Southern Italy with Michelle Damiani

Benvenuti in Italia! Meet your hosts, Michelle and Ciao Andiamo co-owner Max, in central Naples this morning to begin your journey into the heart of Southern Italy. Your first stop is the coastal town of Vico Equense for a delicious breakfast overlooking the Bay of Naples. Continue your journey to the city of Matera, where ancient cave dwellings called Sassi have housed residents for thousands of years. Get oriented on a stroll with a local guide through this UNESCO World Heritage site. Then gather for a welcome dinner at a favorite local restaurant before settling in to sleep in your hotel that blends modern comforts with ancient caves.

Enjoy your first breakfast at your hotel, and then delve deeper into Matera’s soul with a guided exploration of its rock churches and case grotte (cave houses), each telling stories of the ancient agricultural civilization that once thrived here. The afternoon is yours to wander the winding streets and enjoy some free time to explore or read on your own, before gathering in the evening for another group dinner.

Bid farewell to Matera this morning as you journey to Grottaglie, a town where ceramic artistry has flourished since Roman times. Here, you’ll visit a historic ceramic workshop to view local craftsmanship up close, followed by time to explore and eat lunch on your own. Continue on your journey to the coastal town of Monopoli, where you’ll settle into your accommodations and savor locally caught fresh seafood at dinner together.

Today you’ll spend time discovering Monopoli’s treasures at your own pace. Wander through the historic centro storico, where whitewashed buildings and baroque churches tell stories of the town’s rich past, or perhaps find a quiet corner in the old port to do some reading al fresco. In the afternoon, venture to nearby Polignano a Mare, dramatically perched on limestone cliffs above the Adriatic. Wander the town’s streets and historic squares, pausing to admire breathtaking views. As the sun begins to set, enjoy dinner in one of Polignano’s atmospheric restaurants before returning to Monopoli.

Following this morning’s breakfast, journey into the enchanting Valle d’Itria for a guided tour of Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site and village where unique cone-roofed houses called ‘trulli‘ cluster in neighborhoods that seem frozen in time. The heart of today’s experience is a private cooking class in one of these historic homes, where a local nonna will share the secrets of traditional Pugliese cuisine. After enjoying the fruits of your labor over lunch, return to Monopoli in the afternoon for some free time to explore or read, with the evening free to relax as you wish.

This morning you’ll venture to Ostuni, the “White City,” whose dazzling lime-washed buildings cascade down a hillside overlooking olive groves. Explore the medieval maze of streets and passages as a group and search for inspiration. In the late afternoon, visit a historic farm where olive trees have produced oil for over a thousand years. Learn about the ancient traditions of olive oil production and enjoy a tasting of various products, understanding their subtle differences and importance in Pugliese cuisine. Return to Monopoli for a farewell dinner celebrating the flavors and friendships of your journey.

Enjoy a final morning in Monopoli before your group transfer to Bari’s city center, where your Southern Italian adventure concludes (and where you can connect by flight or train to Rome or Naples). Depart with a heart full of memories, some new favorite books, and a deeper connection to the soul of Italy’s Mezzogiorno.