The Secret Delights and Treasures of Puglia and Basilicata

The people of Basilicata and Puglia are kind and welcoming. Their generosity and good nature make each day a pleasure for visitors, as we try to soak up as much of their culture as possible. It is like they don’t quite understand what an amazing place they live in! To them it is simply ‘home’. It is this lack of pretension that is so refreshing. People in these regions have a way of making you feel welcome, rather than making you feel like an imposing tourist.

If you picture Italy to be shaped like a boot, the regions of Puglia and Basilicata would be the heel and instep, respectively, of that boot. Puglia is known for its Trulli houses, which are cylindrical limestone houses with cone-shaped roofs. Basilicata is known for the Sassi di Matera, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. As little as 70 years ago, some 15,000 people were still living in grottoes with no natural light, ventilation, running water or electricity. It was known as the Shame of Italy. Today it is a complex labyrinth of walkways and stone stairways full of local artisan shops, cafes and gelaterias. The town has a vibrant energy and is a wonderful place to explore

But Basilicata and Puglia are so much more than the Sassi and Trulli. These regions are also proud of the food they produce - with just cause. If there’s space on your table for yet another antipasto dish and it is not filled, don’t worry, it will soon be filled! The traditional food is well balanced in its seasoning, with subtle flavours making the most of the fresh produce. Olives, grains, and legumes are grown here, and they form a large part of the diet. This year we were lucky enough to be staying in Basilicata at the time of olive harvesting and were spoilt with the freshly harvested olive oil! The regions are also known for their cheeses. Who can resist fresh mozzarella and pecorino cheeses!

The Aglianico grape is the star of the wines in Basilicata. It is known as the Barolo of the South. Other local grape varieties are Primitivo and Malvasia. Basilicata and Puglia are well known for their table wines. You will find these wines are easy drinking, and the grape varieties are often mixed. These table wines go perfectly with the subtleness of the cuisine and are often presented on your table in ceramic jugs.

The towns of Puglia and Basilicata are quite stunning. The streets are paved with white stone and the buildings are either whitewashed or presented with the same white stone. Many houses in the historical centres look like they have come from the pages of a perfectly designed Country Home magazine. The backdrops of these towns are rolling olive or vine-clad hills, the Adriatic and Ionian seas, or the Lucanian Dolomite Mountain ranges. No wonder every day on our tour here is a jaw dropping adventure!

Our Basilicata and Puglia tour is based in a picturesque agriturismo near Matera. Here you can have an idyllic, restful experience surrounded by olive and orange groves. You can watch the shepherd graze his sheep in the orange grove below your balcony; or take a stroll to the nearby lake (which is more like an inland sea!). But it is the warmth and generosity of the family that run the agriturismo that make it so special. They are such gracious hosts. You are made to feel like a long-lost relative who they can’t do enough for! Greg and Silvia are the warm and welcoming hosts on the 8 Day Southern Treasures and Secret Delights of Basilicata and Puglia tour. They are both born to be hosts and are delightful to be around.

For tour dates just go to Italian Tours - Italy tours | Small Group Tours of Italy (italiandelights.com.au)