CONLEY & SILVERS PRESENTS:

Southern Italy
Featuring Puglia & Matera

 An Immersive 13-day, 11-Night Journey Through Southern Italy

Led by Dana Conley and Awdie Coppola

 

 

Where you’ll Stay

Enjoy a handpicked collection of retreats: a refined masseria wrapped in ancient olive groves near the sea; an elegant cave hotel carved into the storied sassi of Matera; and our private art-filled palazzo in Lecce.

 

Unesco Galore

• The ancient trulli of Alberobello
• Matera’s Sassi and sacred cave churches
• The mosaic Tree of Life in Otranto’s cathedral
• Pizzica—Puglia’s fiery folk dance
• The Mediterranean Diet, as lived and loved


Overview Map


Itinerary Highlights

Hill Towns & Seaside Strolls

Wander the whitewashed lanes of Locorotondo, Cisternino, and Martina Franca. Trace the cliffs of Polignano a Mare and the harbors of Gallipoli. Visit Santa Maria di Leuca, where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas meet in a shimmer of light and limestone.

 
 

Culinary Immersion

Cook alongside local chefs in a masseria piazza and Lecce palazzo. Savor warm focaccia from a 600-year-old bakery, sip indigenous Salento wines from a 5th generation family estate, sample seafood fresh from the Adriatic. From handmade orecchiette to fresh burrata, every bite tells a story of place.

Artisan Encounters

Meet master potters in Grottaglie’s ceramic quarter, witness fine art restoration in Lecce, and visit a centuries-old olive oil estate. Along the way, enjoy intimate access to artists, bakers, musicians, dancers, and chefs keeping Puglia’s traditions vibrantly alive.

 
 

Accommodations

 
 

Masseria Calderisi, Savelletri di Fasano (4 nights) 

Contrada Case Bianche, 4, 72015 Savelletri BR, Italy    +39 080 244 3675
https://www.masseriacalderisi.com/

A lovingly restored 17th-century farmhouse nestled among ancient olive groves and citrus trees near Fasano, Masseria Calderisi blends rustic charm with refined luxury. Guests can unwind in beautifully designed rooms with original stonework and contemporary finishes, relax by the pool, or explore the sprawling gardens. The onsite restaurant showcases seasonal ingredients from the estate, while the serene spa offers treatments inspired by Mediterranean botanicals. Peaceful and welcoming, this is Puglia at its elegant best.

 
 

Vetera Relais & Châteaux, Matera (2 nights)

Via Bruno Buozzi, 96, 75100 Matera MT, Italy    +39 0835 331183
https://www.relaischateaux.com/us/hotel/vetera-matera/

Carved directly into Matera’s famous cave dwellings, Vetera is an intimate boutique hotel that redefines cave living with comfort and sophistication. Rooms retain their ancient character while offering modern amenities, with stone arches, cozy lighting, and stunning views of the Sassi. A curated blend of heritage and hospitality, Vetera provides a unique base from which to explore the rock churches and labyrinthine lanes of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 
 

Palazzo Maresgallo, Lecce (5 nights)

Via Giuseppe Palmieri, 19, 73100 Lecce LE, Italy    +39 0832 523306
https://palazzomaresgallo.com/en/

Hidden behind a grand stone facade in the heart of Lecce, this aristocratic 16th-century palazzo has been transformed into a serene luxury retreat. Palazzo Maresgallo features tastefully restored salons, vaulted spa spaces, a leafy garden courtyard with pool, and a rooftop terrace perfect for sunset drinks. Each suite is unique, filled with antiques, art, and subtle design flourishes that speak to Lecce’s Baroque splendor. It's an inspiring home base for your Salento stay.


Your Hosts

We will be accompanied by excellent local guides throughout our trip, personally vetted by your Tour Director, Dana Conley

Dana fell in love with international travel while studying in Italy during her junior year abroad at Stanford University, where she majored in International Relations. Before founding Conley & Silvers (C&S) fifteen years ago, Dana’s career spanned from being a researcher in Asian security matters at the Pentagon and International security think tanks to art appraisal and directing an art gallery.  In 2009, Dana eventually made her home in France for six years, pursuing her passion for travel and cultural curiosities, and has explored over 50 countries in search of authentic adventures, beautiful meals, and life-changing moments to share with her private and organizational clients. 

Via C&S, Dana’s goal is to provide guests with the highest level of customer service while creating magical, bespoke itineraries. Taking time to understand each traveler's purpose and passions, Dana and her worldwide team have joyfully cultivated a devoted following of treasured clients.   When Dana is not managing a tour or on a reconnaissance mission, she divides her time between Europe, the USA, and the Bahamas where visiting museums, yoga, golf, boating, and beach walks with her beloved dog Ruby reign as her favorite pastimes.

 

Born and raised in Lecce, Puglia, of an Anglo-Italian family, Awdie Coppola was brought up bilingual in English and Italian. He speaks five languages and is a freelance translator, interpreter and lecturer, as well as teacher of English and Spanish. For over 30 years he has worked in the tourist sector as a Tour Guide in Northern Italy, the United Kingdom, Albania and Greece and since 2008 mainly in Puglia and Southern Italy. Puglia is an inspiring blend of flavors, colors, and fragrances unique in the Mediterranean. As a native local expert with his vast knowledge and enthusiasm he will let you experience a unique and unforgettable tour of Puglia.

 
 
 

Confidential & Proprietary Information