Ostuni, and the upper Salento, region…discover this untouched part of Southern Italy. It has spectacular landscapes, characterized by its stone and small islands of dense greenery. You can find dry stacked stone walls, underground olive mills and majestic century old olive trees considered the guardians of the countryside. This region is set in the colorful Mediterranean shrub where the chirping of songbirds can be heard and surrounded by the aromas and flavors that give origin to the area’s traditional products. This corner of the province of Puglia is not only known for its suggestive landscapes but is also rich in cultural treasures characterized by a vast and varied heritage. Many different populations have visited the territory, starting with the Neolithic civilization evidenced by the unique finding of the remains of a woman’s who has been named Delia. She was a very tall huntress who at the time of her death was pregnant, so therefore she is also called the mother of the prehistory of the region. Ostuni’s rich history continues with the megaliths, the cultural influence of the Greeks and the antique roman roads such as the Via Appia, the customs and products of the Lombards, churches dating from the Byzantine period, the Spanish- style fortified farmhouses and the aristocratic baroque palaces. Ostuni and the Upper Salento offer fascinating and memorable destinations ready to be explored.
Cultural Tours
A tour of the town old centers, its monuments rich in history and the more popular areas where people would congregate and discuss the town traditions and legends.
THE TOURS: Alberobello,(the town of the trulli and an UNESCO world heritage site). The visit includes a look inside of a trullo and a visit to the workshop of a skilled trullo builder who will give a demonstration, with the aid of a miniature model, on its construction. Followed by a tasting of local sweets and liquors made with chili peppers. Cisternino (a little and lively town situated in the hills of the Murge), Ostuni (also called the white town) a picturesque town rich in churches, decorated doorways, panoramic views, findings of ancient civilizations and folkloric tales, Martina Franca ( known for its elegant Baroque buildings situated in the heart of the Valle d’Itria) and Lecce.
The tours’ duration: every visit will take between 3 to 5 hours. Included is the time to reach the destination. It’s possible to visit two towns as long as the duration of the tour doesn’t exceed 5 hours.
Naturalistic Tours
Hikes in the varied countryside, offering country lanes lined with dry stacked stone walls, the fragrant Mediterranean shrub, the dazzling edge of the Murge hills rich in canyons that face the sea. According to the season the hike could include the picking of wild asparagus, fruit and flowers.
ITINERARY:
"Country Lanes" Walk along the typical Puglian lanes, lined with stone walls, wild flowers and majestic solitary trees. Admire the farmhouses, cultivated fields and pastures and according to the hike included is either a visit to a beekeeper specialized in organic honey, an olive oil producer (the sampling of DOP “collina di Brindisi extra virgin olive oil) or a farm specialized in dairy products (caciocavallo, ricotta…). "The fragrant Mediterranean shrub" A hike on the narrow trails surrounded by thick Mediterranean shrub and stony hillsides following the gentle profile of the Murge hills. "lEnchanting Canyons"A walk in a typical Puglian canyon. Discover the aromatic flowers and plants of the Mediterranean shrub and the seasonal wild orchids. Explore the caves once lived in by shepherds and used by the crusaders as places of defense and refuge.
Tours combining
Nature and Culture
Explore these suggestive places where nature and culture meet. Man has transformed its environment to create these magical places: the typical farm houses, the underground olive mill, the hidden chapels and the pre roman defensive structures. Followed by a tasting of the local products.
THE TOURS:"Stone landscapes of the Valle d’Itria"A visit to the trullo Sovrano. With its two stories it is one of the largest trulli in the world. Followed by a hike to the Specchia Sattia, an archeological monument of ancient Puglia. At a short distance away the tour will be concluded with a visit to a beautiful farmhouse for a tasting session of the local wine and cheese. "Hidden chapel" Hike in the Murge hills, amongst pastures, Mediterranean shrub and small orchids to a small sanctuary of the XI century nestled in a small canyon surrounded by caves once inhabited by monks and shepherds. (about 2 hours). Followed by a visit to a medieval underground olive mill situated amongst olive groves. The visit is concluded with a sampling of the extra virgin olive oil and other local products. "A Masseria: a typical Puglian farmhouse" A visit to a fortified masseria dating from the XVI century (with an underground olive mill, chapel, barns and small museum with antique farming implements) situated amongst the olive groves. Tasting of the extra virgin olive oil harvested from century old trees. Walk along the Via Traiana between masserias and suggestive olive groves, between the sea and Ostuni.
* Note: The duration of the above tours is half a day. It is possible to combine the tours according to the distances involved. It is necessary to reserve in advance. There could be an added cost of 1,00 euro to 5,00 euro a person for the tasting sessions of local products, visits to museums, olive mills and/or masserias.
Cost of the guide: half a day 90.00 euros Whole day 170.00 euros
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