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 Join Italy Gay Travels for a Culinary delight in Puglia the South of Italy. Our authentic and extravagant Gay Puglia Foodies Tour is a once in the lifetime opportunity to explore the world-famous food in this amazing location. Our tour combines the must-see sights of Puglia with a sophisticated exploration of the food and wine specific to the region. Think seasonal vegetables, local cheeses, seafood from the extensive coastline and amazing meat, this is not Italian food as you know it.
Puglia cuisine is based on a Mediterranean diet but here the food is explored creatively and always on seasonal produce. During the Gay Puglia Foodies Tour you will create inspired dishes with local chefs, learning all the tricks and trades from centuries of passed-down traditions. You will also eat like kings on this tour as the gastronomy included will ensure you indulge. Not convinced? We also throw in trips to food producers, regional markets, wineries and olive groves. We also see the key sights of Puglia, such as Alberobello, Lecce, Ostuni and Polignano a Mare. This Gay Foodies Tour is open to all levels of cooking: you will be learning about the amazing Pugliese kitchen so there is a new trick for everyone to learn! The Gay Foodies Tour also offers an onsite massage therapist for those wishing to unwind and relax if the cooking gets to hot!
• Learn to cook like the locals
• Gastronomy meals from the best parts of the region
• Visit local markets and learn all about the ingredients of Puglia
• Wine tasting
• Olive oil degustation
• Visit key sights including Alberobello, Lecce, Ostuni and Polignano a Mare
• Make new friends from all over the world
• Luxury Accommodation in a private villa
Day 1 - Sunday
 We will collect you from either Bari or Brindisi, international airports which have many connections to Europe and beyond. From there we make our way to the Masseria (large historic farmhouse). Here the Gay Foodies Tour adventure begins! The Masseria has been painstakingly renovated and has all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a boutique hotel: Wifi, swimming pool, terrace sundowners to name a few! Set amongst olive groves and fruit trees, the stunningly refurbished farmhouse tells the story of Puglia’s past and present. The evening is finished with a delicious aperitif dinner prepared by your hosts.
Meals: Dinner (three courses with wine included)
Day 2 - Monday
 After a fresh breakfast and dip in the pool (if you fancy) we have our first experience. A cooking lesson from a local chef. Here you will obtain first-hand knowledge from a master. The focus is on cooking typical regional dishes and also exploring the types of ingredients used and their provenance. Cooking in Puglia is at a very local level and differs from season to season. They also have a waste not attitude so don’t be surprised to see parts of vegetables used that are generally thrown away. Recipes have been handed down from generation to generation and truly represent the Mediterranean diet. The session is hands on and time is taken to ensure that everyone is happy and confident by the end of the experience. Naturally we eat what we’ve made.
After digesting our meal and taking a nap we visit Locorotondo, a gem town perched on a hilltop overlooking the Itrian Valley, a broad fertile valley. The drive there is dotted with Lamia, Masseria and Trulli (cone shaped buildings) that make this Valley magical and special. We have dinner in Locorotondo in a restaurant that bases all its dishes on traditional cooking methods. A couple of digestives or a gelato finish off the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (three courses with wine included)
Day 3 - Tuesday
 After a hearty breakfast we depart for our first stop, Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This town is postcard famous for its circular cone-shaped buildings called ‘Trulli’, truly marvellous. Wander the narrow streets with limestone dry-stone walls and get lost in the fairytale ambiance. Here we learn about the history of these buildings and about the cryptic symbols painted on the roof-cones. Many of them from Pagan descent.
We then move on to a stunning coastal town called Polignano a Mare. Famous for its town seemingly clinging to the rocks suspended above the Adriatic’s turquoise waters. Here we will have our lunch. This time the cuisine is focussed on Puglias Adriatic Coast. Fresh line caught seafood served up alongside seasonal produce and drizzled with Extra Virgin Olive Oil from the nearby Frantoi.
After lunch why not dip your feet into the water on the beach?
In the evening, we explore Ostuni, known as the ‘White City’ as it sits perched above a hill near the sea with its white walls glinting in the sunlight. Through the town’s maze of narrow streets, we end up in a Michelin star restaurant, where we will enjoy a dining experience with modern twists on traditional Puglia recipes.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch (three courses with wine included)
Day 4 - Wednesday
 After breakfast we visit the local markets in Martina Franca, one of the few Baroque Architecture towns in the South. Here we discover how the locals go about their daily lives. Along with the guide and local chef we experience the markets in a truly authentic way. Once we have bought our ingredients we make our way back to the Masseria. Back in the kitchen we again get to learn the tricks of this amazing cuisine. We also learn how to make fresh pasta from scratch. This is called ‘Orecchiette’ which gets its name based on the shape that resembles ears. Give it a few goes and you are soon a master!
Meals: Breakfast, light Lunch and Dinner (wine included)
Day 5 - Thursday
 After breakfast, we visit a local winery where we taste wines that are unique to the area of Puglia. The traditional varieties that are grown include fiano minutolo and susumaniello. We are given a tour through the vineyard followed by a tasting session.
Afterwards we head to Lecce, the capital baroque city of the southern part of Puglia known as Salento. We have lunch in the historic centre at a restaurant that showcases the local produce. Salento cuisine is quite different and we will try local dishes including ‘ciceri e tria’ (chickpea dish).
Soon after lunch we will meander through the key sights and interesting history of Lecce.The baroque buildings and ornate decorations covering the building facades, surrounded by city walls built in local limestone give this city a unique appeal. It is no wonder Lecce is known as the Florence of the south. As well as the architectural and historical features, Lecce is an upmarket town with trendy boutiques and cafes, piazzas filled with gelaterias and local pastries. Try sampling the pasticciotto, an almond flour pastry made here. You will have free time to discover the city and its local talents. A culinary tour in Italy would not be complete without Pizza! This we will have for dinner followed by drinks in the local gay bars of Lecce.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6 - Friday
 After a hearty breakfast, we head to a typical ‘Frantoio’ (farm producing organic extra virgin olive oil). Here we will learn the history of the ancient olive groves planted by the Romans and their uses from then until now. Marvel at the ancient trees that dominate this landscape. This is followed by a degustation of olive oils. The afternoon is spent back at the Masseria. Here we get back into the kitchen where we prepare a dinner, this time we are inviting the locals so we hope your skills have upped a notch or 2! The Italians are very honest! We will then spend the evening having a party with the locals around the grounds and swimming pool of the Masseria.
Meals: Breakfast, Light Lunch and Dinner (four courses with wine included)
Day 7 - Saturday
It’s time to say goodbye, we will arrange drop-offs to airports or train stations.
Meals: Breakfast
Optional add-ons:
• There are a range of massage treatments available at the Masseria.
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