Self guided Walking

Beautiful South: Sassi, Trulli and Baroque

Puglia & BasilicataDifficulty path:
Easy
Self guided · WalkingDuration: 8 daysCode: ws002
from 755 €per person

Highlights

This trek crosses the ancient lands of Terra d’Otranto and Terra di Bari, beyond the imperceptible boundaries between Basilicata and Puglia. During this walking holiday in Puglia and Matera, you will visit and stay in the most popular towns of the heel of Italy: Matera, Alberobello, Ostuni and Lecce.
A walking tour in south Italy that shows some of the most beautiful paths of these regions, two Unesco towns, Matera and Alberobello, and the most representative cities of southern Baroque, such as Lecce and Martina Franca.
To brighten the last days will be the presence of the beautiful Adriatic Sea, that meets the Ionian Sea in the easternmost point of Italy, just south of Otranto: where the "first dawn" rises.

 

  • The City of Rocks and its specialties, like the Bread of Matera

  • Locorotondo's DOC wines, and the "cummerse"

  • The Fairy Trulli of Alberobello and Ostuni, the White City

  • The Baroque Cities of Lecce and Martina Franca

  • Monumental Olive Groves of the Itria Valley

  • Otranto and its beautiful Coast

  • A Walking Holiday in Puglia and Matera, a tour full of surprises

Program

Day1

Welcome to Matera

Individual arrival to Matera and accommodation in hotel. Welcome to the City of Rocks.
It is a Unesco site since 1991 and the European Capital of Culture 2019: Matera will host you in its simple and genuine way, making you know about its historical centre, unique in the world, and its extraordinary landscapes.
Walking through Matera, you can find the ancient public oven where the housewives used to bake bread until the 1950s: they delivered it to the bakers to cook it, but first it was stamped.
Yes, you read that correctly: the bread stamps were commissioned to the shepherds, who made them during the transhumance. Away from home and with so much free time, they carved wood to make a stamp different from that of other families ... and the Matera bread is sooo good!

Day2

The Park of Rock Churches

12km, +340m -350m

After a rich breakfast, you will start your Walking holiday in Puglia and Matera.
Hiking down and up the ravine and coming up to Murgia Timone, inside the Natural Park Chiese Rupestri (Rock Churches) of Matera. Today’s route will take you along an enchanting panoramic trail, rich in naturalistic and stunning views over the Sassi, in frescoes and cave churches.
After walking, devote the last hours of the day enjoying the history of Sassi. To get a well knowledge of Matera, we recommend a visit to Casa Noha, a site preserved by the Italian FAI, where, in the rooms, short videos illustrate the evolution of the Sassi over time in a suggestive way.
Overnight in Matera.

Day3

From Matera to Alberobello via Locorotondo

13,5km, +180m -140m

Private transfer to the Itria Valley, a territory that tries to keep its ancient balance between man and nature, focusing on a local development that emphasizes its architectural and craft peculiarities.
The walk from Matera to Otranto goes in the heart of Puglia, where the towns of Martina Franca, Locorotondo and Cisternino are the last eastern edge of the Murgia plateau, bordering the Messapian plain of Salento. Today the path will take you to the village of Locorotondo by a walk onto the Greenway of Puglia Aqueduct, the longest aqueduct in Europe.
In Locorotondo, so called because it was "Luogo Rotondo" (round place) on the ancient lithographs, we suggest you visit the historic center, made of concentric lanes and unusual low-roof houses, the "cummerse".
Back by train to Alberobello: here you will spend the next two nights.

Day4

From Alberobello to Martina Franca

19km, +240m -220m

Today’s walk will start from Alberobello to proceed southwards along country roads and short stretches of gently sloping paths.
One of the most beautiful naturalistic views will be the Bosco Selva, the "green heart” of the area and rare example of the vast oak forest that once covered the entire surrounding area. Continuing towards Martina Franca, among the high dry stone walls typical of this area and the wide pastures that preserve ancient Trulli, you will climb to Monte San Martino to reach the elegant old town, splendid example of Puglia Baroque art.
Return to Alberobello for overnight by public transports (train or bus).

Day5

From Alberobello to Ostuni

12km, +250m -130m

From the Capital of Trulli you will reach by private transfer a Masseria, old farmhouse, in the Natural Park Dune Costiere.
Hike through fields and crops: here the soil is rich and generous, and each season is able to give an incredible variety of fruits and landscapes. After a short break in a small family-run farm surrounded by all this nature, you will continue up the hills, through the forest, climbing slowly towards the white Ostuni and its hilltop old town.
On the way of this Walking Holiday in Puglia and Matera, you can also take a detour to the Sanctuary of San Biagio, an almost hidden rock settlement dating back to the Middle Ages. Impressive, but little preserved, every year on 3 February is a pilgrimage destination where to pay homage to the patron saint of the city of Ostuni. You will also pass close to the Archaeological Park of Santa Maria di Agnano, in which findings prove human presence in the area from the Paleolithic.
Overnight in Ostuni.

Day6

Ostuni and the Natural Park Dune Costiere

14km, +10m -220m

Today a short trail, mainly on gravel roads downhill towards the sea will take you to the edge of the Regional Natural Park Dune Costiere.
This protected area between Ostuni and Fasano, with its numerous natural habitats, ancient olive groves, historic masseria farms and underground oil mills, develops an important role in the environmental protection and relevant sustainable economic development.
And from the coast, you will reach beautiful Lecce with private transfer. After check-in you will have time for a first visit to the capital of Salento Baroque, where you will stay the last two nights of this easy walking tour in Puglia and Matera.
In our blog find out what to see in this surprising town.

Day7

From Lecce to Otranto

9km, +95m -110m

After breakfast you will reach Otranto by train or public bus. You will spend the day in and around the most eastern city of Italy, always been a link between East and West.
Down the coast there will be unexpected discoveries and unspoiled landscapes until you see the most eastern tip of Italy: the fascinating Cape of Otranto. Here the currents of the two seas, Adriatic and Ionian, separate and come together in an incredible scenery.
We will head back to Otranto not before an impressive detour to its, now famous, abandoned bauxite quarry or Blue Lake for a breathtaking picture full of colours and strong feelings.
Before returning to Lecce, still by local transportation, we recommend to spend the time left for the visit of Otranto, its Cathedral with the impressive mosaic of Pantaleone, and the Castle.

Day8

Lecce

After breakfast, end of services.
If you want to continue your Walking Holiday in Puglia up to the tip of the heel, we suggest you to combine this tour with the hike along the southeast coast from Otranto to Leuca.

 

Tour programme variations
Due to organizational reasons, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during the holiday.
Along the way you may find temporary deviations (for example road works) which cannot be foreseen; in this case each walker can decide autonomously how to deal with these stretches.

What's included

Our offer includes

  • 7 nights with breakfast in double room
  • Short tasting day 5
  • Scheduled private transports
  • Detailed route description with maps
  • Travel App (maps, tracks, route notes)
  • Luggage transportation hotel to hotel
  • Phone assistance 08:00-20:00

Not included

  • Transfer IN and Transfer OUT
  • Local Public transport
  • Meals and drinks
  • Entrance fees and tips
  • Hotel tourist taxes
  • Insurance and what's not listed as Included

Departures and prices

High Season22/06/2024 => 01/09/2024
Standard980 € /pSuperior1430 € /p
Mid Season02/09/2024 => 27/10/2024
Standard860 € /pSuperior1160 € /p
Low Season28/10/2024 => 16/12/2024
Standard755 € /pSuperior1010 € /p
High Season17/12/2024 => 05/01/2025
Standard980 € /pSuperior1430 € /p
Low Season06/01/2025 => 28/03/2025
Standard785 € /pSuperior1040 € /p
Mid Season29/03/2025 => 13/06/2025
Standard890 € /pSuperior1190 € /p
High Season14/06/2025 => 31/08/2025
Standard1100 € /pSuperior1460 € /p
Mid Season01/09/2025 => 26/10/2025
Standard890 € /pSuperior1190 € /p
Low Season27/10/2025 => 16/12/2025
Standard785 € /pSuperior1040 € /p
High Season17/12/2025 => 05/01/2026
Standard1100 € /pSuperior1460 € /p

Supplements per person

Transfer Bari Apt-Matera (min 2 pax)
Standard75 € /pSuperior75 € /p
Transfer Brindisi Apt – Matera (min 2 pax)
Standard150 € /pSuperior150 € /p
Transfer Lecce-Bari Apt (min 2 pax)
Standard110 € /pSuperior110 € /p
Transfer Lecce - Brindisi Apt (min 2 pax)
Standard48 € /pSuperior48 € /p
Single room | Low Season
Standard220 € /pSuperior320 € /p
Single room | Mid Season
Standard250 € /pSuperior380 € /p
Single room | High Season
Standard280 € /pSuperior410 € /p
Extra night in double room | Low Season
Standard62 € /pSuperior78 € /p
Extra night in double room | Mid Season
Standard69 € /pSuperior90 € /p
Extra night in double room | High Season
Standard79 € /pSuperior98 € /p
Extra night in single room | Low Season
Standard88 € /pSuperior108 € /p
Extra night in single room | Mid Season
Standard93 € /pSuperior128 € /p
Extra night in single room | High Season
Standard103 € /pSuperior138 € /p
Solo traveller
Standard210 € /pSuperior210 € /p

Other Information

Grade

The tour is suitable for anyone with a minimum of training. The length of a walking day ranges from a minimum of 8 to a maximum of 15km, with almost undemanding unevenness and travel times between 2.5 and 4 hours.
The tours wind mainly through dirt paths and country lanes; rarely, and only when strictly necessary, on busy roads.
We recommend to wear comfortable walking shoes, and to bring with you a hat, trekking poles, drinking water, sun cream, swimsuit and a waterproof jacket in case of rain.

Accomodations & Meals

The Standard tour offers accommodation in simple B&B and selected 3* hotels.
The Superior tour offers accommodation in charming B&B and 4* hotels.
All rooms are ensuite.       

  • 2 nights in Matera  
  • 2 nights in Alberobello
  • 1 night in Ostuni                      
  • 2 nights in Lecce                    

 7 breakfasts and 1 short tasting included.

Support

We will take care of your luggage while you are walking.
For the whole duration of your tour, you can contact our assistance numbers.

Travel documents

A few days before departure you will receive by email the Service List with instructions for using the Travel App.

Upon your arrival, ask at reception for the info pack with:

  • updated Service List;
  • luggage Labels;
  • detailed Route Description with maps.
Arrival and Departure

Getting there
Matera is easily reachable by train, car and by air.

BY TRAIN. The train stations close to Matera are Bari, Gioia del Colle, Ferrandina and Metaponto, info on Trenitalia website.
From Bari you can reach Matera on board the trains or buses of the FAL-Ferrovie Appulo Lucane, while from Metaponto and Ferrandina you can go to Matera only by bus (check the times on the SITA sites and FAL). To know deletions or additions of stops, cancellations, delays, detours and many other useful information for those traveling by train with Trenitalia, see viaggiatrenoNB: on Sundays and public holidays there are no trains but only a few buses.

BY AIR. The nearest airports to Matera are those of Bari, Brindisi and Naples.
The Bari Palese airport is located at about 60km and is connected by shuttle services of various companies or, having reached the central station of Bari with the Ferrovie del Nord Barese, you can take the FAL train to central Matera (about 80min). NB: on Sundays and public holidays there are no trains but only a few buses.
Brindisi Casale airport is about 150km away, from here you can reach Matera by bus passing Bari Palese airport. Visit the Aeroporti di Puglia website for more detailed information.
Naples Capodichino airport is about 250km away and is connected to Matera by various bus companies.

BY BUS. Matera is also accessible by bus. Here are the major companies operating the service: Marinobus, Baltour & Flixbus, Marozzi, Busmiccolis, Petruzzi autolinee.

BY CAR. The nearest motorway exits are Bari Nord and Gioia del Colle for those taking the A14 or Adriatica highway; exit at Sicignano-Potenza for those coming from the A3 Salerno-Reggio Calabria. map.google.com can help you with the directions.

Back to Matera
From Lecce you can reach Matera with Trenitalia getting to Bari, in combination with Ferrovie Appulo Lucane from Bari to Matera. The entire trip cost varies from € 16 to € 30 depending on the type of trains; the travel time is about 3.5 hours. NB: on Sundays and public holidays the train service is replaced by bus rides.

If you prefer to travel in total comfort, you can book a private transfer on the days of arrival and departure.

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Contacts

Slow Active Tours

Via Corrado Alvaro, 17a

73100 - Lecce, LE - Italia

VAT no. IT05328000756

Tel: +39 0832 1826868

info@slowactivetours.com