PUGLIA, ITALY // jun 29 - jul 7, 2026

Activity:

Massage/Spa

Overnight:

5-Star Hotel

Matera

We will arrive in Bari, the region’s historic gateway and modern capital, in the golden morning light. We will begin our trip with a luxurious massage and spa experience, easing any travel fatigue to settle into the rhythms of Puglia. After this, we will head to the timeless city of Matera, stopping in Altamura for a leisurely lunch savoring the town’s legendary bread and local delicacies. Arriving in Matera in the early afternoon, we will check into our hotel and enjoy some free time to orient ourselves to the unique atmosphere of the ancient Sassi districts, a UNESCO World Heritage site in one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. In the evening, we will meet for dinner, letting the city’s magic envelop us as we savor traditional Materan cuisine.

Activity:

Walking Tour

Overnight:

5-Star Hotel

Matera

After a light breakfast, we will embark on a walking tour to explore Matera’s Sassi districts, a vertical labyrinth of ancient caves and cobblestone streets. Once called the “scourge of Italy” because people lived without water or electricity until the 1950s, Matera has undergone a renaissance, earning the title of European Capital of Culture in 2019. Its cinematic streets have also been featured in the Hollywood blockbusters Ben-Hur, The Passion of the Christ, and more recently, James Bond: No Time to Die. After the tour, we will enjoy some leisure time to browse the many artisan boutiques and charming shops, As evening falls, we will head to a sunset viewpoint where golden light bathes the ancient city, before concluding the day with a starlit dinner at a refined restaurant.

Activity:

Walking Tour / Dance Lessons

Overnight:

Luxury Masseria

Valle D’Itria

We will head to the Itria Valley after breakfast at the hotel, where our home for the next 3 nights awaits: a beautfilly-restored luxury stone estate (masseria) nestled amid rolling hills dotted with centuries-old olive groves, vineyards, and sun-drenched courtyards. The gentle landscape creates a serene backdrop to soak in the slower pace of Puglia’s countryside, but don’t get too relaxed, because in the afternoon we will begin our dance classes. Later, we will travel to nearby Alberobello, a town that seems plucked from a storybook, where the famous trulli—iconic cone-shaped stone homes built without mortar and originally designed to be quickly dismantled to avoid taxes—rise from the landscape like whimsical towers. We will stroll its narrow streets on a walking tour before enjoying a dinner of local flavors.

Activity:

Streetfood Tour / Dance Lessons

Overnight:

Luxury Masseria

Valle D’Itria

After a satisfying breakfast on the grounds of the masseria, we will continue our morning dance lessons, joined today by professional ballroom dancers who will provide feedback and critique to elevate our dance steps. After some time to refresh, we will journey to Lecce, the famed “Florence of the South,” celebrated for its golden baroque architecture, ornate churches, and intricately carved façades. We will traverse the city's hidden network of piazzas on a street food walking tour while soaking in the vibrant atmosphere. On the return from Lecce, we will stop in Locorotondo, a quaint and picturesque hilltop town, for dinner. The name Locorotondo means "round place" and the town is known for its perfectly circular old town and houses that glow in the evening light.

Activity:

Lido Beach Club / Dance Lessons

Overnight:

Luxury Masseria

Valle D’Itria

Beach Day! Today marks our final morning of dance lessons before tomorrow’s performance. After breakfast and a morning of dancing, we will take time to unwind and make our way to the cosmopolitan town of Monopoli, where we will enjoy lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing at one of its chic lido beach clubs, soaking up the sun and Adriatic views. Monopoli blends a lively modern beach culture with one of Puglia’s most authentic historic ports, still active with fishermen each morning. We will then return to the masseria to shower and refresh before heading to Ostuni for aperitivo and dinner. Ostuni’s medieval streets, dating back to the 11th century, crown the hilltop and make it one of Puglia’s most distinctive towns, offering sweeping views toward the Adriatic as evening settles in.

Activity:

Performance & Party

Overnight:

5-Star Hotel

Polignano A Mare

Performance Day. After breakfast and a relaxing and unhurried morning, we will take the stage at a historic palazzo nearby in the afternoon, where members of the local community will join us for a performance set within a distinctive architectural backdrop. Following the performance, we will gather for a small party with our Italian studio’s students, family, and friends. The evening continues with dinner at a beloved local trattoria, renowned for its panzerotti—Puglia’s classic and deeply satisfying comfort food. After dinner, we will travel nearby to Polignano a Mare, a posh seaside town where whitewashed buildings cling to dramatic cliffs above the Adriatic. Here, we'll unwind together after the performance—whether enjoying a quiet aperitivo, a glass of wine overlooking the sea, or a relaxed dinner of our choosing.

Activity:

Walking Tour

Overnight:

5-Star Hotel

Polignano A Mare

After breakfast at the hotel, we will spend the morning exploring the charming streets of Polignano a Mare, soaking in its relaxed coastal elegance. After lunch, we will continue on to Bari, the metropolitan hub of Puglia, where the irresistible scent of freshly baked focaccia seems to linger on every corner. A guided walking tour will introduce us to Bari’s diverse neighborhoods, from its grand avenues to the narrow streets of Bari Vecchia, the historic old town. Here, local women still sit outside their homes hand-rolling orecchiette pasta, preserving traditions passed down through generations. We will also take advantage of the city's wide range of shopping with time to browse before concluding the day with dinner at one of Bari’s many excellent restaurants, celebrated for fresh seafood.

We will head to the airport in the morning to catch our flight home.