Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Monteroni di Lecce - Noci - Bari - Athens - Mystras - Areopoli
100% customisable for you
Your two-week escape begins with a flight to Brindisi, which will take just under three hours. On arrival in Puglia, pick up your hire car and drive half an hour to Monteroni di Lecce. This will be your base for the next three nights, where you’ll stay in a peaceful 20th-century masseria surrounded by olive groves, vineyards and walnut woods. Spend the afternoon cooling off in the swimming pool or stretching your legs on a gentle countryside stroll.
Start the day with a homemade breakfast beneath the awning, gazing out over the gardens of your masseria. Then make your way into Lecce for a private tour of one of Italy’s most beautiful Baroque cities. Its golden limestone façades are carved with playful cherubs, swirling columns and ornate balconies – the trademark style known as Barocco Leccese.
Afterwards, step inside a traditional cartapesta (papier-mâché) workshop. This centuries-old craft is still a source of local pride, and under expert guidance you’ll create your own figurine to take home – an Apulian keepsake from your time in ‘the Florence of the South’.
Just 20 minutes from Lecce lies Galatina, a small town that punches well above its weight when it comes to architecture and atmosphere. Spend this morning exploring its elegant streets, where ornate balconies and carved stone doorways showcase the mastery of local stonemasons.
The town’s undisputed highlight is the Basílica di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria. Built in the late 14th century, it pairs Romanesque and Gothic styles and is adorned with frescoes that rival those in Assisi’s Basilica of Saint Francis. Step inside and you’ll understand why it’s considered one of Puglia's great artistic treasures.
After soaking up the culture, follow the scent of warm pastry to try pasticciotto – Galatina claims to have invented this iconic custard-filled treat. A coffee and a freshly baked pastry make a fitting finale before returning to your masseria for a leisurely afternoon.
Today, jump back in the car and wind your way north to Noci – a characterful inland town wrapped in vineyards, orchards and trulli-dotted countryside. You’ll spend the next three nights in another charming masseria.
After settling in, enjoy an easy afternoon: cool off with a dip in the pool, borrow a bike for a gentle spin through the lanes, or simply claim a shady spot with a good book. This evening, sit down to a delicious dinner made with local Puglian produce – the perfect introduction to the flavours of the Itria Valley.
Noci is the perfect base for exploring some of this region’s best-known sites. From here, head to Alberobello to marvel at the many traditional trulli houses, or spend the day in the beautiful whitewashed city of Ostuni. The Itria Valley is also nearby, where you can visit towns like Martina Franca for more incredible Baroque buildings. Locorotondo is arguably one of Italy’s most beautiful villages, or Ceglie Messapica is a pretty place to lose yourself in the streets of the old town and enjoy picturesque piazzas.
You’ll have two full days to make your way between these towns and villages, enjoying traditional architecture, beautiful landscapes and delicious food. If you like, we can arrange for you to take a guided tour of Alberobello’s trulli and enjoy a tasting of local specialities.
This morning, head north to Bari to return your hire car and settle in for a night in the heart of the city. There’s plenty to see, including the Norman Castle ramparts, the elegant Bari Cathedral, the Basilica San Nicola and the elaborate 1920s Palazzo Mincuzzi.
If you like, we can arrange a rickshaw city tour before honing your Italian cooking skills at an orecchiette-making class.
Today you’ll swap Italy for Greece. A private transfer will drop you at the airport where you’ll catch your short flight to Athens, which takes just over 90 minutes. On arrival, another private transfer will whisk you to your hotel in the Plaka district, where you’ll spend two nights with views of the Acropolis. Spend the evening strolling the neighbourhood’s cobbled lanes and choosing between the many tavernas serving traditional Greek dishes.
Today is devoted to Athens’ two agoras. With an expert guide, explore the ancient Athenian Agora – the political and commercial heart of classical Athens – followed by the Roman Agora built later under Augustus.
Afterwards, continue into Plaka to discover its cobbled streets, traditional tavernas and local shops. This charming area has adapted to the modern age without losing its traditional spirit.
Pick up your next hire car today and drive south into the Peloponnese, a journey of just under three hours. Spend the night in the fortified town of Mystras, a Byzantine town perched above the Spartan plain. Your hotel’s traditional-style buildings are surrounded by olive and citrus groves, with a pool, spa and peaceful terraces perfect for post-drive relaxation.
If you’d prefer to spend the rest of the day exploring, we can arrange a private tour of Mystras, ancient Sparta and the Olive Oil Museum.
This evening, enjoy an excellent Mediterranean dinner at one of the hotel’s restaurants.
Continue an hour south to Areopoli, the gateway to the Mani Peninsula, for a three-night stay overlooking Limeni Bay. Spend the afternoon cooling off in the pool before dinner inspired by local flavours and coastal produce.
The next two days are yours to explore the Mani’s rugged landscapes. Discover stone-built villages topped with distinctive tower houses, drive through landscapes dotted with wildflowers and olive groves, and wander down to tiny coves where the Mediterranean shines bright blue.
For a change of pace, visit the Cave of Vlychada – a spectacular underground network of stalactites – or opt for a sea kayaking trip in the Gulf of Messenia, if you’d like to spend some time soaking up the beauty of the Med.
All good journeys must come to an end. Today you’ll drive to Kalamata airport, return your hire car and board your four-hour flight back to the UK – with two countries, countless villages and plenty of Mediterranean sunshine under your belt.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
