Itria Valley and Coastal Dunes Walking Tour

Benvenuto! Welcome to Alberobello, the magical land of Trulli and the starting point of your walking adventure in the Itria Valley.

Settle into your accommodations before exploring this UNESCO World Heritage site. The world-famous trulli huts were constructed initially as field shelters and storehouses and have since been repurposed into local dwellings, hotels, and small shops. Two areas well worth exploring while in Alberobello are the districts of Rione Monti and Aia Piccola. Enjoy!

Today's walk will introduce you to one of the most beautiful old towns in the Itria Valley, Martina Franca. You’ll be lead through Puglia's beautiful "green heart," known as Bosco Selva. Vast oak groves line the way to Martina Franca and provide a perfect opportunity to revel in the unspoiled beauty of this spectacular region.

Following pastures and high dry-stone walls typical of the valley, you'll ascend Monte San Martino before reaching the elegant old town of Martina Franca.

Spend the rest of your day getting lost in the maze of narrow streets and Baroque piazzas that make up Martina Franca. Also known for its impeccable cuisine, make sure to scout out a spot for tonight's dinner while exploring the town. Trying the capocollo (cured pork) is a must!

A short public transfer, following breakfast, will take you to Locorotondo this morning.

Locorotondo is covered with stunning vineyards and is known for producing high-quality wines like the Locorotondo DOC. Visit the old town of Locorotondo and enjoy a glass of local wine before continuing to the Puglia Aqueduct, the longest aqueduct in Europe.

Following the aqueduct, you’ll make your way to the charming village of Cisternino, famous for its whitewashed houses and its fornelli (stoves). Once in Cisternino, you’ll find yourself welcomed into a reinvented butcher shop, where you’ll have the opportunity to hand-select tonight’s dinner, choosing from an assortment of the finest cuts of meat. Buon appetito!

Before departing Cisternino, allow yourself to be pleasantly enchanted by its remarkable fusion of Baroque and Oriental Rennaisance architecture. Peruse the narrow streets admiring the ancient buildings this morning before setting off to the Natural Park Dune Costiere.

Short public transfer to reach Cisternino. Descending the eastern slopes of the Itria Valley, you'll reach the natural park and discover one of the most stunning areas of protected wildland that southern Italy has to offer.

Tomorrow's walk allows for an in-depth exploration of the Natural Park Dune Costiere. Today, you'll continue to the agriculture village of Montalbano, where you'll stay at a charming masseria for the next two nights and enjoy spectacular in-house dinners made with the freshest local meats and produce.

This natural masterpiece deserves a full day dedicated to exploring, and today's itinerary allows for that!

A loop trail will take you throughout the stunning park, where you'll walk among centuries-old olive trees and encounter the spectacular fossil dunes of the area that line the sea. Formed by the shift in sea levels, the dunes have been sculpted by mother nature for millennia.

Continuing the park's trail to the River Morelli's wetland, you'll discover an area where eel fishing has been practiced since the 19th century.

Making your way along gravel roads, you'll leave the sea behind you as you make your way back to the masseria for an enjoyable evening of relaxation and fabulous food.

Pleasantly charmed by the warm hospitality of your masseria stay, you’ll continue country roads alongside fields ripe with produce.

Ascending through a forest, you’ll climb towards the ancient village La Terra, set atop the highest Ostuni hill.

A detour is available today to the Sanctuary of San Biagio, which will put you in close proximity to the Archaeological Park of Santa Maria di Agnano. Here, a young woman from the paleolithic period was found, making it a sight of immense historical importance.

Following breakfast in Ostuni this morning, a short path will take you back towards the sea and the Natural Park Dune Costiere.

Arriving at an ancient farmhouse in the park, you’ll have the opportunity to sample refined extra virgin olive oil and visit the ancient underground oil mills dating back to Roman times. A visit to the private museum will follow, and then also to a small 18th-century church.

Return to Ostuni for your final evening and soak up your last moments on the tour.

If time permits before departing, check out the local craftsman Tonino Zurlo and his marvellous creations sculpted from olive wood.

Overnight Location: None