Learn to speak like a local in the beautiful Puglia, Italy

Buongiorno! Choose your language holiday in Puglia, a sunny coastal region in south-east of the country nicknamed “the heel of Italy”. We base ourselves in the Salento area in the heart of southern Puglia. You can immerse yourself in the local culture with visits to Otranto, where you can visit a beautiful Baroque cathedral with a mosaic floor to rival Ravenna, and the city of Lecce, which has more than 40 churches and a noble palazzo built in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Where you’re going to stay
The amazing Palazzo Cuore, a former Palace, is situated in the historical centre of the town of Maglie and was previously owned by three generations of strong Italian noblewomen. The Palazzo dominates the square, and it's surrounded by Renaissance and Baroque architecture, shops and cafe so where better to practice your language skills. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, the bright and quiet common areas, walls made with typical stones from Lecce, the rooms with their colour and personality and the furniture representing the authentic local style.

Learn Italian in Puglia Itinerary

Day - 1

Benvenuti! Welcome to Puglia! Upon arrival at Brindisi Airport, you will find our Flavours driver waiting for the group with a sign that says ‘Flavours’. Once the group is all together, you will be taken to the Palazzo where you can settle in, meet your chef and Tutor and enjoy welcome drinks. In the afternoon, explore the charming town of Maglie and say ciao to the people you will meet. Dinner this evening is at the Palazzo, prepared by your chef.

Day - 2

After breakfast, you will have your first language lesson with your tutor. Lunch will be at the Palazzo and later in the afternoon, you will visit Otranto, situated by the sea, with the chance to visit the famous Cathedral with its beautiful medieval floor mosaic. You will then enjoy dinner in a local fish restaurant in Muro.

Day - 3

Following breakfast this morning, enjoy your second language lesson, followed by lunch. In the late afternoon, we’ll head to a local winery for a private wine tasting. Return to the Palazzo for dinner this evening, prepared by your chef. Chat and wander.

Day - 4

After breakfast, enjoy another language lesson and lunch at the Palazzo. This afternoon is free to relax in the villa and walk around the village to practice your Italian vocabulary. You could also pop in the coffee bars to enjoy an Espresso, buy a local newspaper and have a chat with the people you will meet along the streets and at the coffee bar. Dinner tonight is prepared by your chef.

Day - 5

You’ll be leaving after breakfast today for a day of sight-seeing, firstly to Lecce to enjoy a walking tour around the “Florence of the South”. This undiscovered gem hides a wealth of beautiful architecture – it’s even known as the Pearl of the Baroque. You’ll have time for some sightseeing (don’t miss the Roman Amphitheatre or the Basilica di Santa Croce), and some shopping before lunch at a local trattoria. Return to the Palazzo for dinner.

Day - 6

This morning, time for another language lesson. You will then have a late afternoon visit to Gallipoli, on the Ionic sea, where we will have the chance to watch the fishing boats arrive and wander around the old town. Enjoy an aperitivo in Gallipoli and then have dinner at the Palazzo.

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Day - 7

Following breakfast, you’ll have your final language lesson, followed by lunch. Enjoy your last afternoon relaxing at the Palazzo or wander round the shops in Maglie. This evening, a special farewell dinner will be prepared for you at the Palazzo.

Day - 8

After breakfast you will have some time to pack before our transfer will take you back to Catania Airport for your flight home. Arrivederci!

Learn Italian Vacations - Puglia Dates

Vacation Includes:

• • No Singles Supplement
  • 10 Italian language lessons with an experienced tutor.
  • All meals and wine, including 2 meals at a local restaurant.
  • Private, en-suite accommodation in our Sicilian villa.
  • Explore the Baroque towns of Ragusa and Siracusa.

  • Deposit:

  • A non-refundable $750 deposit is required at time of booking. The balance is due 60 days before departure

Painting in Italy

7 Nights and 8 Days Singles Painting Vacations in Puglia

Nicknamed the heel of Italy, Puglia, in Italy’s warm south, offers a charming laid-back atmosphere. The sun-baked land is dotted with fortified castles and whitewashed trulli, Puglia’s distinctive conical-shaped dwellings, and carpeted with a silvery sea of ancient olive groves. It also has an incredibly rich natural larder. The area produces most of the country’s extra virgin olive oil, excellent full-bodied wines and is famous for intensely flavoured olives, almonds and figs. Other specialities include orecchiette pasta, seafood risotto, fava beans and burrata, the supremely creamy cheese similar to mozzarella. You won’t go hungry between your painting holiday sessions here in Puglia.

Sights to savour with your artistic eye include the turquoise sea and long sandy beaches, as well as 13th-century Swabian castle, the city of Lecce’s Baroque churches, the hillside views from Specchia and Otranto cathedral’s amazing mosaic floor, the work of a 12th-century monk. There’s plenty of inspiration for sketching and painting, with help and advice from our resident tutor.

7 Nights and 8 Days Painting Vacation in Puglia

Villa Ortelle is an stunning masseria situated in the heart of Ortelle, surrounded by tradition and history. Originally a 19th century farmhouse, that has been lovingly restored in the last few years and now is a stunning mix of traditional and modern - a perfect oasis to relax. The garden has been decorated with Mediterranean plants and flowers and the stone of Lecce is as always the main feature.

Day - 1

Our Flavours transfer will meet you at Brindisi Airport and take you to the villa for welcome drinks and time to relax before dinner is prepared by our local chef.

Day - 2

This morning you have your first sketching and painting session with your teacher. This will include discussing the course outline, aims and expectations and getting started. In order to draw, the artist must “see” and your teacher will get you “seeing” and drawing with some practical exercises in beautiful surroundings! The session will be followed by lunch prepared by your chef. In the afternoon, you will visit Otranto, situated by the sea, with the chance to visit the famous Cathedral with its beautiful medieval floor mosaic. You will then enjoy dinner in a local fish restaurant in Muro.

Day - 3

After breakfast, you will head to Specchia, built on a hilltop position, characterized by noble palaces, historic churches, narrow streets and if you look below the surface you’ll find numerous “frantoi ipogei” (underground olive oil presses). You will return to the villa for a delicious lunch and then will the afternoon with your tutor to work on your technique. Dinner will be at villa prepared by your chef..

Day - 4

Today’s lesson will take place after breakfast and you will develop your watercolour and drawing skills in another painting session with your teacher. The afternoon is yours to continue painting, or to have wander to the main square in Ortelle for some sketching. Dinner tonight is at the villa.

Day - 5

You’ll be leaving after breakfast today for a day of sight-seeing, firstly to Lecce to enjoy a walking tour around the “Florence of the South”. You’ll have time for some sightseeing (don’t miss the Roman Amphitheatre or the Basilica di Santa Croce), and some shopping before lunch at a local trattoria.. Return to the villa for dinner.

Day - 6

This morning, another painting lesson with your teacher before lunch at the villa. You will then have a late afternoon visit to a local town where you will have a wander and enjoy an apertivo whilst taking in the atmosphere with the locals. You will then return to the villa for dinner.

Day - 7

Today is your final day of drawing and painting, with time to finish off your work and relax at the villa. Later this evening, we’ll have an exhibition of your artwork to the group, followed by a special farewell dinner prepared by your chef.

Day - 8

After breakfast, your transfer will collect you and return you to the airport. Arrivederci!

Painting Vacations - Puglia Dates

Vacation Includes:

• No single supplement

  5 days of painting tuition with our experienced tutors.
  Private, en-suite accommodation in our Sicilian villa.
  Visits to local towns, e.g. Modica & Ragusa.
  All meals and wine, including 2 meals at a local restaurant.

Deposit:

A non-refundable $750 deposit is required at time of booking. The balance is due 60 days before departure