialities and all sorts of trulli-shaped souvenirs, before setting off for your next destination.

Perched on a hill in a panoramic position at the heart of the Itria Valley, pretty Locorotondo offers sweeping views of the surrounding landscape from its belvedere: a mosaic of vineyards enclosed by dry stone walls, silvery olive groves enveloping old farms, hundreds of trulli peppering the green fields. Founded in 1000 AD, the town derives its name from the Latin words locus rotundus literally meaning “round place”, owing to the circular plan of its historic centre. Narrow concentric streets flanked by traditional cummerse houses with unusual pitched roofs are a typical feature of this quaint little town. Follow your guide on a walk through Locorotondo, pausing to admire its graceful palazzi and churches. Every year since 2008 the citizens have participated in a competition called Balconi Fioriti, which encourages residents of Locorotondo to adorn their balconies and front doors with flowering pots, thus adding to the town’s homely allure. Locorotondo is best-known as the region’s wine-producing capital so be sure to drop in at a local enoteca and request a glass of the local DOC designated white wine.

After some free time for lunch rejoin your driver and reach your hotel in Puglia where you will be staying for 5 nights. Following check in spend the rest of the day at leisure.

After breakfast your private guide and chauffeur will meet you at your accommodation and drive you to the hilltop town of Ostuni. Bright chalky buildings line an intricate maze of twisting alleys and steep stairways, surrounded by the seemingly endless plains of olive groves. Scattered here and there painted wooden doors and pots of blooming geraniums lend additional splashes of vivid green, brilliant crimson and bright pink to the scene. Wonderful views of the countryside stretching all the way to the sapphire waters of the Adriatic Sea can be glimpsed between the houses. The 15th century Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, with its elegantly shaped facade, elaborate rose windows and splendid Gothic portals, proudly surveys the “White Dame” – as Ostuni is called – from the town’s summit.

Ostuni is a sheer delight and a must-see for anyone visiting Apulia. The town’s most distinctive trait is its whitewashed houses, gleaming in the dazzling light of the southern sun. The practice of lime washing became popular in the 18th century when a devastating plague struck the region. Locals noticed that the illness spread less easily in places where the houses were white and attributed this fact to a miracle, which we now know is probably due to the antibacterial effect of the calcium carbonate. The lime protected the town and, over the centuries, became the symbol of Ostuni and the very reason for the long-lasting fame of this Adriatic pearl. Your guide will lead you on a trail through narrow streets, up and down steps, across charming piazzette, allowing you to get to know the layout of Ostuni’s medieval neighbourhood and its most famous attractions.

A short drive will bring you to a nearby farm whose pride is the production of top class olive oil. Here a member of staff will greet you and give you an introduction to the activities carried out on the estate, owned by a local family, now on the sixth generation of dedicated olive oil makers. However, the estate’s origins date way further back in time, as attested by the fascinating traces of ancient civilizations, which have, surprisingly, survived to this day almost intact. As you will discover on a tour of the farm, here it is possible to retrace the history and development of country life and the tradition of olive oil making from the Roman period right up to modern times. While you wander through the olive grove your host will tell you about the centuries-old – and on occasions even thousand-year-old! – trees and how, despite their age, they still thrive in this sun-blessed Mediterranean haven. Your tour will then continue with a visit to the impressive remains of a Roman era hypogeal mill, a medieval dwelling, barn and stables, a 17th century farmer’s house, an 18th century church, shepherds’ home and furnace and a mill from the 1800s now used as a small but intriguing museum dedicated to peasant culture. This is a truly remarkable real life encyclopaedia of farming through the ages. A sampling of locally produced extra virgin olive oil will allow you to savour the results of Apulia’s millenary tradition.

After some free time for lunch at a nearby restaurant or masseria rejoin your driver and reach the Archaeological Park of Egnazia where you will explore the ruins of an ancient seaport town. Founded as far back as the 15th century BC by Bronze Age settlers, Egnazia was governed by the Messapian tribe from the 8th to the 3rd centuries BC, though it was during the later Roman occupation that the town enjoyed its golden age. Thanks to Egnazia’s thriving harbour and the strategic geographical position it occupies along the Traiana road, which used to link Benevento to Brindisi, the town became one of the ancient world’s most prosperous trade centres. After the fall of the Roman Empire Egnazia entered a prolonged period of decline and was eventually abandoned in the 10th century AD.

Despite ruthless lootings that occurred repeatedly throughout the 1800s, today the excavation site and annexed national museum still boast a wealth of treasures, offering visitors a glimpse of the region’s thousand-year history. Remains of defence walls and necropolises provide us with priceless information about the Messapians’ customs and beliefs in the next life. Not to be missed are also the ruins of the ancient Via Traiana, the civic basilica, the thermal baths and forum, all precious evidence of how the city flourished under Roman rule. Inside the museum you may inspect a striking collection of vases, amphorae, mosaics and artefacts recovered from the tombs and admire the marble head of Attis, the pride of Egnazia.

After the tour return to your accommodation and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

After breakfast meet your private driver at your accommodation and relax on the ride to the Firenze del Sud – meaning “the Florence of the South”. This nickname did not appear by chance but Lecce is a true work of art in its very own right. Splendid architecture, fine wine, top-class olive oil, a vibrant contemporary arts and crafts scene… the city is a just as much of a treasure as its Tuscan counterpart.

Lecce’s roots stretch way back in time, to the Romans and beyond, though it wasn’t until rather later that the city blossomed into the extraordinary triumph we can admire today. After centuries of invasions, sieges, raids and neglect, the defeat of the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571 marked the beginning of a period of peace and prosperity which triggered Apulia’s cultural and artistic revival. Over the course of one hundred years Lecce altered radically, changing from a garrison into a dazzling Baroque gem. The construction of defensive watchtowers and fortified strongholds gave way to the building of magnificent churches and elaborately decorated palazzi.

The local honey-hued limestone is largely responsible for Lecce’s unique appearance and architectural style. Soft, malleable and ideally suited for carving, this material offered 17th century architects the chance to display the best of their skills and unleash their boundless inventiveness. The result is a true urban masterpiece replete with eye-popping details. Ornate, intricate and flamboyant, Lecce’s buildings and decorative motifs are a feast for the eyes and an exquisite incarnation of Baroque ideals of exuberance and virtuosity. Chubby cherubs frolic along friezes, lush garlands encircle rose windows, saints spread their blessings from on high, fantastical creatures hide beneath balconies… every corner of this fascinating city is festooned with unexpected delights.

Your guide will meet you by the gate of Porta Napoli and lead you on a Baroque-style safari through Lecce’s stone jungle. Not to be missed is the collection of fancy church facades scattered throughout the city, including the richly ornamented Santa Maria di Costantinopoli and Santa Chiara, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, flanked by its 70-metre-high bell tower, and the marvellous Basilica of Santa Croce, an unequalled triumph of Baroque art in Lecce. In Piazza Sant’Oronzo, the city’s pulsing heart, you may turn the clock further back in time as you admire the remains of a 2nd century AD Roman amphitheatre and a column which used to mark the end of the Appian Way in Brindisi and now serves as a pedestal for Lecce’s patron saint.

But there are more than just ancient achievements to applaud here. Get a feel for Lecce’s contemporary crafts and gastronomic customs. The tradition of papier-mâché began here in the 1600s and continues to be a source of pride. This activity is still carried out according to time-tested methods handed down through the centuries. You can browse a range of artefacts skillfully created and tastefully displayed in a renowned workshop. Your guide will also show you where to find the tastiest specialities in town and treat you to Lecce’s signature flavours: the famous cream-filled pasticciotto and the refreshing local coffee on the rocks sweetened with almond milk.

After some free time for lunch at a local restaurant rejoin your driver and reach a Salento winery. Here, on a visit to the property led by a qualified member of staff, you will discover the history of the estate and gain an introduction to wine growing and ageing methods. You will also get to know how the distinctive characteristics of the terroir and climate affect the vines that grow in this sun-blessed stretch of land. The calcareous soil together with light, heat and salty sea breezes create the perfect conditions for the production of exquisite wines. Top off your day with a tasting and a toast… cheers to Salento!

Your private chauffeur will drive you back to your accommodation in the afternoon.

Enjoy a full day at leisure at your hotel.

In the evening your private chauffeur will pick you up and drive you to Polignano a Mare. A delicious dinner will be served inside the wondrous Grotta Palazzese. This natural sea cave hosts an elegant restaurant where guests may dine on a ledge suspended over the sea.

After dinner your private chauffeur will drive you back to your accommodation.

After breakfast and check out, which will take place before 10:00 or 11:00 AM, meet your private driver and head for the airport or your next travel destination.