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Speak to one of our experts now about this offer
Discover an off-the-beaten-track taste of southern Italy on Puglia and Basilicata holidays, celebrating a land of wine, oil and medieval caves.
There’s your first view of those unique hobbit-sized cone-roofed Trulli houses that look like they’ve come straight out of a fairytale book. Then there’s the sizzling arid landscape enveloped by ancient olive trees and yellow camomile fields, and mile upon mile of staggering coastline lapped by Adriatic and Ionian Seas. This is the road less travelled - a ‘diamond in the rough’ of fishing, farming and siestas amongst endless vineyards, rolling waves and rural towns where you’ll taste some of the best pastas and oils in Italy and those famed super-charged Apulian wines.
Ask us what makes holidays to Puglia and Basilicata special and we’ll tell you about the whitewashed village of Ostuni and its majestic 15th central cathedral, the early morning golden glow of ancient Sassi limestone cave dwellings and the secret salt-pan spots inside Saline Margherita di Savoia’s nature reserve where, each year, a huge colony of flamingos migrate. We’ll make sure you don’t miss the ornate Baroque architecture and medieval frescoes in Lecce, the glittering crown of stalactites inside Castellana Grotte and the hot springs and beach bars of Torre Canne.
An adventure through bewitching mountain, forest and beaches in the ‘heel’ and ‘instep’ of Italy’s boot and perfectly suited to a self-drive itinerary, Puglia and Basilicata holidays are delightfully peaceful and relatively tourist-free. Come here to see a maze of medieval footprints left by the Byzantines, Greeks and Normans, to hike Basilicata’s Ionian coast and for the luxury of having this virtually untouched region almost to yourself.
Whether you want a Baroque city stay or to be a walk away from the famous Trulli, give us a call and we’ll create your perfect Puglia and Basilicata holiday.
Puglia & Basilicata Hotels
Our recommendations for the best places to stay in Puglia & Basilicata
Palazzo del Duca Hotel & Restaurant
A restored noble palace in the heart of Matera’s cave city, with vaulted stone suites carved from...
Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita
Slip through Matera’s ancient lanes into a place where the walls are rock, the light is candle so...
Holidays in Puglia & Basilicata
- Puglia & Basilicata
- 5 Star
A stylish base for exploring the unspoilt region of Puglia.
Price based on:
- 7 nights from £1,095 p/p
- 2 adults
- Continental Breakfast
- Return flights from London Heathrow
- Transfers included
- Travel on Saturday 7th November 2026
- Puglia & Basilicata
- 4 Star
Stay in Bari without the Old Town crowds, close enough to walk in, far enough out to sleep peacefully.
- Puglia & Basilicata
- 4 Star
You’ll arrive through olive groves to a place where the trulli come with a spa, a huge pool, and a very good excuse to stay put for dinner.
Price based on:
- 3 nights from £610 p/p
- 2 adults
- Bed and Breakfast
- Return flights from London Heathrow
- Transfers included
- Travel on Friday 27th November 2026
- Puglia & Basilicata
- 4 Star
A historic fortified Masseria where the garden keeps the kitchen stocked up and the olive oil is made on site.
- Puglia & Basilicata
- 4 Star
Stay just outside Lecce and keep your options open, beach club one day, baroque sightseeing the next, and spa by late afternoon either way.
Price based on:
- 7 nights from £988 p/p
- 2 adults
- Bed and Breakfast
- Return flights from London Heathrow
- Transfers included
- Travel on Thursday 28th May 2026
- Puglia & Basilicata
- 4 Star
A restored noble palace in the heart of Matera’s cave city, with vaulted stone suites carved from tuff and views of the Sasso Caveoso and the ‘Gravina’.
- Puglia & Basilicata
- 4 Star
Slip through Matera’s ancient lanes into a place where the walls are rock, the light is candle soft, and bedtime feels like you’ve time travelled.
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Matera Bread Workshop
Treat your tastebuds to a journey back in time with this immersive bread-making workshop. You’ll head to a historic bakery in Matera, where an expert will teach you how to rustle up a delicious loaf using time-honoured artisanal methods. Once the aprons are off and the loaves are out of the oven, you’ll get to tuck into your own freshly baked bread.
• Duration: half day
• Only bookable for guests staying at Palazzo Del Duca hotel
Weaving Workshop
Channel your creativity in this traditional weaving workshop. You’ll get an introduction into the centuries-old techniques, tools and materials, before creating your very own unique souvenir. This experience is led by a guide, who will be on-hand to help throughout. And if all that crafting has left you craving a refuel, a leisurely coffee break is sure to do the trick.
• Duration: half day
• Only bookable for guests staying at Palazzo Del Duca hotel
Palazzo del Duca Cooking Class
Flex your culinary skills on this exclusive cooking experience at the Palazzo del Duca restaurant. A chance to truly immerse yourself in the flavours of Italy, a professional chef will show you how to prepare fresh handmade pasta and a classic local dish. The experience draws to a close with lunch or dinner at the restaurant, where you’ll have your pick of an entire menu of authentic Italian crowd pleasers.
• Duration: half day
• Only bookable for guests staying at Palazzo Del Duca hotel
Get to know Puglia & Basilicata and those important practicalities when planning your perfect holiday.
Capital
TIME DIFFERENCE
GMT +1 hour
CURRENCY
Euro
FLYING TIME TO DESTINATION
Approximately 3 hours
RELIGION
Christianity (Roman Catholic)
LANGUAGE
Italian
Where is Puglia & Basilicata?
In southern Italy, bordered by the Adriatic Sea to the east and the Ionian Sea to the southeast, Puglia is covered by woods, forests and mountains on one side and miles of coastline on the other. Its southern most city is Salento, which makes up the ‘heel’ in the boot of Italy, and the region borders Campania, Molise and Basilicata. The mountainous region of Basilicata borders the Gulf of Taranto and the Tyrrhenian Sea and is divided into two provinces, Matera and Potenza.
Getting around
Ideal for a self-drive holiday, Puglia and Basilicata’s roads connect you to all the main towns. Buses and trains will also take you to the majority of towns and sights. City buses travel throughout downtown areas and tickets need to be purchased in advance from tobacco shops. The old towns have lots of narrow alleyways and steep inclines, so are not advisable for those with walking difficulties.
Food & drink
Thanks to its fertile land and proximity to the sea, expect an abundance of fresh seafood, rustic cuisine and farm-to-table delights. You’ll find local producers offering crops of tomatoes, figs and fennel and vineyards producing deep red wines from the primitivo grape. Due to the heat, lunch is usually a light affair – a fresh salad on a shady terrace or fresh fish on a beach – but come late afternoon as the temperature cools, things really start to pick up. Expect home-style hearty cuisine, artisanal treats and lots of gelato. Puglia is also famous for its freshly made pasta, oils and cheeses – look out for orecchiette, troccoli and cavatelli pastas and canestrato pugliese and burrata di Andria cheeses.
Ostuni
Perfect for history and culture lovers, the beautiful ‘White City’ surrounded by olive groves and a network of medieval streets, alleys and arches has an historic centre with an impressive 15th-Century cathedral. From here you can easily reach the Puglia coast and countryside by bicycle or car.
Alberobello
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Alberobello is home to over 1500 whitewashed Trulli - extraordinary dry stone buildings with conical, white-tipped roofs. These 14th-Century limestone dwellings were originally built to avoid the high taxes applied to stable buildings but nowadays serve as homes, restaurants and shops. Wander the lanes of Rione Monti, browse the little souvenir shops and enjoy a glass of local wine at one of the Trulli bars.
Lecce
Lecce is known as ‘Florence of the South’ due to the magnificent Baroque architecture complementing a maze of narrow streets lined with boutiques, antique shops and charming restaurants. It also has a rich history and the central square, Piazza Sant’Oronzo, lies on a Roman amphitheatre. Stroll to the Basilica di Santa Croce, one of the most beautiful examples of southern Baroque buildings and head to Piazza del Duomo for the stunning 12th-Century cathedral with its ornate facade and 68 metre-tall bell tower.
Monopoli
This former Venetian trading port is a popular coastal resort of ancient ruins, tranquil sandy coves, sea caves and charming hilltop villages. The historic quarter surrounds a 16th-Century castle and Roman and Bronze Age settlements. Visit the fortified abbey of Santo Stefano and explore the eight-mile stretch of coast sprinkled with picturesque beaches.
Puglia & Basilicata Weather
Apr - Oct
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Talk to an expert today
Your dream holiday is just a phone call away
Call us on 0800 294 9704
Monday: 9am - 8pm
Tuesday: 9am - 8pm
Wednesday: 9am - 8pm
Thursday: 9am - 8pm
Friday: 11am - 4pm
Saturday: 9am - 6pm
Sunday: Closed