Name: 7 Day Gay Luxury Foodies Vacation with Wine Tasting in Salento, Puglia
Brand: Italy Gay Travels
Price: 3980 EUR
Availability: InStock

Accommodation

Check-in Time:

16:00

Check-out Time:

09:00

You will be accommodated in en suite rooms in a luxurious private villa with a pool not far from the sea.

Program

The cuisine of the Salento region is rich in fresh vegetables, fish, seafood, and herbs: a Mediterranean diet with a creative twist, and always using the most seasonal ingredients. It is no surprise that the region is developing a reputation as a foodies destination. Our Gay Salento Food and Wine Vacation will teach you how to cook like a local, thanks to the support of the best local chefs. They will be more than happy to share with you the tricks of the trade from recipes handed down over centuries. You will have a taste of the best wines in the area (do Primitivo and Negroamaro ring a bell?).

Discover the best olive oils and learn how to distinguish and develop your palette. Puglia is one of the biggest producers in the world. You will also eat like kings on this tour as the gastronomy included will ensure you indulge. They will make sure to show you the key sights of Puglia and Salento: Lecce, Otranto, Gallipoli, and Nardo’ are only a few of the places we will visit! It sounds like a lot but there will be plenty of opportunities to relax, unwind, and shop.

Italy Gay Travels will make sure to show you the key sights of Puglia and Salento: Lecce, Otranto, Gallipoli, Nardo’, and Galatina are only a few of the places you will visit! It sounds like a lot but there will be plenty of opportunities to relax, unwind, and shop. You will have a day on a boat excursion looking at Puglia from another angle.

Their Exclusive Luxury Food and Wine Vacation is open to all levels of cooking: you will be learning about the amazing Pugliese kitchen so there is a new trick for everyone to learn! Our Vacation also offers an onsite massage therapist for those wishing to unwind and relax if the cooking gets too hot! Please send an inquiry for more information and how to book these extra treats.

What you will experience

Learn to cook like a local with hands-on cooking lessons from a Pugliese chef
Learn to make fresh pasta
Buy local produce in the local markets, a good opportunity to practice your language
Prepare a meal with your host, a key part of Puglia cuisine
Dine in selected restaurants
Winery and vineyard visit to explore the local wines of the region
Explore the top cities in the area such as Lecce, Gallipoli, Nardo’, Otranto, and Galatina

Support

Upon arrival at the villa you will be greeted and briefed on the activities of the week ahead. You will be provided with an assistance number you can call us at any time during your stay.

Day 1: Welcome to Puglia!

Italy Gay Travels will greet you at the private villa or 5-star Hotel with sea views they have selected for our small group vacation. This is where the Gay Salento Food and Wine Vacation adventure begins! Make yourself comfortable in your room and make sure to arrive hungry because a delicious welcome aperitif dinner prepared by your hosts is the apt start to our week.

Meals included: dinner (aperitif dinner with wine included)

Day 2: Cooking class, Pugliese style plus Gallipoli

After a fresh breakfast, have your 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!

They 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, you'll eat what you’ve made.

After digesting your meal, visit one of the most beautiful towns of the region, Gallipoli, famous for its long sandy beaches and its Old Town. Get your speedos out and have a swim in the crystalline waters or explore the town in your own time. A delicious dinner will be served. A couple of digestives or a gelato finish off the evening in proper Italian style.

Day 3: Boat trip around Castro and Otranto

After a hearty breakfast, the 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. Make your 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?

After a light lunch, head to Otranto, the coastal port rich in history. This is the easternmost part of Italy and is postcard-famous for its location at the very edge of Puglia. East meets West architecture and white sandy beaches await you. Spend a couple of hours at your own pace exploring this gem.

In the afternoon, make your 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.

Day 4: From market stall to the plate - Pasta making class

After breakfast, visit one of the local farmers’ markets. Here, 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 you have bought your ingredients, make your way back to the villa. Back in the kitchen, you'll again get to learn the tricks of this amazing cuisine with a hands-on class with a local Mamma.

You'll 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, our group will visit one of the local towns in the surroundings and enjoy a delicious dinner Puglia style.

Day 5: Wine tour in Nardo’ and Lecce

Today, head to one of the best-known wineries in the area, where you taste wines that are unique to the area of Salento. The traditional varieties that are grown include Primitivo and Negroamaro. Afterward, head to the seaside. Just 10 kilometers 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.

Enjoy a light lunch by the sea while spending some quality time by the beach. Later in the afternoon, head to Lecce, the baroque capital city of Salento. After a guided walk in the center 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: you 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). You will finish the evening with a few drinks in some of the best gay-friendly bars in Lecce.

Day 6: Olive oil experience and farewell dinner

After a hearty breakfast, our Gay Salento Vacation Group will head to a typical ‘Frantoio’ (farm-producing organic extra virgin olive oil). Here, you 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.

You will also explore Galatina, a quaint little Baroque Town hidden in the center of Puglia. Meander through its little alleyways and see the locals going about during their daily activities. This town will steal your heart! The afternoon is spent back at the villa where you can relax and unwind and prepare for the barbecue night. Those willing to party can make their way back to Gallipoli, the gay capital of Southern Italy where you can enjoy a drink or two at its local gay bar.

Day 7: Goodbye and see you next time

It’s time to say goodbye: this amazing Food and Wine Week is over! No tears please: see you next time!

Note

This vacation is open to all levels of cooking skills. This tour is accessible to anyone in relatively good shape: there will be a fair amount of walking.

Instructors

Sergio Scardia

Sergio is an Italian gay travel blogger. He is also known as Scruffy Gios, the scruffy Italian traveler. He is 100% Italian. He was born in Taranto a few years ago (more or less). Taranto is one of the cities in the beautiful region of Puglia, the so-called ‘heel of the boot.’ He loves the finest things in life: the sea, beach, nice nights out, cozy nights in, great food, and good wine. All this is quality of life for him. He loves the amazing gay lifestyle: gay bars, gay clubs, pubs, gay beaches, gay cruises, gay holidays - in fact, anything rainbow will do!

Kendall Bickford

Kendall is a South African-born traveler who moved to the UK in his early 20s. He tried the fast-paced city life for many years and although he loved it, he soon realized it was not for him. He started traveling the world and found that he likes places that were down and dirty. He also developed a love for all things holistic and spiritual and started a journey down that path. He studied to be a holistic, Thai, and sports massage therapist and took up yoga, a sport he loves!

Location

Salento

Sun, sea, Salento! Yes, this is the part of Puglia that is sun-kissed all year long. You will find people on the beach at Christmas, no jokes! Accompanied by excellent Mediterranean cuisine, genuine hospitality, an amazing landscape, and breathtaking stretches of beaches it is no wonder Salento is the ideal spot for gay travelers and a select number of celebrities.

A green peninsula fringed by two seas, this is a magical stretch of land where quaint fishing villages and beautiful towns are hidden amongst the olive trees and vineyards that dominate the landscape. Ancient Masserie (manor farms) have been transformed into sophisticated hotels or agriturismo and wine-tasting estates.

Take a hike and discover early Christian churches or visit the many ancient olive pressing mills. Marvel at the natural wonders this area offers including sea caves at Castro and Santa Maria di Leuca. Lecce, the largest Baroque city in the south is a must for any itinerary to Puglia. Churches and palazzos are embroidered in Tuffo (Lecce stone), and courtyards, secret gardens, and a surprising Roman amphitheater await you in the heart of the city.

Historically many parts of Salento were fishing villages and the traditions and customs are still upheld today. Visit places like Porto Cesareo, Porto Selvaggio, and Gallipoli where you will still see the fishermen at work and fresh markets and restaurants serving up local dishes of fresh fish.

In this area craft objects out of papier-mâché and local stone, these are used to create masks for the festivals (not quite Rio but equally impressive). Don’t leave Salento without trying at least one ‘Pasticciotto’, a pastry from this area that has a crème filling.

Puglia

Discover Puglia! Welcome to the land of sunshine, beaches, good food, and hospitality. People in this area are incredibly friendly and welcoming. Located in the southeastern tip of the Mediterranean, Puglia is a treasure trove of art, history, and nature. Besides discovering some of the most amazing beaches in Europe, Puglia has centuries of history and enchanting landscapes. Thus, this is a unique place for unforgettable experiences.

With over 800 kilometers of coastline on both the Ionian and Adriatic Seas, you can marvel at the variety of its golden beaches. Inland, vast plains and rolling hills dotted with Farmsteads and dreamlike Trulli (ancient conical roof buildings) are surrounded by ancient olive trees and sumptuous vineyards.

If history is your thing, think of the many civilizations that have come and gone in Puglia. From the ancient Greeks to the Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Swabians, and Angevins, all have left their mark. Discover Puglia‘s stone churches, medieval castles, baroque cathedrals, and Roman theaters and amphitheaters!

Puglia also has 3 UNESCO sites: Castel del Monte, the mysterious fortress of Emperor Frederick II, near Andria; the trulli of Alberobello, magical dry stone buildings; and the Sanctuary of St. Michael the Archangel in Monte Sant’Angelo, a medieval masterpiece of art and international pilgrimage.

For all the foodies, look no further! Discover Puglia while relaxing with a glass of wine in hand. Its cuisine is famous all over the world (and even in Italy)! The secret is in the ingredients: fresh local produce such as the excellent extra virgin olive oil, hand-made orecchiette, mouthwatering burrata, and fine local wines.

Puglia is divided up roughly into 6 areas, Gargano and Daunia, Imperial Puglia, Bari, and the Coast, Magna Grecia, Murge and the Gravine, Itria Valley, and Salento. Have a look at what is on offer in each region. Puglia has become such an easy destination to reach! All European capitals are directly connected with Bari and Brindisi airports therefore getting to Puglia is very simple!

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Food

Puglia cuisine is based on a Mediterranean diet but here the food is explored creatively and always on seasonal produce. During our very own Gay Singles Week, you will create inspired dishes with local chefs, while learning all the tricks and trades from centuries of passed-down traditions. You will also eat like kings on this tour as the gastronomy included will ensure you indulge. Not convinced? Italy Gay Travels will also throw in trips to food producers, regional markets, wineries, and olive groves.

What you will taste

Olive oil from centuries-old trees with a degustation of several types of olive oil
Wine tasting of the region’s local wines including wines made from indigenous
Local cheeses such as burrata, caciocavallo, pecorino and cacioricotta
Pastries and desserts including the famous pasticciotto
Focaccia and taralli
Fresh seafood
Local fresh produce including fave (beans), rape (stems and leaves of Broccoli), and courgette flowers
Italian liqueurs such as Amaro and Limoncello
An array of meals showcasing the best of Puglian cuisine

Day 1

Dinner (Delicious Aperitif dinner with Prosecco and wine included)

Days 2 to 6

Breakfast
Dinner

Day 7

Light Italian Breakfast

The following meals are included:

Breakfast
Dinner
Drinks

The following drinks are included:

Water
Coffee
Tea
Soda
Alcoholic beverages

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

Vegetarian
Gluten Free
Regular (typically includes meat and fish)

If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

Spa treatments

There is a range of massage treatments available at the villa. Please send an inquiry for more information.

What's included

6 nights accommodation (exclusive stay at a private villa with a swimming pool)
All meals and drinks as listed in the itinerary
All cooking classes
All transfers required on the tour
Guided tour of towns and cities
Wine and olive oil tasting experiences
Information material (Italy Gay Travels provides a personal leader for the duration of the vacation, who will coordinate all activities and accommodation)
All costs/entry fees for the activities listed in the itinerary
All transportation during the vacation (transport is in a van/minibus/car)
24-hour phone assistance

What's not included

Flights
Insurance, tips, and everything not listed as included (A tip for the Vacation Leader and his staff starting from 250 EUR is expected)
Personal expenses

How to get there

Recommended Airports

BDS

Brindisi – Salento Airport

68 km

Transfer available for additional US$ 155 per person

Airport: Brindisi – Salento Airport Airport transfer available: Brindisi – Salento Airport (US$ 155 per person) Additional charges may apply. You can request this in the next step.

Cancellation Policy

A reservation requires a deposit of 25% of the total price.
The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.

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