Day 1: Arrival in Rome

Arrival in Rome and check in at 4 stars hotel. Meeting with Suite Travel staff for an introductory briefing at the hotel. Dinner with typical Roman cuisine menu (included). Free program and overnight stay in Rome.

Day 2: Ancient Rome & Elegant aperitivo

Breakfast at the hotel. Explore Ancient Rome guided by private licensed guides. Start from Piazza Venezia, dominated by the imposing Vittoriano, a monument honouring the Unification of Italy. Then we will move to Campidoglio, the centre of the city’s political life. After that, we will see the Imperial Fora, Colosseum, and Arch of Constantine, the opera dedicated by the Senate and the people to Constantine in 315 and palatine.  Finish in Circus Maximum, the biggest location for entertainment ever built. Lunch and afternoon at leisure time and free program. Aperitivo at UpSunset bar (included). An elegant terrace overlooking the view of Rome. The bar is on the roof of the Rinascente department store, a perfect place for luxury shopping.

Dinner at leisure and free time. Return to the hotel on your own.

Day 3: Best of Rome

Breakfast in the hotel and visit the most visited places of Rome with its wonderful views. We will start from Piazza di Spagna, surrounded by the Spanish steps and the Church of Santissima Trinità dei Monti. Move to the rococo masterpiece of the Trevi fountain. According to the myth, if you throw a coin here, you will come back to Rome. So, Throw a coin and fingers crossed!. We will proceed on to the Pantheon, built originally to honour the 7 divinities of Ancient Rome. Pantheon is considered a precursor to all modern places of worship and is the most copied of the classical buildings, with the largest brick dome in the history of architecture. The panoramic tour ends in Piazza Navona, built on the ruins of the Circus Domitian and embellished by Bernini’s splendid Fountain of the Four Rivers. Lunch at leisure and free time during the afternoon.

Dinner at Restaurant “Da Meo Patacca” (included).  Where the waiters wear typical dresses to create a character and picturesque atmosphere of a nineteenth-century inn. There will be folk musicians performing a repertoire of Roman, Neapolitan and Opera songs. The rooms for the restaurant reflect a history steeped in art and tradition, each with its characteristic name.

After dinner, either return to the hotel via private bus or free time and then return to the hotel on your own (Trastevere has a very lively nightlife).

Day 4: Lecce

Breakfast at the hotel.

Departure to Lecce. Stop at Canosa di Puglia for quick lunch. Arrive in Lecce and meet with our expert guides for a two-hour guided tour of the historical centre of this beautiful baroque city. We will start the guided tour of Lecce from Sant’Oronzo square, where the remains of a partially buried Roman amphitheatre are located. After that, walking through the centre, we will discover the magnificent Baroque architecture of its buildings and the most emblematic monuments of this wonderful city, such as the Cathedral of Lecce and the Basilica of Santa Croce, two temples that shine their light unbelievable. 

Finally, we will reach a traditional bakery to taste some typical sweets. Can you imagine a sweeter way to end our Lecce guided tour?. Transfer to 4 stars hotel and check-in.

Dinner at leisure, and you can return to the hotel on your own for the night.

Day 5: Borgo Egnazia and Alberobello

Breakfast at the hotel, meet with our expert guides and departure to Ostuni. The “white city” sits atop the last hill of the southern Murgia plateau. We will walk through the medieval streets lined with whitewashed buildings, finished in the sophisticated 15th century Gothic Cathedral. Not only an open-air museum but also a vibrant city, with wonderful hotels, nice restaurants, cafes and ice cream shops. End of the tour and departure to Borgo Egnazia. A unique resort that resembles a typical rustic village. Several celebrities (including Madonna, the Beckhams, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel) have chosen this resort for their holidays and celebrations. 

Continue to Alberobello, the capital of the Trulli, the cone-shaped houses characteristic of Puglia make the most enchanting part of the heel of Italy. Alberobello is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996 and is certainly a landmark of Puglia. During the trip to Valle d’Itria, we will cross the beautiful and idyllic countryside that surrounds the cities, with its breathtaking views on the trulli. Then, in Alberobello, we will go off the beaten track to discover the most evocative and authentic corners.

End of the tour and back to the hotel.

Diner in Otranto (included), the most Eastern city in all of Italy, a coastal town with a splendid ancient city centre and a beautiful castle. Free time to explore the city centre and then return back to the hotel via private bus for the night.

Day 6: Gallipoli and beach 

Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting with our expert guides and departure to Gallipoli. Tour of Gallipoli, a charming coastal town rich in history for its Greek roots and its wonderful Baroque and Renaissance buildings. We will walk through the alleys of the historic centre, connected to the mainland by a seventeenth-century bridge. We will admire the courtyards and palaces of what was once one of the richest cities in southern Italy in the 16th century. The magnificent cathedral dedicated to Santa Agata, hosting over 80 canvases painted by the most talented masters of the period, is considered one of the most beautiful churches in the Salento area.

The city is also known for its traditional underground oil mills that we will visit. Until the 19th century, the city was very famous for the production of oil for lamps, used for the street lamps of the great European capitals. After the visit, time at leisure to relax and for shopping. We will be able to taste the delicious “pasticciotto”, a short pastry filled with custard and black cherry. During our visit, we will discover in-depth the popular phenomenon of “pizzica”, the popular music of local tarantella joining ancient dancing rites.

Transfer via private bus to a beach nearby (to be confirmed based on weather, the weather should allow to sunbathe and swim in the sea)

Dinner at Masseria Caradonna, a beautiful location in a restored farmhouse (included)

Return to hotel via private bus and overnight stay.

Day 7 – Matera

Breakfast, check out and departure to Matera. Arrive and have lunch at leisure and free time. Next, meet with our expert guides and start a guided tour of the city recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993 for the uniqueness of the stones: ancient districts whose houses have been carved into the limestone rock. Tour of the historic centre and the Sasso Barisano, the oldest part of the city. Finish the tour and check in at the 4* hotel. 

8 day – Cooking class at Viceconte Palace

Breakfast at the hotel and today will be a day of Cooking class at Viceconte Palace. With this cooking class, we will venture into the kitchen of a well-known local chef, to prepare the typical dishes of the Matera cuisine. A Taralli challenge will allow participants to assess their skills in creating the famous Taralli. Homemade pasta which always fascinates and amuses all our guests could not miss. The culinary experience is carried out in the elegant setting of Viceconte Palace, one of the ancient noble palaces of old Matera, and ends with the tastings of typical dishes prepared during the lesson and tasting of limoncello, served on the beautiful palace’s terrace overlooking the Sassi.

Departure to Rome by private bus. 

Upon arrival, check in at 4 stars hotel and overnight stay in Rome.

Dinner at leisure and free time.

9 day – The End of the tour

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.