Flavors of Matera & Puglia
September 19-26, 2025
Price: $4,750/person
Join us for an unforgettable 8-day culinary adventure through the heart of Southern Italy!
Discover the ancient wonders of Matera's Sassi cave dwellings, indulge in the cucina povera of Puglia, and taste the olive oils produced in this, the "Land of Olive Trees." Savor the seafood delights along the Adriatic coastline, and wander the picturesque streets of Polignano a Mare. Immerse yourself in the unique charm of Alberobello's trulli houses and the stunning white landscapes of Ostuni. This tour seamlessly blends rich cultural experiences with hands-on cooking classes, local wine tastings, and exquisite dining, offering a true feast for the senses. Join us for an authentic taste of Italy’s culinary and historical treasures.
Keep scrolling to see Trip Highlights and specifics on pricing, how to book, and what's included! Contact us with any questions.
Itinerary
These 8 days will take you through Italy's "heel," full of rich history, natural beauty, and simple, delicious cuisine:
MATERA (3 nights) – the "City of Caves," Matera is one of Italy's most interesting destinations, well deserving of the "European Capital of Culture" designation in 2019.
FASANO (4 nights) – we will finish the trip in a masseria outside the small town of Fasano. Cooking classes, pool time, and visits to nearby Alberobello and Polignano a Mare will round out our final leg of the trip!
Tour Highlights
Explore the ancient cave town of Matera - a city that makes Rome (at 3,000 years old) look 'new' (Matera is 5,000 years older!!).
Enjoy a wine tasting in the heart of the Valle d’Itria, learning about varietals like Primitivo, Minutulo and Susumaniello. You may discover some new favorites!
A tasting of authentic mozzarella right from the source as we visit and tour a cheesemaker, where you'll get taste the freshest cheese you've ever had!
Learn the techniques of a professional olive oil tasting, and experience a sampling amongst the centuries-old olive trees.
We'll take advantage of our masseria's kitchen and culinary garden to create some fresh pasta and focaccia masterpieces in our cooking class!
Learn the history of the famous Italian digestivo Amaro Lucano, as we visit their production facility for an immersive tour & tasting experience.
Double occupancy: $4,750/ person
Single supplement: $500
Deposit of $2,000/person is due upon booking to reserve your spot, along with a signed & completed registration form. Booking is not considered confirmed until deposit has been received.
Payments can be made by check (made out to Curata Travel) and mailed to: Curata Travel, 245 N. Main Street, Spring Grove, PA 17362.
Credit cards are accepted with a 3.6% fee.
Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure.
Pricing includes:
- Seven nights of hotel accommodations (3 nights at a hotel in Matera, 4 nights at a masseria in Pezze di Greco)
- All planned excursions & classes, including visits to artisanal producers and a hands-on cooking class.
- Meals included: daily breakfasts at our accommodations and most lunches & dinners. We curate each menu to focus on traditional regional specialties, accompanied by local wines.
- Experienced tour leaders and local guides
- Private motorcoach transportation throughout the tour
- Airport transfers on specified arrival/departure days/times. We include one group transfer for your arrival and departure at specified times. Any additional transfer will be at your own cost.
Not included:
- Airfare
- Gratuity for driver and Curata Travel tour leaders, at your discretion
- Any spending during free time, personal purchases, extraneous hotel charges (minibar, laundry service, etc.) and any alcoholic beverages not included with meals.
Each member of the tour will be responsible for booking their own international flights. Flights are not included in the tour cost.
You will be picked up at the Bari airport on September 19 by 12:00p.m., then dropped off at the Bari airport on September 26 by 9:00a.m.
One group transfer will be provided, any additional private transfers would be at your own cost.
*We strongly recommend looking into flight costs (try Google Flights) and trip insurance before booking your spot or see our tips for booking flights! These are important factors to consider as you budget for the trip.
A few items of note for some of the destinations and the trip as a whole to help set expectations and better prepare you for the trip. Some of the expectations are outlined in our Traveler Guidebook and the Terms & Conditions form that you will use to register (see specifically the Traveler Code and Traveler Expectations sections), but to reiterate some as they specifically relate to the Due Coste itinerary.
Cusine - As hopefully most of you know, our tours focus heavily on the culinary specialities of each region and town we visit. So when we arrange a lunch/dinner or culinary experience, we are working with those restaurants to plan menus in advance that highlight the seasonal produce, dishes that reflect the region we’re in, and so on. We will be collecting some of this information at a later date from you, but if there are food allergies we need to be aware of, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate them. If there are entire categories of food that you just don’t eat (and are not willing to try), this might not be the tour for you!
Terrain:
Matera - Matera in particular may be challenging for those with mobility issues. The town itself is difficult to describe unless you’ve been there, but this fly-through video gives you a glimpse into the Sassi (the old town, where we will be staying). It is an ancient cave town where dwellings/shops/hotels are all built one on top of each other, and not necessarily in a linear way. Therefore everything is connected via flights of stairs, winding alleys, etc. all built out of stone. This results in some uneven surfaces w/ few hand rails to be found. The tufa stone can also be somewhat slick, especially during the dry summer months when there is a lot of dust. Good walking shoes, being sure on your feet, and staying alert are all key!
Excursions: With all of our excursions, you are not forced to participate if something like this is not your ’thing.’ You always have the option to stay behind and enjoy some free time on your own (please note, as mentioned in the Terms & Conditions, there is no compensation or refund for any portion of the tour or excursion you do not participate in).