Puglia / Southern Italy at it’s Best
May 7-14, 2025
$4750 | 6-10 guests
Extention to Matera May 14-17 | See below for details
Call it a graduate course in Italy. Our tour of Puglia is for adventurers looking for something different and exciting. Located on the heel of the boot along the Adriatic Sea, the Puglia region remains largely undiscovered and holds a rawness and authentic experience for photographers.
Partners are welcome! The warm climate, the delicious foods and fascinating history of this region make it a rich experience whether you’re photographing or not.
Begin in Lecce, called Florence of the south. From there we day-trip south into Salento and the coast of the Ionian Sea. Experience the unique Trulli houses and hill-top villages of the Itria Valley. Wait, there’s more… photograph seascapes and towns that cling to the outcrops on the Adriatic Sea.
ACTIVITY LEVEL
This tour requires good fitness, as we’ll walk 2-3 miles per day in and around the towns we visit.
iPHONE FRIENDLY
Whether you’re new to photography or you’re a seasoned pro, this tour is designed to give you the instruction needed and to rock your portfolio. iPhon-ographers are welcome!
Tour Itinerary
Day 1 | Lecce
Meet up at our hotel in the beautiful baroque town of Lecce.
Arrive by air to Bari or Brindisi airports. From either airport it’s an easy train ride to Lecce
Meet up for an orientation, some street photography and a welcome dinner.
Overnight: Lecce
Day 2 Lecce / Salento
AM you’ll explore secret corners of Lecce and shoot in it’s wonderfully reflective white washed streets.
PM Day trip south into Salento and taste specialties of the region, meeting some local characters.
Overnight: Lecce
Day 3 | Valle d’Itria
Check out and meander north into historic Valle ‘Itria
Ostuni, call the White City is on our agenda as well as tiny but super charming Cisternino.
We’ll check in to our new digs at an historic Masseria near Locorotondo.
PM Olive orchards, wildflowers and a wonderful Pugliese dinner.
Overnight: Luxury Masseria
Day 4 | Valle d’Itria
Street shooting and architectural themes among the unique cone shaped Trulli houses in Alberobello.
Local characters and people watching in Locorotondo
Ancient olive orchards.
Overnight: Luxury Masseria
Days 6-7 | Seascapes and Hill-towns
Sunrise on the Adriatic Coast and a visit to the seaside town of Polignano a Mare.
Visit fishermen in the tiny harbor of San Vito.
Picturesque harbors and seaside piazza, including Monopoli. We hope you like seafood!
Overnight: Luxury Masseria
Day 7 | Workshop wrap-up
After a restful morning and some time to review the images we’ve all created during the week, we pack and leave for Bari.
Fly home from Bari, train to Rome…or join us for 3 nights in magical Matera, just over the border into Basilicata.
Matera Extension
Three nights in a luxury cave hotel in the heart of Matera, a UNESCO world heritage site, where people have lived in caves continuously for over 9,000 years. Matera and its people make for fascinating photography.
Workshop Sessions
On-screen reviews of participant images serve to inspire the group and give us a demonstrate Lightroom editing techniques. As our hotel facility allows, we try to have 3 or 4 short reviews.
In the field, we begin each day with a themed discussion and then allow the rest of the day for individual shooting. Our discussions center around finding more interesting compositions, perspectives and more dynamic light.
Host
Gabriele Angelini, professional photographer and publisher from the Emilia Romagna region of Italy, will guide this special tour for us.
Gabriele can schmooze when we need it and introduce us to wonderful people and places Americans just can’t find on their own. He also anticipates all our travel needs as a group (i.e., restaurant reservations, ferry tickets, gelato, snacks for your room, etc.). This is your guarantee of a safe and smooth week of learning.
Workshop Leader
Drake Busath originated Italy Workshops in 1999. Having lived in Italy he speaks the language and has guided hundreds of photographers of every skill level to favorite regions all over the country.
Drake will share what he’s learned over 35 years photographing Italy and encourage you to identify and develop your own personal style while traveling. More about Drake
Frequently Asked Questions
What Type of Camera Should I Bring?
Any camera is acceptable, including smartphones. Automation for the beginner can make the trip fun and stress-free and, at times, increase creativity.
Should I Bring a Computer
Participants who are very comfortable with their computer are encouraged to bring it along. Editing your images during the week can enhance your learning experience. We currently use Adobe Lightroom CC for our on-screen reviews sessions. You will learn new LR editing methods and workflow shortcuts during classroom reviews and critique. Even if you’ve used Lightroom, we highly recommend brushing up before the workshop by watching the free tutorials available on Adobe.com.
If you are not fluent downloading and managing digital images, you might consider leaving the computer behind and just focusing on camera work. You can still submit images daily for review, and perhaps find more time to learn about your camera and develop a discerning eye. (Not to mention sleep happily while others are editing into the night)
Observer Participants may be beginner photographers, attending all instruction and field trips, but not required to submit photos for critique. This is a fun way to learn without pressure. You’ll still photograph the same things and we’ll still want to review your work on the back of your camera and offer individual instruction in the field.
All Skill Levels Are Welcome
Beginner and Intermediate Photographers
We enjoy helping you master those buttons and menus on your camera! Short, daily field lessons will tackle one technique at time. Further individual attention in the field helps you lock in the concepts.
Any camera is welcome (yes, even smartphones!).
Non-photographer partners are welcome to sit in on all discussions and participate at their own level of interest. (Beginners often make some of the best images we see!)
Advanced Photographers
As an advanced photographer you’ll be encouraged to:
- Build your portfolio, adding strong images every single day of the trip.
- Focus on style development, lighting and composition.
- Work in “concentrations” to produce a collection of work suitable for a gallery showing or book project.
You will return home with a body of work suitable for a gallery showing or book project that will express your personal style, as opposed to a random collection of travel photos.
Puglia Photo Tour Reviews
Puglia Photo Tour Dates
Puglia
May 7-14, 2025
Meet: Bari or Lecce, Italy
Depart: Bari, Italy
Tour Group Size: 6-12 People
Price
$4750 / Participant (double occupancy)
$600 / Single supplement private room
Included:
Travel
Daily excursions and all ground-transportation starting in Lecce and ending in Bari.
Hotels
6 nights accommodations
If you wish to share a room, we’ll do our best to find you a roommate.
Suites and balcony rooms may be available at extra cost, upon request.
Meals
All breakfasts, 2 dinners, 1 lunch
Workshop
Workshop tuition, including instruction in the field throughout the week and on-screen review where allowed by time and hotel space.
Not Included:
- Airfare
- Trip insurance (recommended)
*Also not included are crowds of tourists, slow moving tour guides and lectures on the history of plague 🙂
Payment Schedule
- A reservation fee of $500/person will hold your spot
- The balance of payment is due 120 days prior to your workshop/tour
Hotel Rooms
We use hotels rated 3 or 4 stars, always with private bath. Rooms are assigned in order of reservations received, so early signup is recommended. Ask about premium rooms if you would like to upgrade for an additional supplement charge.
Single Private Room Supplements
Fees are based on double occupancy. Single supplement may be added for individual participants who wish to have a private room to themselves. Supplements vary depending on the hotels used, but typically add $450-650 per workshop. If you are traveling alone and wish to share a room with another participant, please let us know and we’ll do our best to match you with a roommate.
Cancellation fee schedule
- Reservation fees are fully refundable for 10 days after your booking.
- After 14 days, reservation fees are non-refundable but may be applied to a future workshop event.
- Cancellations less than 120 days prior to workshop incur a cancellation fee of 25% of the total workshop cost.
- Cancellations less than 60 days prior to workshop incur a cancellation fee of 50% of the total workshop cost.
- Cancellations less than 30 days prior to workshop incur a cancellation fee of 100% of the total workshop cost.
- No partial refunds will be given for unused portions of a workshop.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance to protect your investment. Travel Guard or Allianz are good places to start shopping for trip insurance. You can get a free quote online.
Tours Cancelled by Us
Italy Workshops reserves the right to cancel any tour for any reason whatsoever, including insufficient signup, logistical problems that may impede a workshop, hotel closures or acts of God.
Please wait to book your flights until the workshop has reached its minimum enrollment. Give us a call anytime to confirm minimum enrollment.
Refund of all fees paid shall release Italy Workshops from any further liability. Italy Workshops is not responsible for any expenses incurred by workshop participants in preparing for a cancelled workshop. In the case of insufficient signup to make a workshop feasible, notice and refund will be sent 60 days prior to the workshop.
Liability Release
You will be asked to sign a liability waiver before the tour begins, releasing Italy Workshops and any of its agents of liability for injury or loss.
Photo Release
Italy Workshops reserves the right to photograph and film its trips in entirety. Participants should be aware that images of them may be used for promotional purposes or joint marketing efforts with third parties, without remuneration.
Post-Tour Extension
Matera
November 14-17, 2024 | 4 days, 3 nights
Continue with us to Matera, one of the the best kept secrets in Italy. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Matera is called one of the “most beautiful places in all of Italy”.
Included:
- All your transportation
- 3 nights 4-star luxury accommodations
- Welcome and farewell dinners
- Tours to the best views and overlooks at the perfect times
- All entrance fees
Plan your departure from Bari (BRI). We’ll deliver you to the Bari airport or to a hotel in Bari on the 17th. Bari is a lovely city if you have another night or two to stay on your own.
$2150/person
$450 single private room supplement