Independent arrival in Bari and check into a four-star boutique hotel which is centrally located and less than a ten-minute walk from the colorful and atmospheric old Bari where cafés, wine bars, and trattorias line the labyrinthine medieval streets. Not to be missed is the remarkable Romanesque architecture of the 12th-century Basilica di San Nicola. Dine independently tonight in one of the many local restaurants. Overnight Bari. Hotel included. Dinner not included. Overnight Bari. Hotel included. Dinner not included. 

Meet your guide this morning at 9:00 in the hotel lobby and transfer by van to Polignano Mare, where our Vespa will be waiting. Perched atop a 20 metre-high limestone cliff above the shimmering waters of the Adriatic, Polignano a Mare is a stunningly beautiful starting point for our Vespa tour.  We'll do a practice ride in a parking lot to make sure everyone is  comfortable before heading out to explore the countryside. We gradually climb up to a vantage point for a view over a sea of olive  trees that seem to wash up against the Adriatic. We take a side road to avoid traffic and ride to Monopoli’s imposing  16th century fortifications. Explore Monopoli by foot and then enjoy a lovely lunch at a local trattoria. Then hop back  on your scooter and follow the coast road before climbing up to the hills. On the way you'll pass whitewashed masserie, the imposing fortified manor houses that are the legacy of centuries of danger when corsair  pirates raided the coast. We stop in Alberobello for a guided visit of the famous Trulli Zone with a local guide then  escape the crowds and ride to the lovely small town of Locorotondo. Your accommodation for the next two nights is  the lovely Masseria Grofoleo, a lovingly restored 18th Century “Manor House” that is an oasis of calm located in the countryside on the immediate outskirts of Locorotondo. We take over the whole complex and have a special dinner catered for us at the masseria. Your bags are delivered by van. Overnight Locorotondo. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.

Today begins with an hour's ride past a vast sea of olive groves to the Masseria Brancati, one of the oldest olive oil  farms in Puglia. Tour the historic masseria, which dates back to the Middle Ages, and then learn all about how this  precious oil is produced. From there we have a short ride to another spectacular hilltop town, Ostuni, where you  have time to explore on foot and stop for lunch. This afternoon we ride to the Baroque gem of Martina Franca to  have a look at its stunning architecture before heading on to a short wine tasting just a few minutes from our home  back in Locorotondo. Meet up again this evening for yet another delicious meal of local specialties. Overnight Locorotondo. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.

Head southwest this morning through vineyards and orchards to the village of Gioia del Colle, where we stop for a  coffee break and a visit to the imposing Swabian (yes, Swabian!) medieval castle. Then we have another hour’s ride to  lunch at the edge of Matera in an ancient sheep corral. After lunch, it's a short ride from there to amazing Matera,  where we have a visit with a local guide who will tell us all about the region’s Christian and pagan past. Visit centuries’- old frescoed rock chapels and monasteries, as well as some of the previously inhabited cave-houses. Matera is another  UNESCO World Heritage site and is truly an unforgettable place. Up until the late 1950’s, many of Matera’s inhabitants  lived in stone dwellings partially excavated from the rockface of the two steep ravines that slice through the city. The  “Sassi” fell into ruin in the 1960s when the city moved these “cave dwellers” into new government housing.  Fortunately for us, however, the people from Matera began restoring the ancient village a decade ago and it is now a  truly unique place. Our hotel for the next two nights, the four-star Corte San Pietro  (or similar), is a chic and modern reinterpretation on Matera’s traditional “Sassi” houses. Enjoy an aperitivo on the hotel terrace and watch the last rays  of the sun play on the opposite wall of the gorge before walking to dinner. Overnight Matera. Hotel, breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Today's ride takes us deep into the heart of Basilicata, one of Italy's most stunning and secluded regions. We'll begin our journey at the Belvedere Murgia Timone, where you'll be treated to breathtaking panoramic views. From there, we'll ride across expansive plains and discover charming hilltop villages along the way. Our route includes a visit to the rustic village of Montescaglioso, offering an authentic taste of Italian life. We'll pause at Gran Caffè Roma for a leisurely break, where you can savor delicious coffee, brioche, refreshing lemonades, and exquisite gelato in a classic Italian café setting, before heading back to Matera for a delightful lunch at Grotta del Gusto, where local specialties await. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to explore the fascinating city of Matera at your own pace before gathering for dinner this evening. Overnight in Matera. Hotel, breakfast, and dinner included.

After breakfast we have a 09:00 transfer to the Bari train station (travel time approximately 1 hour) to connect with trains for Florence and Rome departing after 10:29 and afternoon flights from Bari airport. Earlier departures are possible but at your own expense. Breakfast and one group transfer to the train station are included.

Please note: According to the departure date of your tour some details of the itinerary may change. This is because we make discoveries whenever we run a tour. Sometimes they are good, like a wonderful new wine bar that we want to take you to, and sometimes bad, like a road has been washed away. We, therefore, sometimes change our itinerary to improve it by adding something new or substituting something that is no longer up to our standards.  We always aim to provide you with the best possible experience because we want you to come back for another tour! We will let you know before departure of any changes to the original itinerary.