Tour Captain hosting
A warm, capable presence from the first welcome to the farewell toast.
Now Journey · Southern Italy Adventure
Puglia &
Basilicata
Eight days. Sun-washed villages. Southern Italy, revealed.
Polignano a Mare → Alberobello → Matera → Lecce → Otranto
8 to 12 guests
Maximum 16
Tour Captain hosted
Boutique hotels & villa stays
No big buses
Choose your Journey
Southern Italy, your way.
Travel Puglia and Basilicata as a complete eight-day small group Journey, or continue to the Amalfi Coast for an extended southern Italian story.
8 DaysPerfect pace
Bari to LecceSouthern route
8–12 GuestsMaximum 16
4–5 StarDeluxe collection
Tour CaptainHosted throughout
Luggage packed. Secrets waiting.
The Italy most travelers never quite reach.
Puglia and Basilicata reward curiosity: white villages above an impossible-blue sea, olive groves divided by dry-stone walls, cave homes glowing after dark, and Baroque streets carved like lace.
This is a hosted, thoughtfully paced Journey with expert local guides, memorable meals, beautiful stays and room for the south of Italy to feel personal.
“Sun-washed villages, timeless traditions, and the feeling that you’ve discovered something rare.”The spirit of this Journey
Your Journey Ahead
Three southern chapters. One unfolding story.
From Adriatic cliffs to ancient stone and the golden Baroque heart of Salento.
Scroll through cities
Why travelers choose Now Journey
Hosted, not herded.
A smaller group changes everything in southern Italy: nimble travel, more personal guides, locally chosen restaurants, beautiful central stays and fewer moments waiting for a crowd.
Local experts
Guides who bring the Sassi, trulli and Lecce’s Baroque artistry to life.
Curated dining
Authentic Apulian meals, local flavors and premium beverages at included dinners.
Seamless movement
Mercedes vans and carefully planned transitions between coast, countryside and city.
The Journey Story
The south reveals itself in layers.
The coastline is only the opening scene. Puglia and Basilicata unfold through whitewashed villages, ancient stone, carved Baroque streets and the traditions that still give each place its rhythm.
Act One · Adriatic light
A gentler way into southern Italy.
Polignano a Mare lets the Journey begin at sea level: terraces above blue water, white lanes, local tastes and enough open time to settle into the pace rather than race through it.
Act Two · Ancient stone
Matera turns landscape into memory.
The Sassi are not a stage set. Homes, chapels, cisterns and paths were carved into the ravine over centuries, creating a city where geology and human ingenuity are inseparable.
Act Three · Baroque gold
Lecce saves its drama for the finale.
Soft local limestone allowed sculptors to work façades almost like lace. Roman layers, artisan streets and evening piazzas make the city feel theatrical without losing its human scale.
Explore the Complete Journey
The Complete Itinerary
Eight beautifully paced days—designed as three distinct chapters, connected by the landscapes, flavors and stories of southern Italy.
Download the Complete Itinerary PDF
Chapter One · Days 1–2
Polignano a Mare
Where white stone meets the Adriatic.
The Journey opens above turquoise water, with sea terraces, old-town lanes and a welcome that lets southern Italy arrive slowly.
Day1
Benvenuti to beautiful Puglia
Arrive via Bari and settle into Polignano a Mare. Later, join your Tour Captain for a gentle Discovery Walk through the old town, crossing the Lama Monachile bridge and pausing at terraces above the sea. Tonight, the Journey begins around the table with a hosted welcome dinner.
Included today
- Arrival support and hotel check-in
- Tour Captain Discovery Walk
- Old town and sea terraces
- Welcome Dinner with premium beverages
Day2
Tasting Polignano
Explore Polignano through the foods locals love: warm focaccia, panzerotti, regional salumi and the unmistakable flavors of the Adriatic. The balance of the day is deliberately open for swimming, wandering, shopping or simply letting a long lunch become the afternoon.
Included today
- Daily breakfast
- Curated town tasting
- Local culinary storytelling
- Afternoon at leisure
Where You Stay
Your Home in Polignano a Mare
Covo dei Saraceni, a villa stay on select departures, or a similar Now Journey Deluxe Collection property keeps the Adriatic and old-town atmosphere close at hand.
Property note: The confirmed hotel varies by departure. Final assignments are generally made approximately 60 days before departure.
A stay chosen for sea air, character and an easy first evening in southern Italy.How we choose
Between Chapters
From trulli country to a city carved from stone.
The road turns inland through olive groves and white villages before Basilicata rises from the ravine.
Chapter Two · Days 3–4
Matera
Ancient stone, enduring spirit.
One of Europe’s most extraordinary cities reveals cave dwellings, rock-hewn churches, hidden cisterns and a skyline that seems to belong to another age.
Day3
Alberobello and the road to Matera
Travel through Valle d’Itria to Alberobello, where an expert Local Guide introduces the UNESCO-listed trulli, their mysterious roof symbols and the story of ingenious dry-stone construction. Continue into Basilicata and arrive in Matera in time for an atmospheric apericena.
Included today
- Scenic small-vehicle transfer
- Expert-guided Alberobello walk
- Trulli districts and Trullo Sovrano
- Matera apericena
Day4
Secrets and treasures of the Sassi
With an expert guide, descend into the Sassi di Matera—a layered world of homes, chapels and passageways carved directly into limestone. Step inside restored cave dwellings, discover rock churches and take in views across the Gravina before an open afternoon.
Included today
- Guided exploration of the Sassi
- Restored cave dwelling visit
- Rock-hewn churches and frescoes
- Afternoon at leisure
Where You Stay
Your Home in Matera
Quarry Resort, Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa, Sant’Angelo Luxury Resort, or a similar Now Journey Deluxe Collection property places the experience within Matera’s extraordinary stone landscape.
Deluxe Collection alternatives: The named properties establish the standard; the confirmed hotel may vary by departure.
The right Matera stay makes the ancient city part of the evening, not simply the day’s sightseeing.How we choose
Then the stone turns golden
The Journey reaches the Baroque heart of Salento.
Lecce’s carved façades, Roman past and evening piazzas create a distinctly southern finale.
Final Chapter · Days 5–8
Lecce & Otranto
Golden Baroque and Adriatic light.
The final chapter balances Lecce’s architectural drama with open time, local flavor and a coastal day in Otranto.
Day5
To the “Florence of the South”
Leave Matera and travel into the heel of Italy. After checking in, join your Tour Captain for an orientation through Lecce’s golden historic center, then gather for a traditional Apulian dinner—perhaps with the region’s signature orecchiette.
Included today
- Transfer from Matera to Lecce
- Tour Captain Discovery Walk
- Historic center orientation
- Hosted Apulian dinner
Day6
The art and layers of Lecce
An expert Local Guide reveals the theatrical carvings of Santa Croce, the harmony of Piazza del Duomo and the Roman Amphitheatre beneath the modern city. The pace leaves room for cafés, artisan workshops and the pleasure of looking up.
Included today
- Expert-guided Lecce walk
- Basilica di Santa Croce
- Piazza del Duomo
- Roman Amphitheatre context
Day7
Otranto or a day at leisure
Join your Tour Captain for an included coastal outing to Otranto, with time to walk its historic lanes and admire the Adriatic, or keep the day entirely your own in Lecce. Tonight, gather for a celebratory farewell apericena.
Included today
- Optional included Otranto outing
- Independent time by the coast
- Tour Captain recommendations
- Farewell apericena
Day8
Arrivederci, Italy
Your Puglia and Basilicata Journey concludes in Lecce. Continue independently, arrange onward travel to Bari, or extend your southern Italian story to the Amalfi Coast.
Included today
- Hotel check-out
- Departure guidance
- Extension planning support
- Memories worth returning for
Where You Stay
Your Home in Lecce
Risorgimento Resort and Spa, Patria Palace Hotel, or a similar Now Journey Deluxe Collection property keeps Lecce’s piazzas and Baroque heart within easy reach.
Deluxe Collection alternatives: The final property may vary by departure while maintaining the established location, comfort and service standard.
A central Lecce stay lets the city remain yours after the guided day has ended.How we choose
What’s Included
The details are handled. The discoveries still feel yours.
Your eight-day Journey combines hosted travel, carefully selected stays, regional dining and expert local context with the open time that lets southern Italy become personal.
Your dedicated Tour Captain
Warm hosting throughout the Journey, from arrival orientation and transitions to restaurant recommendations and day-to-day support.
7 hotel nights
Handpicked Deluxe Collection hotels and villas in Polignano a Mare, Matera and Lecce, with final assignments generally made about 60 days before departure.
11 included meals
Six breakfasts, four dinners or apericena experiences, and one tasting or lunch, with premium beverages at included Now Journey dinners.
Sightseeing & transportation
Itinerary-listed guided experiences, local experts and planned on-tour transportation in Mercedes vans or other appropriately sized vehicles.
International airfare and meals or activities described as independent or optional are not included.
Now Journey Deluxe Collection
Stay where the Journey lives.
Our hotel collection is selected for character, comfort and place—not for the convenience of a large tour bus. Properties may vary by departure while maintaining the Journey’s standards.
Polignano a Mare · 2 nights
Covo dei Saraceni or villa stay
Clifftop atmosphere, easy old-town access and the Adriatic close at hand. The confirmed property varies by departure.
Matera · 2 nights
Quarry, Aquatio or Sant’Angelo
Refined cave-hotel character woven directly into Matera’s ancient stone, subject to final departure assignment.
Lecce · 3 nights
Risorgimento or Patria Palace
Elegant comfort within easy reach of Lecce’s evening piazzas and Baroque heart, or a comparable collection property.
Hotel note: Our 4- to 5-star collection generally includes entry-level categories at 5-star properties and a category above entry level at 4-star properties. Final assignments are typically made about 60 days before departure.
Dates & Prices
Choose your season.
Deluxe pricing is $7,879 per person, double occupancy, in US dollars. International airfare is not included. Explore the seasonal choices below, then ask a Trip Planner about current availability, the first-to-book option and Independent Journeys.
Best dates to consider first
Start with three especially compelling choices: a hosted autumn departure, a quieter fall week and a classic summer escape by the Adriatic.
Sep 13–20, 2026
Deluxe $7,879
Per person, double occupancy
Host Mark StoryRequest this date →Per person, double occupancy
Sep 29–Oct 6, 2026
Deluxe $7,879
Per person, double occupancy
Autumn in PugliaRequest this date →Per person, double occupancy
Jun 17–24, 2027
Deluxe $7,879
Per person, double occupancy
Summer by the seaRequest this date →Per person, double occupancy
Remaining 2026 departures September through October
Autumn / Fall in Puglia
Perfect weather, softer light and fewer summertime crowds.
Sep 3–10
Deluxe $7,879
InquireRequest this date →Sep 13–20
Deluxe $7,879
Host Mark StoryRequest this date →Sep 22–29
Deluxe $7,879
InquireRequest this date →Sep 29–Oct 6
Deluxe $7,879
InquireRequest this date →Oct 6–13
Deluxe $7,879
InquireRequest this date →All 2027 departures May through October
Spring & Early Summer
Moderate temperatures, wildflowers and a relaxed start to the southern Italian season.
May 20–27
Deluxe $7,879
InquireRequest this date →Jun 2–9
Deluxe $7,879
InquireRequest this date →Jun 10–17
Deluxe $7,879
InquireRequest this date →Summertime in Puglia!
Warm summer temperatures make the beach amazing and the evenings linger late.
Jun 17–24
Deluxe $7,879
InquireRequest this date →Jun 22–29
Deluxe $7,879
InquireRequest this date →Jun 30–Jul 7
Deluxe $7,879
InquireRequest this date →Autumn / Fall in Puglia
Perfect weather, softer light and fewer summertime crowds.
Sep 3–10
Deluxe $7,879
InquireRequest this date →Sep 12–19
Deluxe $7,879
InquireRequest this date →Sep 22–29
Deluxe $7,879
InquireRequest this date →Sep 29–Oct 6
Deluxe $7,879
InquireRequest this date →Oct 6–13
Deluxe $7,879
InquireRequest this date →Guest Reviews
The proof is in the way guests talk about it.
Across Now Journey’s Italy journeys, guests return to the same themes: thoughtful planning, seamless logistics, beautiful hotels and the feeling of being genuinely cared for.
“I can’t say enough about our recent trip to Italy. It was perfection from beginning to end.”Esther P., Now Journey guest
“We all were made to feel special, almost like royalty, with skip-the-line access, personal service by fabulous chefs, and seamless check-ins at our gorgeous hotels.”
Teresa C.“Our hotel accommodations were all perfect. Now Journey did an exceptional job planning and we even got surprises along the way.”
Tammy A.Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
How active is this Journey?
This itinerary involves walking on uneven stone, historic lanes, stairs and slopes. The pace is balanced rather than rushed, with open time built in, but guests should be comfortable walking in old-town environments.
How small is the group?
Now Journey typically hosts 8 to 12 guests and limits the group to a maximum of 16—small enough for personal attention, nimble movement and a more natural shared experience.
Where should I fly?
Bari Airport is the best gateway for arrival. The Journey concludes in Lecce, with onward planning available for Bari, independent travel or the Amalfi Coast extension.
Are meals and beverages included?
Six breakfasts, four dinners or apericena experiences, and one tasting or lunch are included as described. At included Now Journey dinners, premium beverages are part of the experience.
Can I extend to the Amalfi Coast?
Yes. A four-day Amalfi Coast extension is designed to follow this Journey. A Trip Planner can coordinate the combined itinerary and logistics.
When are hotels confirmed?
The named hotels show the standard and style of the collection. Final assignments are generally made approximately 60 days before the Journey and may use comparable properties.
Your next Journey
Ready to discover southern Italy?
Connect with a Now Journey Trip Planner for availability, extensions, air guidance and a trip proposal shaped around the way you want to travel.
Request a Journey ProposalPolignano a Mare rises directly from limestone cliffs above the Adriatic. Its old town was shaped by that position: narrow lanes open unexpectedly to sea terraces, while the Lama Monachile ravine creates the town’s unmistakable cove.
The setting explains the Journey’s opening rhythm. Here the sea is not simply a view; it is part of daily life, local food and the way the town turns outward toward the horizon.
Look forThe small balconies and viewpoints where pale stone, blue water and the shifting Adriatic light meet.
Matera’s Sassi are a layered settlement of dwellings, churches, cisterns and passageways cut into limestone. What looks at first like a dramatic collection of caves is an ingenious urban system developed over centuries.
Your guided walk makes the city legible: roofs become streets, rock chambers connect to built façades and the ravine explains both the beauty and the difficulty of life here.
A detail worth noticingWatch how doorways and terraces overlap. In the Sassi, the boundary between building and landscape is rarely simple.
Lecce’s Baroque character comes from pietra leccese, a warm local limestone soft enough to carve with extraordinary detail. Churches and palaces became elaborate surfaces of leaves, figures, columns and theatrical shadow.
The city also carries earlier layers. Roman remains sit beneath the modern center, so a walk through Lecce moves between classical history, Baroque ambition and the everyday life of today’s piazzas.
Look forHow late-day light deepens every carving on Santa Croce and turns the stone from cream to gold.