♥ In fall 2017, Cathleen, Jan P., Yvette, Deborah, Jan O., Patricia, Sonia and Joe joined me and my Puglia Partners, Yle & Michele and team for 10 fabulous, fun, delicious days…

…and they truly fell “head over heelz” for Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot! ♥

♥ But, don’t take my word for it…here’s what they have to say…

~ Deborah D. ~

“I thought it was a lovely gesture to have a little something in our rooms!”

“The Masseria was perfect. Loved the location, the staff, the rooms, the animals!!”

“Outstanding food and wine. Charming dining area. Couldn’t choose a favorite meal, they were all great. “

“Everything was fun, informative and just the right amount of activities for me. Loved the surprise Pizzica!”

“Each location was so different and unique. Really loved Otranto and Polignano al Mare, both for the location and history.”

~ Jan P. ~

“…loved my little gift, so much so I got some for friend gifts. Good idea! “

“Everything was fresh and tasted Like it was just picked from the garden. I especially loved the morning breakfast with the fresh fruit and special sweets. The fruit tart was to die for!”

“Loved the culture and food intermixed to keep it fun.”

“I loved the Masseria and the beautiful setting. I said that this is a place where I could stay for a long time. Waking to the chickens and just the luxury of sitting in the garden. Staff was welcoming and friendly. “

“My favorite was the visit to Mamma Francesca’s farm. Loved feeling invited in and put to work making our lunch. Felt more like we were friends stopping by more than tourists.”

~ Patricia F. ~

“Absolutely LOVED ALL OF IT.  So pleasant, beautiful, peaceful, and a nice “homey” (What a home!) atmosphere.” (Masseria )

“So lovely and well-located.  Made me feel very special.”  (Hotel in Lecce)

” (Activities) were all absolutely delightful and informative and something I could never have done on my own. ” 

“Overall, extremely well-paced, well-organized with high interest and not too much driving.”

“The overall beauty of the small towns against the vivid sea, the pleasure of beautiful meals together- a party every day.  Enjoying the masserias.”

~ Cathleen J. ~

“Loved everything and everyone especially Mamma Giulia. ”

“(Our hotel was) first class in the heart of Lecce.”

“Can’t pick a favorite (excursion), loved them all. “

“This is only the second organized tour/ trip I have been on and certainly the best. Victoria really puts her heart and soul into making day filled with a variety of interesting excursions. From historical sites and beautiful coastal towns, tasting of local foods, to cooking with Mama Francesca on the farm. The Puglia cooking school was so much fun, the wine, the music, the dancing, the laughing, and of course the fabulous food!…

“The accommodations were 5 star and the restaurants always made special arrangements for us to sample their specialties. I came away from this trip with a feeling of being totally immersed in the Italian way of life.
I loved that this group of people felt more like long time friends than a group of tourists traveling together for the first time. Victoria made it easy by connecting everyone weeks before the trip through social media, and mailing out itinerary personal contact information. When we met for the first time it felt very natural and easy.  I will definitely be looking to travel with Victoria again…”

~ Jan O. ~

“It was beyond my wildest expectations !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“Actually, the gifts were perfect as they became the items to bring back to friends and loved ones.  They were small and clever. Thank you!”

“I loved the cooking classes – Thanks to the Mammas, wine tasting was my favorite ever, olive and cheese tasting was really fun.”

“Loved the Underground exploration in Lecce.”

“Loved everything. I did enjoy the cooking schools…loved the Mammas at the school. “

~ Yvette O. ~

“Everybody that we came in contact with made the trip special!!  It was true to authentic, off the beaten path, a real feel for Italy !! Tradition and history!!”

“The joy felt is hard to put into words or the Beauty into a picture.”

“I would not change a thing!! You are simply amazing !!!!”

~ Sonia & Joe W. ~

“(The) Masseria…was fantastic. The rooms were unique and welcoming and the surrounding grounds were a delight to wander about.

Then there was Mamma Giulia and her delicious breakfast tarts and breads and her wonderful dinner meals with quite a variety of foods, not to mention the cooking classes along with the seafood, pizzas and desserts.”

“The second half of the trip to the hotel in Lecce, where the rooms were truly 5 star accommodations, was great as well as the location within the city.”
“When we saw Victoria”s blog on the “Italian Notebook” we were intrigued with the prospect of going to Puglia and especially the thought of 10 days and no driving. Having our lodging, meals, and transfers taken care of was also a plus. Essentially this was a wonderful experience for us, one we will always remember.”

♥ ALL This and SOOOO Much MORE!!! ♥

CLICK on any photo for a virtual tour!

♥ “I really want to thank you with all my heart for such a wonderful Puglia experience.
You are an amazing and talented tour leader and I appreciate all the time and effort you put into making sure that everything is just right.You truly put your heart into every detail.
I will keep Salento/Puglia and the fantastic people in my heart.” -Jan P.

♥ “Again, many thanks for all your hard work which created such a lovely memory for us. You do it with panache and grace and passion – making the trip such an easy pleasure.” –Patricia F.

♥  “… My Italy experience was priceless! Your leadership made it feel like I was traveling with a dear kind friend who truly cares about all of us individually and enhances our travels with the very best ingredients, laughter, delicious food, beautiful informative touring and lots, oh yes lots of wine!…”  -Cathleen J.

♥ “As a total evaluation this was a wonderful trip for us. The members of the group you had assembled were all great and fun to be with. The variety of sites and towns we toured, the great transportation and knowledgable tour guides who excelled in the information passed on to us had made this trip a truly memorable event.” -Joe & Sonia

♥ “I have been traveling to Italy since 1980.  I’ve been to most regions of the country including many of the islands and Sicily.   But this was my first venture to the Puglia region.   And it won’t be my last!   I fell in love with the region. The people are so gracious and down to earth, and so want to share their history and lifestyle with visitors.   And the food and wine is some of the best I have had anywhere in Italy.  

Of course, the experience would not have been nearly as enjoyable if Victoria and her local partners had not done such an incredible job with the itinerary and attention to every detail.   All I had to do was show up and enjoy the adventure!”  -Deborah D.

Won’t YOU Join Us in Puglia?

♦ Ylenia, Michele and I Invite YOU to Join Us for a Truly Unique Experience in Puglia ♦

Let’s plan YOUR Puglia getaway together!

Let’s discover and enjoy Puglia, the charming heel of Italy’s boot, together!!

♥ CLICK here for a wonderful 10 minute YouTube of what YOU will enjoy in Puglia! ♥