Add dates

ApuliaMeet the locals

Our most recommended Apulia Meet the locals

From Matera: Sassi di Matera Tour with Entry to Cave Houses

1. From Matera: Sassi di Matera Tour with Entry to Cave Houses

Embark on a day out in Sassi and explore the ancient neighbourhoods with a live guide. See a series of grottoes carved out of limestone and marvel at the Sasso Barisano and the Sasso Caveoso. Your tour will begin at the meeting point in Via Alessandro Volta. From here, your expert guide will lead you to the Church of San Francesco, situated in the historic centre of the city. Next, you’ll continue along a panoramic road comprised of narrow streets and winding alleys. After arriving at the Rupestre Church of Sant'Antonio Abate, you’ll find a pleasant surprise waiting inside: a classic example of the traditional culture of this remarkable city. Afterwards, you’ll move on to visit a typical Matera cave-house before continuing along Via Madonna delle Virtù and Porta Pistoia "Pert P’stèl" to conclude your cultural adventure.

Matera: Sassi Tour with Entry to Rock Houses and Churches

2. Matera: Sassi Tour with Entry to Rock Houses and Churches

Historic Center and Sassi TourIt consists of a walking tour from the main square of the historic centre, Piazza Vittorio Veneto (starting point, arch-shaped fountain reference), with a panoramic view of the Sasso Barisano.Continue through the historic center until you reach Piazza Duomo where it will be possible to view the Cathedral from the outside and then enter the Sasso Caveoso. From here there will be a visit to the furnished house of peasant civilization, a frescoed rock church, a visit to the barbaric cemetery and the various neighborhoods.Everything will be explained by an authorized guide, which will allow you to understand the history of the city.The tour will end in Piazza Giovanni Pascoli in the historic center, close to the Sasso Caveoso.

Matera: Pasta Workshop and Farmer's Lunch in the Cave

3. Matera: Pasta Workshop and Farmer's Lunch in the Cave

Embark on a culinary adventure in the Sassi caves of Matera with a farmer's lunch experience and pasta workshop. Learn how to prepare the strascinate al tegamino, straight from the land of fresh pasta, and sit down to taste the fruits of your labor with a glass of wine. Find yourself in a cave, surrounded by ancient stone walls that whisper stories of generations past. As you step into this unique setting, feel the excitement building. Roll up your sleeves and prepare to get your hands floury as skilled chefs guide you through the secrets of crafting fresh pasta. Join a hands-on experience that will ignite your creativity and leave you with newfound culinary skills. From kneading the dough to shaping those adorable ear-shaped pasta pieces, learn the authentic techniques passed down through generations. Once you've mastered the art of pasta-making, discover the magic of strascinate al tegamino, a traditional dish that has been perfected by local farmers for ages. Using the finest local ingredients, find the perfect combination of flavors that make this dish a true masterpiece. After celebrating the joy of cooking, share a delicious meal with newfound friends. Indulge in a farmer's lunch accompanied by wine in the magical Sassi caves. Revel in a sense of accomplishment and pure satisfaction. Let the flavors dance on your palate, reminding you of the rich heritage and culinary traditions that have shaped Matera.

Ostuni: Olive Oil Tasting Tour

4. Ostuni: Olive Oil Tasting Tour

Join the owner of the Masseria Capece and enjoy a guided olive oil tour with tasting. Take in the intense scents and colors among the ancient olive trees. Walk among the thousand-year-old olive trees, which are said to have been planted by veterans of the Punic Wars, more than 2000 years ago. Visit the oil mill, built in 1846 and in use until the 60s.  Learn all about how extra virgin olive oil is made and visit the oil mill. Taste some of the oils produced on the farm. Enjoy a taste of Puglia and experience life in rural Italy.

Bari: Pasta Experience Walking Tour

5. Bari: Pasta Experience Walking Tour

Begin your cultural adventure by visiting the main attractions of the old town. Stop and discover the Basilica of Saint Nicholas with its precious Crypt, the ancient Cathedral of Saint Sabinus, and the exterior of the millenary Swabian Castle.  Continue your tour riding along the authentic narrow streets of the old town where ladies still make pasta by hand, kids play outdoor and people cook in every corner. End the walking section of the tour at Signora Maria’s House. Here you will learn how to make orecchiette, a delicious type of local homemade pasta, and find out the secrets of its traditional recipe. While drinking Primitivo red wine, cook and taste your own homemade pasta and feel like a real local. Finish your wonderful day by tasting some fantastic local ice cream!

e-bike tour in the Plain of Ancient Olive Trees of Ostuni

6. e-bike tour in the Plain of Ancient Olive Trees of Ostuni

E-bike ride from Ostuni to a family farm. Here we'll know some curiosities about the olive tree and the phases of cultivation, from pruning, to the pressing to obtain the Extra Virgin Olive Oil. We can embrace a centuries-old olive tree and finally taste an abundant tasting of typical products. Returning to the starting point we will take the opportunity to cross the streets of the historic center of Ostuni retracing the most important events that have characterized the life of the "White City". Along the way there is a stretch of country road with a bit 'bumpy and with small grooves due to the rain. It could be defined a light offroad. The tour includes a scenic walk in the hills about 1 km long. Please wear gym shoes and not sandals to join this tour.

Puglia: Mozzarella Experience at a Apulian Farm

7. Puglia: Mozzarella Experience at a Apulian Farm

Discover the art of traditional mozzarella making with a workshop on a family-run farm in the Apulian countryside. Take in the country air and visit one of the oldest and most fascinating farms in Puglia. Visit the stables with cows, calves, and buffalos. Watch the animals roam freely in the field. Learn about how the milk is produced in the milking parlor. Meet a cheesemaker and discover the steps to make real Italian mozzarella. After the demonstration, savor a variety of products from the farm including cheeses, cold cuts, meats and other seasonal delights.

Typical Apulian cooking lesson

8. Typical Apulian cooking lesson

Have fun and learn the techniques of how to make the typical Apulian pasta, the orecchiette, with a professional and local cook. In a unique location of its kind, in a 1400s courtyard in the center of Lecce, you can learn while having fun, and bring home the techniques for creating Orecchiette. Pasta is one of the most loved foods in the world, especially the one produced in the south. Orecchiette and Sagne are a type of pasta made exclusively in Puglia, but exported all over the world for their goodness. You will then be able to learn how to create them with a typical local lady, mixing water and flour, with the tools of the trade, in the courtyard of a building in the center of Lecce.After making the pasta, we cook it and eat it inside a 1400s courtyard.

Alberobello: History Walking Tour with Olive Oil Tasting

9. Alberobello: History Walking Tour with Olive Oil Tasting

The tour will start with a beautiful view from the Belvedere terrace, introducing the interesting history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue your visit of the two districts Aia Piccola and Rione Monti, where you can admire the typical houses with their unique architecture. Walking among "trulli" and little alleys, you'll reach the trullo-shaped Church of San Antonio. Finish off the tour with a visit to a local's home, where you will get the chance to taste extra virgin olive oil.

Brindisi: Mozzarella Live Show & Tasting in a Cheese Factory

10. Brindisi: Mozzarella Live Show & Tasting in a Cheese Factory

Armando ed Emanuela will immerse you in theyr dairy universe, just like in the enchanting streets of Puglia. You will have the opportunity to see it firsthand and taste the unique flavor of freshly prepared, steaming mozzarella. If you're daring enough, you can even try shaping the mozzarella with your own hands! The mozzarella show includes: - The explaination of the basic techniques of cheese production. - Tasting of the products (mozzarella, stracciatella, burrata, ricotta, primo sale). - Italian Aperitivo - the freshly made cheeses will be served in traditional Puglian versions: bread, cherry tomatoes, oregano, olives, olive oil, anchovies. - The quantities of prepared cheeses are sufficient for a substantial aperitivo.

103 activities found
Sort by:
Page 1 of 7

Frequently asked questions about Apulia Meet the locals

What are other things to do than Meet the locals that are worth visiting in Apulia?

The other unmissable things to do in Apulia are:

Other Sightseeing Options in Apulia

Want to discover all there is to do in Apulia? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Apulia

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 126 reviews

We took this tour to learn more about our family heritage as they were from the Province of Bari. Our guide, Emanuela, was born and raised in Bari. She did an excellent job and answered a lot of questions. At the end we learned how to make the regional pasta that our aunts (from Corato) have made with us. Learned that using a wooden board is really essential to making orecchiette.

Annalisa was a fabulous tour guide. Having a tour guide whose own grandparents experienced the Sassi was really eye opening. She was extremely engaging and shared with us so much history about Matera. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who is looking to learn more about this magical city.

A very nice experience. A few tips. Taxis were not readily available in the town. Make sure you arrange in advance. Google translate is a plus if you don’t speak the language. Be prepared for a big meal.

Maria Teresa was our supurb guide through the 2 neighbourhoods of Matera. She was knowledgable, patient, kind and totally worth the drive to Matera. A++

The guide was excellent. Deep knowledge about history.