PUGLIA

Pleasures of Puglia

Indulge in la dolce vita along Italy’s southern Adriatic coast. BY IRVINA LEW

Italians have long enjoyed seaside beaches; medieval hilltop villages; and amazing local produce, wine, fish and cheese in Puglia, which they call Apulia. The breathtakingly beautiful region is easily reached from Rome; hour-long flights connect with Bari or Brindisi, 75 miles farther south. A coastal drive — or an hour-long train ride — links these two major cities, following a two-lane autostrada past scraggly shrubs, windswept trees and whitewashed houses. However, many travelers choose appealing tour options to enhance their visits to the southeast coast of the Adriatic Sea.

Tauck offers a comfortably luxe and convenient way to explore the region on an escorted, eight-day land journey from Bari for about 24 guests. Participants enjoy guided walking tours and, among the 15 meals, one lunch in a winery. Guests stay two nights in each of three destinations: Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site where the Sassi cave dwellings date to 7000 B.C. and where some streets are actually cavern roofs; Lecce, a beach-studded, Baroque-style city dubbed the Florence of the South and located 25 miles south of Brindisi; and Savelletri di Fasano, with accommodations at Masseria Torre Cocarro, set in a 500-year-old fortified farmhouse. The trip includes a visit to must-see Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the medieval città bianche (white villages) in the Itria Valley, famous for its 1,500 trulli, cylindrical houses made of limestone slabs topped with a cone-shaped roof.

If you prefer to tour the region from the comfort of one home base, stay at a well-located hotel where the concierge sources bespoke guest activities with a local provider. Indigenus Experiences provides personalized experiences for guests at two luxury properties: Borgo Egnazia, an exclusive, recently constructed, white-stone, pedestrian village-like complex and a member of Leading Hotels of the World; and its sister property, Masseria San Domenico, a 14th-century fortified stone farmhouse with a Templar-era tower tall enough to spot invaders on the Adriatic. Located in Savelletri di Fasano, midway between Bari and Brindisi, these two 5-star golf and spa resorts sit about three miles apart on the same estate amid a 1,000tree olive grove and vegetable gardens and adjacent to the golf course and beach. Tailor-made excursions include private dining (and mozzarella making) in a trullo, cheese making in a farmhouse, seasonal grape or olive harvesting, touring a ceramic studio, cruising on a yacht or driving a vintage car. It also organizes regional tours to iconic destinations.

Folks who stay in Bari or Lecce will find the array of private and small-group tour options organized by Viator most convenient. Viator offers guided daytrip adventures from either city to Alberobello, Polignano a Mare and Monopoli. From Lecce, one option includes sightseeing in Ostuni, a whitewashed town where the cathedral combines Gothic, Romanesque and Byzantine elements. Or book a Viator boat trip to the caves in Polignano a Mare, a tour to Matera or food-focused activities like street food tasting, wine tasting and orecchiette making (the ear-shaped pasta typical of the region).

Charming Old Towns:

Monopoli in Bari Province (top); and Alberobello’s medieval trulli, built with dry limestone walls and conical roofs (bottom)

PHOTOS: © STEFANO VALERI | DREAMSTIME.COM, © IONUT DAVID | DREAMSTIME.COM

Maeva!

Air France offers non-stop service to Tahiti from Los Angeles five days a week.

YOUR DREAM TRIP TO TAHITI AWAITS, and it’s easier than ever to access the island paradise with Air France’s five weekly flights to Pape’ete from Los Angeles on its Boeing 777-200. The airline ensures the Tahitian spirit begins the moment passengers step on board thanks to Tahitian crew and uniforms.

Fly in comfort on any of Air France’s three cabins, particularly its Business class cabin with direct aisle access and flat-bed seats. Its Premium Economy cabin offers 40 percent more space than traditional Economy, as well as priority access through airports and two free checked bags. The Economy class cabin also delivers on the comfort level with in-seat power and complimentary wine, beer and Champagne.

Onboard Business class, passengers find supreme comfort and a multipurpose area that serves as seat, desk, restaurant table and bed. Dedicated storage space provides ample room for all devices, alongside an individual power outlet and USB port. Dine on an exclusive menu created by a Michelin-starred chef while sipping on prestigious French wines. When it comes time to rest before awaking among the blue waters and palm trees of Tahiti, the seat converts to a flat bed with an ultra-soft pillow and charcoal blue comforter. Other amenities include noisereducing headphones, a vanity mirror, adjustable lighting, an elegant travel kit and varied programming on the in-flight entertainment system.

Find even more convenience in the routing’s departure and arrival times. A late-evening departure from LAX to Pape’ete allows travelers to connect from around the United States with plenty of time to catch the flight to paradise. Early-morning arrival in Pape’ete means vacation starts sooner as passengers can connect immediately to Tahiti’s 118 outer islands without an extra overnight.

And travelers can earn and redeem Flying Blue Miles, Delta SkyMiles, or Miles from other SkyTeam partner programs.

Travelers arrive in Pape’ete, Tahiti, the capital of French Polynesia. The vibrant island welcomes visitors with Mana, the life force that flows through everything one will experience during their time on the islands. Pape’ete’s island life meets the hustle and bustle of an important port for sugarcane, vanilla, coffee and motherof-pearl. Travelers staying in Tahiti find luxury hotels like InterContinental Resort Tahiti; popular dining like traditional Thai food at Villa Thai; and attractions like four-wheel-drive Jeeps through the rain forest and the Robert Wan Pearl Museum.

Beyond Pape’ete, The Islands of Tahiti, surrounded by pristine, crystal-clear blue waters, include 118 islands and atolls boasting natural beauty, authentic island culture and unique style. White-sand beaches, turquoise lagoons, privacy and the legendary warmth of the Tahitian people ensure every traveler to the islands feels treasured.

A range of accommodations await to suit every type of traveler. Opt for the iconic Tahitian island stay and book a luxurious overwater bungalow, a truly signature experience. There are also Tahitian Guesthouses, family-owned lodgings composed of only a few rooms, catamarans and boutique cruise lines, private villas and even private islands available.

Whatever you dream, it’s possible in The Islands of Tahiti. From a mix of tropical adventure to blissful relaxation, plenty of activities abound to curate your vacation in paradise to your liking. An unforgettable trip can include canoeing, paddle boarding, paragliding, watching authentic Polynesian dance, lounging on white-sand beaches, sampling traditional island fare at roulottes (food trucks), cultural experiences, hiking, snorkeling, diving, cruising — and that’s only a tiny sampling of what’s available.

The Islands of Tahiti celebrate 20 years as the world’s largest marine sanctuary in the world with its new Dive the Treasures focus. As a result of a legacy of cultural protection and vast natural resources, the underwater playground for divers is now being properly showcased across islands like Tikehau, Rurutu and Rangiroa. Experiences include swimming with manta rays, frolicking with wild dolphins and drifting-diving in the sharkabundant North Pass of Fakarava. Underwater lies an amazing kaleidoscope of gem-like corals.

The Islands of Tahiti’s marine mammal sanctuary, established in 2002, protects a designated area of more than 1.8 million square miles of pristine ocean and more than 20 species of whales and dolphins. Additionally, in 2012, more than 1.5 million square miles of sea across the five archipelagoes of The Islands of Tahiti were reserved as a shark preserve, the largest in the world and now a UNESCO Biosphere, and leading to a moratorium on shark fishing and finning.

The time is now to book your Air France flight to the gorgeous Islands of Tahiti! Learn more at

airfrance.us and tahititourisme.com.