Secret Southern Italy

Day 1: Rome

You’ll check into our city-chic hotel at your leisure where you’ll find some Stellavision surprises waiting for you. Then we’re kicking things off in high style - with an aperitivo by some of Rome’s best bartenders. This is your first introduction to the celebrated Italian tradition of the aperitivo hour, but far from your last. And it’s not just about booze - throughout the trip you can expect regional snacks, meats and cheeses to pair with your classic cocktail, prosecco or refreshing mocktail. Welcome. A little walking tour from our favorite piazza through Rome’s Jewish Ghetto takes us to dinner where you’ll get to know our small group, Tour Guide and Photographer over a traditional Roman feast. Then the night is yours - but we’re furnishing you with the Stellavision guide to choose-your-own-adventure: our favorite evening walks and nighttime vistas as well as underground cocktail spots and wine bars.

Day 2: Rome

Look. We wouldn’t bring you to Rome without showing off the Eternal City. But forget sweaty, summer walking tours…we had to do it with some flair. After an á la carte breakfast, Luca’s fleet of vintage Vespas (driven by professionals) will be our ticket to touring the historic sites of il centro and scooting us out of the historical center for a taste of street art and modern Rome as well. We’ll have two-way headphone systems to hear the history, ask questions and experience one of the world’s most stunning cities together. Lunch is next and of course there’s a view. We’re dining as close to Piazza Navona’s cobblestones as you could reasonably hope to get before we visit an incredible small museum where ancient and postmodern architecture collide. You’ll have some free time in the afternoon (which we can help you plan) before we reconnect for a luxe, modern-Italian tasting menu in the secret garden of a chic, women-owned restaurant tonight.

Day 3: Matera

We cover quite a few miles to show you (and feed you) the variety that Italy has to offer! From regional pasta shapes to cultural traditions, this tour is all about experiencing the many incredible facets of Italy - especially the ones that tourists overlook in favor of the well-known destinations. So buckle up for a bit of a road trip in true Stellavision style. This morning we depart Rome (in our private, air-conditioned bus) and head towards the province of Basilicata. Where we would not make you wait ONE MORE moment before enjoying a quintessential trip-to-Italy experience: wine tasting. We’ll tour the vineyard of an accomplished, female vintner before having a show-cooking lunch in Elena’s wine cellars. We’ll arrive at our traditional Masseria hotel outside Matera before dusk - aka there will be time for you to enjoy the pool! After a road-tripping day we’ll enjoy deluxe dinner at the hotel before a special evening activity under the night skies.

Day 4: Matera

After Rome & the road, you deserve some R&R! It’s time for that quintessential Italian pastime: prendere il sole - sunbathing and swimming. We’ve arranged a picnic lunch for you, poolside. As the day begins to cool off, we’re off for a gelato break (obviously) and to explore the third-oldest city in the world - Matera. And you will Never. See anything else. Like it. Described as ‘one of the most unique landscapes in Europe’, a local guide will take us through the Sassi, the town’s ancient cave complexes where you’ll encounter everything from religious frescoes and grottoes to modern art museums in the 2019 City of Culture (and location in the recent ‘James Bond’ film). We’ll sample a local Basilicata specialty over aperitivo in (and we can’t believe we’re typing this) a chic cave turned bar. Emerging from our cavernous cocktail, we’ll have a formal and delicious dinner al fresco, under the stars of the ancient town. Matera is otherworldly. It is quite literally pre-historic. And as the bells ring out over the quiet (no cars!) night, you’ll know you’ve experienced a part of Italy most tourists haven’t even heard of.

Day 5: Puglia

After yesterday’s cultural exploration, this morning we turn the focus to that other thing Italians do impeccably. Food. We’re crossing a provincial border to link up with Vito, the star of the Southern Italian cheese scene (yup, that’s a thing). We’ll have a hands-on demonstration and make our own burrata in his cheese caseificio (dairy), head to the historic forno (bakery) in time to partake in the day’s baking before gathering our treats (as well as some contributions from his nonna) to have a thoroughly instagrammable picnic lunch and cheese tasting in the forest of Altamura. After our culinary adventure we’ll check into our next hotel, located smack in the middle of the olive groves the region is famous for. One (optional) costume change later, we’re headed to la cittá bianca - the White City of Ostuni - for the night. One of the most stunning places in Southern Italy, we’ll take in the labyrinth of Gothic, Romanesque and Byzantine architecture, the views to the sea and enjoy regional dishes for dinner at our favorite spot - best vibes in town.

Day 6: Puglia

After some heady road-tripping days, this morning starts slow. You’ll have time to sleep-in, have a morning swim in a pool overlooking the sea, use the hotel spa facilities or take a taxi to the charming local town of Locorotondo! After your free-time mattina, we’re taking you to the indulgent beach club. The time has arrived to acquaint yourself with the Adriatic Sea. Soft sand? Turquoise water? Absolutely. Four-poster beds and ordering gourmet snacks to your lettino?* That too! After many blissful swimming hours, we’ll head to a UNESCO World Heritage site to see the almost-offensively picturesque Trulli. These traditional structures are found only in Puglia and their ancient graffiti ties them not just to major world religions but runes and magic as well. What can we say? We love to see the inclusivity. After squeezing in every last drop of daylight, dinner tonight is in fine Italian summer form: family-style, home-cooked and late!

Day 7: Puglia

This morning we journey to the picturesque Pugliese town: Polignano a Mare. We’ll visit the best gelato shop, see the Poetic Staircase and take in one of Southern Italy’s most coveted views. You’ll have some free time to explore, shop the boutiques or take a dip from the iconic pebble beach. We meet back up in time to head out into the Adriatic Sea. Lunch is on board our private Catamaran boat. Your eyes will feast even more than your stomach as we explore the many coves and caves of the limestone coastline. Of COURSE we will drop anchor several times to swim in pristine, secluded spots, only reachable by boat. As day turns to dusk, we’ll get our land legs back for a super-special, final group dinner. Hovering over the ocean, we’ll dine at a delicious seafood restaurant. Savor the freshest catch (or non-fish options if you prefer), the Italian vino, the sea air and the newfound friends who share your memories of Southern Italy.

Day 8: Caserta & Rome

As we travel back to Rome, we’ll be making the ultimate road-trip pit-stop for pizza & a palace. Pretty epic, right? Deep in Campania, the region that invented the globe’s favorite food, we’ll be having lunch at the restaurant voted best pizza in the world - NBD. Dubbed the ‘Versailles of Italy’, we’ll next head to Reggia di Caserta where a local guide will be sharing its many secrets with us. On a road-trip you need to stop and stretch your legs. Well, we got you to the tune of 1200 rooms to explore! And the gardens are even more spectacular. (Don’t worry, we kid. We’ll be seeing the highlights and hitching a ride to the furthermost corner of the magnificent gardens.) As our last excursion comes to a close, we’ll return to Rome for fond farewells. We’re honestly tearing up a little already.

With a drop-off point in central Rome this evening, the tour will end. But from hotel recommendations and Stellavision rates to more tips to explore our hometown or beyond, we’re here to finesse your final day/s in Italy. Until next time, we’ll leave you with an effusive Italian goodbye: Ciao amici, ciao amori, tanti baci!!!