If you’re looking for a Southern Italy adventure, we highly recommend spending time in the ‘heel’ of the boot in the Puglia region. Not only will you discover immaculate beaches and incredible architecture, but the food is to die for.
Puglia is renowned for its la cucina povera – cooking of the poor, or peasant cooking. It’s an interesting phrase, describing the use of simple and local ingredients to create fresh, delicious meals. Join us on this 8-day Cosmos tour to indulge in gourmet Puglia.
Bari
Say the name ‘Bari’, and it is instantly associated with orecchiette. This pasta is shaped like little ears, a perfect vessel for holding the zingy, fresh tomato sauce it is served with. There is even a street in Bari’s Old Town called Strada delle Orecchiette, where you’ll find local women making, and selling, this fresh pasta.
Martina Franca
Martina Franca is full of Baroque architecture and white-washed buildings – earning it the nickname, the ‘White City’. Join a local guide who will showcase this quintessential Puglia town with stops to try local cheese and cured ham along the way.
Later, you may choose to take an optional tour to Altamura. Altamura is famous for making one of the best breads in all of Italy – Pane di Altamura – baked using traditional wood-fired ovens.
Alberobello
In line with the simple cuisine that Puglia is known for, the town of Alberobello presents a chance to experience how Italians do farm-to-table. This Cosmos tour offers an optional dinner at a masseria (farmhouse) where you may try fresh pasta, olive oil, vegetables and cheeses. Your tastebuds will thank you for this experience later!
Lecce
Your time in Lecce, ‘Florence of the South’, will be well spent! Not only will you roll up your sleeves for an interactive cooking class, but you will be able to indulge in as many pasticciotto as you please. Supposedly created by accident with leftover shortcrust pastry scraps, this moreish pastry is typically filled with custard or ricotta.
Polignano al Mare
Fancy dining overlooking the sea? Then book yourself in for the optional dinner in Polignano al Mare. With its prime cliffside location, this small town attracts many for its coastal beauty, cliff diving and azure waters. What a spectacular way to finish your time in Puglia!
There is so much to discover in Puglia, especially for those who adore their food. Join us on our Cosmos Gourmet Puglia tour this year!
