Discover Puglia, Italy: The Source of the Mediterranean Diet

“I am very high on Puglia,” says Celebrity Chef, Mario Batali. “It is the next Tuscany for the American traveler…exotic... yet accessible”

Discover Puglia, Italy with me, and together, experience a rare, personalized, insider tour with local native, Silvestro Conte. Puglia, the source of the Mediterranean Diet and the most delicious food in the world, has amazing landscapes, mesmerizing beaches, 3,000+ years of history, exciting folklore, evocative art, gorgeous culture, and more.

Seven Reasons to Love Puglia

1. The History: 3,000+ years, still alive and part of our 21^st century astoni-shingly advanced mindset. It’s alive in the languages, in the culture, in the cuisine, in the traditions and in the art. Unlike other parts of Italy, Puglia is a  layercake of history.

Castel del Monte (photo by Silvestro Conte)

2. The Food: “I am very high on Puglia,” says Celebrity Chef, Mario Batali. “It is the next Tuscany for the American traveler…exotic… yet accessible” Puglia’s Cuisine is the original source of the Mediterranean Diet. It’s not easy to summarize the rich simplicity and flavor of Puglia’s cuisine. Cooking is based on the FRESHNESS of the ingredients — from vegetables to seafood.  You will taste and feel it at all the unique restaurants we will visit, with Silvestro’s extended family, and at the Epifani family mansion. Our tour base will be Ceglie Messapica, Silvestro’s hometown, and renowned as the Gastronomic Capital of Puglia.

Appetizers by Silvestro's Family (photo by Silcestro Conte)

3. The Wines: “This magical wine destination is a thin peninsula packed tight with stunning beauty and surrounded by some of the bluest waters in Europe,” says Wine Enthusiast Magazine, which listed Puglia as a “TOP TEN Wine Travel Destination for 2013.” Primitivo, Negroamaro have been enjoyed for over 2,000 years, and are now familiar to the world and celebrated by wine connoisseurs. We’ll visit some little or at all unknown, yet outstanding wineries. Not neglecting homemade wine….

"This magical wine destination is a thin peninsula packed tight with stunning beauty and surrounded by some of the bluest waters in Europe," said Wine Enthusiast Magazine, which listed Puglia a TOP TEN Wine Destination for 2013

4. The Olive Oil:  Puglia is Italy’s greatest producer of olive oil. Some of the purest and most flavorful olive oil you will taste in Italy comes from here.  More than 65 millions olive trees are masterpieces in themselves, contorted yet majestic. Our tour includes olive oil tasting at family mills.  The Mediterranean Diet was born here.

A single Olive Tree Stands Next to a Trulli, mortarless homes from the 1200s (photo by Silvestro Conte)

5. The Beaches: Puglia boasts 500 miles of coastline (sand, rocks, cliffs), surrounded by turquoise blue waters.  Take Pescoluse, for instance : given the kaleidoscopic color of the water and its fine white sand, you’ll be thinking you’re in the Caribbean…or the Maldives.

Silvestro's Favorite Local Beach (photo by Silvestro Conte)

6. The Architecture: You’ll see structures you won’t find anywhere else in Italy, such as the trulli, the conical, mortarless stone farmhouses started in the 1200s. Historically the target of many invasions, Puglia is filled with fortified farmhouses or masserie. All invaders left their architectural mark, including the mesmerizing baroque style in Lecce (known also as “Florence of Puglia”).

An Illuminated Castle in Celebration of its Patron Saint

7. The People: the Pugliese people  take to the highest level the typical Italian’s warm and welcoming attitude. Guided by Silvestro, you’ll  learn about the traditions, languages, wines, olive oil, pasta, bread, cheeses and mozzarella at small old family farms, ceramics, pizzica, an ancient folk dance..

Pizzica Dance

Eating out in Puglia

When: September 14 – 22, 2013 (7 full days, 7 nights, arriving in Bari September 15)

The size of the group will be limited to 18, so please book early!

For more detailed information, contact: Silvestro Conte (202)290-5835  Silvestro@YourItalia.com  www.YourItalia.com

Ceglie Resort - Where We Will be Staying for 7 days & nights