Surbo

Day Trips

Touch down at Bari Airport and enjoy a scenic 25-minute drive through olive groves before arriving in Surbo. Check into your charming masseria-style guesthouse and unpack in a room framed by whitewashed walls and terracotta floors. Step outside to sip a robust espresso at a local bar while greeting friendly neighbors and inhaling warm Apulian air.

Wander Surbo’s narrow lanes lined with jasmine and bougainvillea, pausing to admire hidden chapels and centuries-old stone portals. Pop into a family-run salumeria to sample cured meats, burrata and taralli straight from the oven. Let the slow pace of village life set the tone as you absorb the gentle hum of afternoon conversation and church bells.

Dine at a cozy trattoria where the chef serves orecchiette with cime di rapa drizzled in freshly pressed olive oil. Toast with a glass of Primitivo del Salento as dusk paints the piazza in rose-gold hues. End your evening with a gentle stroll, soaking in the starry sky above this tranquil corner of Puglia.

After a hearty pasticciotto and cappuccino, drive ten minutes to Lecce’s historic center. Join a local guide to uncover the ornate façades of the Basilica di Santa Croce and the intricate carvings of Piazza Duomo. Listen to stories of craftsmen who transformed soft Lecce stone into masterpieces during the 17th century.

Lunch on panzerotti at a bustling street food stall, savoring the gooey mozzarella and tangy tomato filling. Explore hidden palaces, spiral staircases and frescoed chapels tucked between narrow alleys. Stop for gelato in a centuries-old café while watching locals debate over espresso.

Return to Surbo as the sun dips below olive trees and head to a family-run osteria. Sample local cheeses paired with honey and figs before indulging in tonight’s chef special of grilled seafood. End the night with a passeggiata through lit-up lanes, greeting neighbors and basking in rustic charm.

Cycle along country roads bordered by knotted olive trees to a historic grove just outside town. Meet the Massaro family to learn about pruning, harvesting and the secrets of their award-winning extra virgin olive oil. Roll up your sleeves and hands-on press olives, breathing in the heady aroma of green fruit.

Enjoy a picnic beneath ancient trunks: fresh focaccia, local mozzarella, olives and a glass of crisp Vermentino. Walk the grove’s hidden footpaths, discovering centuries-old olives carved into living sculptures. Chat with the farmers about sustainable techniques passed down through generations.

Return to Surbo for a tasting menu built around your pressed oil: bruschetta, marinated vegetables and a drizzle on homemade gelato. Share stories with your hosts over a carafe of Salice Salentino rosso. Sleep soundly to the distant hum of cicadas under a full Puglian moon.

Head east to the Adriatic coast and arrive at Torre dell’Orso’s golden beach. Spread your towel on soft sand, dive into crystalline waters and watch sunlight dance on gentle waves. Breathe in the bracing sea air as boats drift lazily along the horizon.

Treat yourself to sea urchin linguine at a beachfront trattoria, savoring its briny richness. Rent a kayak to explore hidden coves and limestone sea stacks known as the Two Sisters. Dry off with a sunset siesta on the sand, lulled by the sound of lapping waves.

Return inland for a seafood-focused dinner in Surbo featuring local prawns and octopus. Toast with chilled Negroamaro rosato as fireflies flicker at the masseria’s garden tables. Drift to sleep lulled by memories of salt, sun and sea.

Set out on a guided tour of Salento’s sun-drenched vineyards, learning about Primitivo, Negroamaro and Susumaniello grapes. Walk between vine rows heavy with fruit, listening to vintners explain their organic farming philosophies. Sip fresh grape must straight from the press for a true taste of the harvest.

Lunch in a rustic cellarside agriturismo: charcuterie boards, local cheeses and a flight of indigenous red wines. Wander underground barrel rooms carved into living rock, marveling at their cool, hushed ambiance. Contribute to a blending session, crafting your own personal bottle to take home.

Back in Surbo, enjoy a multi-course pairing dinner where each course harmonizes with a wine you visited earlier. Sample candied citrus drizzled with aged primal olive oil—and raise your glass to new friendships. Conclude the night with lively conversations under vaulted stone ceilings.

Embark on a short drive to Rudiae, the ancient Messapian settlement predating Lecce. Explore the excavations, Roman amphitheater remnants and underground quarries carved from soft limestone. Let the silence of the site transport you back to Hellenic and Roman eras.

Have lunch at a family farmhouse, feasting on slow-cooked lamb and seasonal vegetables from the garden. Wander farm paths shaded by ancient almond trees, spotting wildflowers and butterflies. Relax under a pergola with a glass of cool Falanghina, listening to birdsong.

Return to Surbo for pizza al forno, topped with local tomatoes, burrata and fresh basil. Stroll through softly lit lanes to the town fountain, where neighbors gather to chat. Feel the pulse of authentic Puglian village life as the night deepens.

Drive south to Porto Cesareo’s white-sand beaches and vibrant blue sea. Rent a sun lounger and parasol, then plunge into the warm Ionian waters. Watch artisanal fishing boats haul in fresh catches for the day.

Board a small boat for a snorkeling excursion around protected marine reserves, marveling at seagrass beds and hidden coves. Dock at a seaside trattoria to savor spaghetti allo scoglio, loaded with mussels, clams and shrimp. Wander the waterfront promenade, browsing colorful market stalls for local crafts.

Head back to Surbo and join a sunset aperitivo on a rooftop terrace, sampling spritzes infused with Limoncello. For dinner, indulge in grilled fish seasoned with herbs picked from the courtyard garden. End the evening with limoncello sorbet under a star-studded sky.

Step into a traditional masseria kitchen to begin your cooking workshop. Learn to make fresh orecchiette from semolina flour, mastering the thumb-and-finger technique passed through generations. Meanwhile, prepare sun-ripened tomato sauce infused with garlic, oregano and local olive oil.

Break for a home-cooked lunch enjoying your own creations alongside seasonal salads and local wines. Next, make pasticciotti—a buttery pastry filled with lemon-scented custard. Share stories with your hosts as you roll, bake and sample sweet treats in a sunlit courtyard.

Return to Surbo’s main piazza for a casual dinner at a street food festival showcasing local specialties. Try sgagliozze (fried polenta squares) and taralli flavored with chili flakes and fennel. Cap off the night with live folk music and dancing under strings of lanterns.

Drive to Otranto’s UNESCO-listed old town and cross the arched city gate into narrow, flower-lined alleys. Visit the medieval cathedral to marvel at its intricate mosaic floor depicting biblical scenes and local flora. Pause at a seaside café to taste frutti di mare crostini with a view across the Adriatic.

Walk along the historic city walls rising above rocky cliffs, enjoying panoramic sea vistas and soft breezes. Descend to the Aragonese castle and explore its moat and ramparts. Refuel with granita al limone in a shaded courtyard before heading back inland.

Back in Surbo, dine at a family osteria where the chef layers flavors of the sea in a seafood stew scented with saffron. Sip a flinty Falanghina as twilight descends on olive-studded hills. Conclude your feast with local almond cookies and a final taste of Puglia’s warm hospitality.

Sleep in before enjoying a lazy breakfast of biscotti dipped in rich espresso at your favorite café. Stroll through the morning market, picking up last-minute souvenirs: pottery, olive oil and handmade linens. Chat with vendors and exchange hearty goodbyes.

Return to your masseria for a leisurely olive-grove walk, pausing by ancient trees to reflect on your journey. Enjoy a farewell lunch under a shady pergola: grilled vegetables, ricotta-stuffed zucchini flowers and a final glass of cold rosé. Pack souvenirs as cicadas hum overhead and warm breezes drift through open windows.

Gather with newfound friends for a celebratory dinner in the main square, where tables join to form one long community banquet. Share memories over platters of orecchiette, fresh seafood and homemade desserts. Raise your glasses to ten days of discovery, culture and unhurried Puglian magic.