Welcome to Salento!

We will greet you at the private villa we have reserved exclusively for our group or the amazing 4* star hotel facing the sea we have selected for our small group tour. This is where the Gay Salento Food and Wine Tour adventure begins! Make yourself comfortable in your room and make sure to arrive hungry: a  delicious welcome aperitif dinner prepared by your hosts is the apt start to our tour.

• Meals: Dinner (aperitif dinner with wine included)

After a fresh breakfast we have our first hands-on experience: a cooking lesson from a local chef. The lesson will focus on cooking typical Salento dishes and exploring the variety of local ingredients used. Cooking in Salento, and Puglia as a whole, is very seasonal and therefore recipes differ from one month to the next. Time to learn which vegetables grow in which month! We 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 we relax by the pool in the afternoon. Get your speedos out and have a swim. In the evening we head to one of the beautiful towns in the surroundings. A culinary tour in Italy would not be complete without Pizza: in the evening we make our way to one of the best Pizzerias around. A couple of digestives or a gelato finish off the evening in proper Italian Style.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Pizza Dinner

Boat trip around Castro and Otranto.

After a hearty breakfast, our group is headed to one of the most beautiful towns along the Puglia coastline, Castro. This area is frequented by celebrities for its awe inspiring untouched landscapes and natural beauty. We make our way to the port of the town and board a private boat to discover the magical surroundings of the area and its amazing sea caves.

The boat ride will last a couple of hours: a dip in the water anyone?

In the afternoon we make our way back to the accommodation. Some free time before returning to the dinner table: your hosts will prepare a superb dinner, inspired by the best local recipes.

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (wine included)

Market stalls and Cooking class

After breakfast we visit one of the local farmers’ markets. Here we discover how the locals go about their daily lives. Along with your hosts and a local chef you will experience the markets in a truly authentic way. Once we have bought our ingredients we make our way back to the villa. Back in the kitchen we again get to learn the tricks of this amazing cuisine with a hands-on class with your Hosts. We also learn how to make fresh pasta from scratch. The typical homemade pasta of the area is called ‘Orecchiette’ which gets its name based on the shape that resembles ears. Give it a go and before you know it you will be a master!

Later in the afternoon we visit one of the local towns in the surroundings and enjoy dinner Puglia style

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (wine included)

Wine Tour in Nardo’ and Lecce

Today we head to one of the best known wineries of the area, where we taste wines that are unique to the area of Salento. The traditional varieties that are grown include Primitivo and Negroamaro.

Afterwards we head to the seaside. Just 10km away from Nardo’ are the typical villages of Santa Caterina and Santa Maria al Bagno, adjacent to the stunning Porto Selvaggio (Wild Port) Natural Reserve. We enjoy a light lunch by the sea, while spending some quality time by the beach.

Later in the afternoon we head to Lecce, the baroque capital city of Salento. After a guided walk in the centre of the so-called Florence of the south, everybody is left free to enjoy the city as they wish: a couple of hours for shopping, a spritz, a gelato. Feel free to do as you please, but make sure to join the group again for the evening meal: we will enjoy dinner in the historic center at a restaurant that showcases the local produce, including typical dishes such as ‘ciceri e tria’ (chickpea dish) and ‘fave e cicoria’ (cicory and fava beans).

We will finish the evening with a few drinks in some of the best gay friendly bars of Lecce.

• Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Olive Oil Experience, Gallipoli and Farewell Party with the Locals!

After a hearty breakfast, the Gay Salento Tour will 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.

We will also explore Gallipoli, a port Town famous for fishing boats and fresh seafood. Meander through the little alleyways and see the locals going about their trades. This town will steal your heart!

The afternoon is spent back at your accommodation where you can relax and unwind and prepare for the Barbecue night. We will invite a few locals to join us for an unforgettable final evening around the grounds of the villa or the hotel. Those willing to party can make their way back to Gallipoli, the gay capital of Southern Italy where we can enjoy a drink or two at the local gay bar or dance the night away in its gay club.

• Meals: Breakfast and Barbecue Dinner.

Goodbye and see you next time!

The Gay Salento Luxury Food and Wine Tour is over 🙁 It’s time to say goodbye. No tears please: it’s only goodbye until the next time!

One week with us is not enough? Then you should consider to join us for our back to back Verdi Tour: discover the best Opera Music between Italy and Austria with us!

• Meals: Breakfast