Basilicata & Puglia Italy TOUR

We will meet you at Ferrandina Scalo Train Station in Matera, at a pre-arranged time. Or, if you are joining on from our tour of Abruzzo, we will reach our accommodation in Basilicata together by private transfer in van/minibus.

We will settle in to our lovely accommodation outside of Matera.  The family-run agritourismo establishment (a traditional type of farmhouse accommodation) is set in a dreamy provincial setting, and we will feel like a part of the family here for the duration of our discovery of Basilicata.

Note – It is an easy train ride from Roma Termini Train Station to Ferrandina Scalo Train Station.  Italian Provincial Tours will provide information and assistance.

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We start the day off with a fresh breakfast of homemade Italian cakes and our Italian mama Marisa’s, homemade marmalades and jams.

After breakfast, we take the short 13km trip to the ancient city of Matera, where we will be joined by our English-speaking guide and spend the morning exploring the breathtaking prehistoric village of Sassi di Matera.  The houses of The Sassi are carved out of the rock, with streets running along the top of houses below.  There is evidence of civilisation of The Sassi from 7000 BC and it is thought to be one of the first settlements in Italy.

We will enjoy lunch at a very special bar, situated deep in The Sassi, where we will enjoy beautiful views over a light lunch and cocktails.

After lunch we will head to a fabulous outlook over The Sassi.  Enjoy some free time to yourself, to explore, eat a gelato and wander through the artisan stores.

In the late afternoon,  we will visit a local baker who will lead us through an hour long workshop in making the famous ‘Pane di Matera’ (Materan Bread).  Massimo will explain the history and culture of Matera’s unique bread, and also show us exactly how it’s made.

In the evening, we will return to the agritourismo for a home-cooked dinner.

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Today, we learn how to make typical Southern Italian pasta with a fun and relaxed workshop, run by our Italian family at the agritourismo.  We will learn how to make iconic pasta such as orecchiette and cavatelli, so you can relive your Basilicata dining experiences back home.

We will enjoy our homemade pasta for lunch.  Then, you may like to take a traditional siesta, enjoy a glass of vino on the terrace, relax amongst the orchid or beside the pool, or take walk to the lake nearby.

In the evening, we will travel back to Matera, to experience the city glowing with ambient light at night.  We will visit an incredible cave enoteca (wine bar) in The Sassi, where we will be treated to an evening of wine tasting and food pairing.

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This morning, we will take the 80 minute drive to the Dolomiti Lucane – The Dolomite Mountains of the South.  Amongst the Dolomiti we will visit two of the most beautiful towns in all of Italy, Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa.  We will wander around these untouched villages, meet the locals and enjoy the stunning views.

For lunch, we will meet our good friend Daniele at his lovely mountain town restaurant who will prepare a delicious meal of local produce and vino.

In the afternoon, we will return back to the agritourismo for some personal time to relax.

Dinner will be with friends at another agritourismo for pizza.

Today, we take a drive over the boarder to spend the day in the region of Puglia.  We will visit the seaside town of Polignano a Mare, to visit the beach and enjoy what Puglia does best, a fresh seafood feast with plenty of local wine!

We will have time to explore the old town of Polignano, before we head towards the renowned and fascinating ‘Trulli’ of Alberobello.  The Trulli are ancient, rotund limestone houses, made without any mortar, with conical roofs.

We will return to the agritoursimo for one of Marisa’s delicious dinner.

Today, we will join our good friend Antonio, who will demonstrate the fine art of making mozzarella and other fresh Southern Italian cheeses.  Antonio is a ‘Carso’ (cheese maker) with over 40 years of experience.  He will lead us through this special demonstration, learning all the secrets for making delicious cheeses.

Over dinner tonight, we will be treated to a very special performance by a famous folk band from the region of Basilicata.  They will entertain us with their amusing folk stories, fascinating instruments, dancing, and soulful folk songs of the Matera and Basilicata.

We will share a final breakfast together and take time to pack and bid farewell to the family and friends we have made in Basilicata.

We will be driven back to Ferandino Scalo Train Station, to make our way back to Rome, or driven to Salerno to begin a discovery of the Amalfi Coast!

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