DAY 1 – NAPLES – AMALFI COAST (ITALY)
Your private transfer transports you from Naples airport to the stunning Amalfi Coast. The day is free for you to relax and enjoy the exquisite seaside views available from the Grand Hotel Furore. This evening, we come together for our Welcome Dinner at Le Bontà del Capo. Savour the rooftop ambience as you meet your fellow guests, as well as our hosts, Lorenzo Granai and Fabio Mancini. While here, Chef Fiorenzo also guides us in a discovery of the region’s famous limoncello.
DAY 2 – AMALFI COASTÂ
After breakfast at our hotel, embark upon a private boat tour around the island of Capri. Enjoy a wine tasting on board, then enter one of Capri’s exquisite grottoes. As you proceed inside the cave, its waters change in appearance to an alluring azure in response to the sunlight’s influence on the seabed. You may prefer to remain ashore, discovering the beautiful coastline on your own terms, or take a dip in its crystal-clear waters. Our boat returns us to the mainland and we dine at our hotel, accompanied by further breathtaking coastal views.
DAY 3 – MATERA
We fuel up for the day ahead with breakfast at our hotel. Our local hosts, Lorenzo and Fabio, arrive and introduce us to our convoy of high-performance vehicles. Our expert supercar drivers then take us through the finer points of the controls of each vehicle, explaining the differences of each model.
Taking our place behind the wheel, the coastal road immediately grants us several captivating vantage points; craggy cliffs bearing terraced vineyards and the pastel-coloured homes of neighbouring villages. Our vehicles pass through the town of Brienza before we pause for lunch at Antica Osteria Marconi within the city of Potenza. Our final leg of the day sees us cruising along vast stretches of road, between undulating hills and the occasional small village.
Arriving in Matera, we are presented with striking scenes of stone dwellings hugging sheer cliff faces. Here we check into the sublime Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa. Dine by candlelight beneath the stars at our hotel this evening.
Self-Drive – Approximately 270 kms and 5 hrs and 30 mins driving.
DAY 4 – MATERA
During a tour of Matera, we marvel at churches designed in the Baroque and Romanesque styles and cross the grand Piazza Vittorio Veneto. Then venture below ground and into the Casa Cava, whose splendid natural acoustics have seen it used as a unique auditorium. Approach the rock church of Sant’Antonio Abate and contemplate the interiors of one of the cave houses of Sasso Caveoso. Via Madonna delle Virtù and Madonna delle Grazie offer yet more perspectives of Matera’s rock-hewn landscapes and places of worship.
During visits to the historic squares, Piazza San Francesco d’Assisi and Piazza del Sedile, we learn more about the saint and the seat of parliament to which they are respectively dedicated. Our tour concludes as we gaze upon the majestic facade of Matera Cathedral, which overlooks the city.
Take the afternoon at leisure, perhaps by rejuvenating at our hotel’s wellness centre. Housed within a cave, the centre features a compelling blend of amenities, traditional and modern. This evening, we dine at Baccanti Restaurant, whose atmospheric interiors and refined menu makes for a suitable celebration of our time in Matera.
DAY 5 – PUGLIA
A short drive brings us to Caseificio Dicecca, a secluded family-run farm. Here we learn the delicate art of shaping by hand their locally produced cheese. And as surely as taste follows touch, our senses fully engage while sampling morsels of mozzarella, ricotta, and fresh herb-laden bread. Our appetising pit stop over, we return to the road, continuing our approach to Puglia.
Tucked away between groves of olive trees and the occasional palm, our luxurious residence, Masseria San Domenico, bids us welcome. The white stone walls of the 15th-century edifice at the property’s centre are reflected back at us, thanks to the glittering waters of its adjacent pool. This evening, we take our seats beneath the grand, vaulted ceilings of our hotel’s restaurant. The lion’s share of its fresh, seasonal produce is sourced from the property’s surrounding acreage, while seafood is provided by the waters of the nearby Adriatic.
Self-Drive – Approximately 170 kms and 3 hrs and 15 mins driving.
DAY 6 – PUGLIA
Our palates are tantalised as we consider today’s choice of Your World experiences:
— Follow the coast to the stunning city of Bari. In between visits to historic castles and cathedrals, taste your way around town with stops at bakeries, delicatessens, gelaterias, and street food stalls.
— Alternatively, head to an olive oil farm for insights into the production process. See the property’s ancient mill and press, learn about the attributes of different olive types, and enjoy a tasting.
The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure. Relax in our hotel’s pool, upon the white sands of the nearby beach, or simply explore as you please. Our hotel hosts us for dinner again this evening.
DAY 7 – PUGLIA
This morning, our gourmet encounters continue as we meet with a local dairyman. Learn the process of producing authentic Apulian burrata and mozzarella, then enjoy the fruits of your labour. Our tasting experience is complemented with servings of cold cuts, baked goods and local wine.
Enticed onward by the shimmering waterfront town of Ostuni, we soon find ourselves entranced by its tiers of whitewashed buildings. Follow Via Cattedrale to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Church of San Giacomo di Compostela. The vibrant Piazza della Libertà , meanwhile, stands as the town’s social hub, where bars and clubs converge with landmarks such as the Church of San Francesco and the Obelisk of Sant’Oronzo.
Our day culminates in a special dining experience at the Michelin-starred Osteria Già Sotto L’Arco. Chef Teresa Galeone employs her considerable skills in creating an extraordinary culinary affair, while the venue’s substantial cellar boasts many of the region’s finest labels.
DAY 8 – GALLIPOLI
We emerge from our magnificent hotel to greet the day. Our fleet of vehicles sits ready and waiting. Getting behind the wheel – perhaps of a Ferrari – we begin our next driving leg. Today’s route first takes us through the whitewashed town of Ostuni. We then take the freeway onward toward Lecce, whose proliferation of Baroque buildings stands in stark contrast to the modern machines under our command.
The small coastal town of Otranto delights us with its inviting turquoise waters and historic cathedral. We then prepare to steer our high-performance vehicles around the tip of the Salento Peninsula – Italy’s heel – and as we pass through Santa Maria di Leuca, the waters of the Adriatic merge with those of the Ionian.
Reaching Gallipoli, along the south-western shores of the Salento Peninsula, we soon arrive at Tenuta Mosè, our beautiful, bucolic accommodation. Take the afternoon to relax in this blissful setting or join us on the beach for a special cooking demonstration. Learn about the cuisine of the Salento region as expert chefs prepare a delicious pasta dish for us.
Self-Drive – Approximately 155 kms and 3 hrs and 15 mins driving.
DAY 9 – GALLIPOLI
We begin our day with a boat tour across the resplendent waters of Gallipoli and the Bay of Torre Uluzzo. Along the way, our boat passes the famous Four Columns, as well as the delightful village of Santa Maria al Bagno. The rocky inlets and tree-lined shores of Porto Selvaggio Natural Park are as conducive to awe as they are tranquillity.
Should the conditions prove favourable, our captain may drop anchor momentarily, enabling us to take a dip before perhaps enjoying an aperitif. After lunch, we adjourn to the Mater Gratiae quarry to witness the extraction processes of the area’s quality stone. See the cave interior, shaped continually over hundreds of years, which reveals the various layers of rock. Leaving the quarry with our eyes suitably honed, we spy the stones prolific use in nearby villages and churches. We reconvene this evening for our Farewell Dinner.
DAY 10 – BRINDISI
Enjoy a final breakfast at our stylish resort before we are transferred to Brindisi airport, where our enchanting journey concludes.
