2024

Italy

September 20 - 28, 2024

Ceglie Messapica, Puglia

Italy

A Foodie Retreat for Ladies

The Allure

This is the time to plan that special trip to Italy! The one you have always wanted to take…to indulge in the beauty of the country, the cuisine, the culture!

The Puglia region of Italy is an area of stunning countryside, dotted with dozens of small cities and villages that each possess a character and charm all their own.  Individually they specialize in gastronomic delights authentic to their city, plus amazing wines and coffees that you will indulge in as we travel this gorgeous area.

The Goal

To provide our guests with an unsurpassed experience traveling this region of Italy that is not often offered by other tour and travel entities.  We hope to introduce you to the true culture that is unique to this region, while you enjoy simply being guided through the adventure of dining, wining and delighting in many amazing culinary and explorative experiences.

Why Puglia, Italy

If you’re a food, wine, history and art aficionado, then you’re most likely familiar with Italy and that it checks all of those boxes during any visit…however, we want to help you avoid jostling with an overabundance of tourists in northern and central Italy, and invite you to join us to explore, savor and imbibe off-the-beaten path in the Puglia region of Italy’s “heel”!

Apulia, known by its Italian name Puglia, is a region of Italy located in the southern peninsular section (the heel of the boot) of the country bordered by the Adriatic and Ionian Seas.  It is located in the heart of the Mediterranean and is a magical combination of history, art, unspoiled nature, culinary delights steeped in tradition, and wines that have been part of the culture since the ancient Greeks colonized the peninsula. Puglia is probably most famous for its olive oil production, producing more than 40% of that consumed in Italy, and astoundingly, 12% of the rest of the world's!  Whitewashed hilltop villages sparkle in the midday sun. Baroque architecture will amaze you.  The white limestone buildings with conical corbelled roofs are the Trulli that dot the regional landscape, and they look like little dwellings for the likes of fairies, gnomes and elves. 

What Makes This Retreat Special

Our retreat is based in the small town of Ceglie Messapica, known as the capital of gastronomy in Puglia. We are excited to be able to offer an exclusive stay in an historic mansion that was erected during the16th century. This mansion is ideally situated in the heart of the historic center, which is a pedestrian-only area filled with narrow alleys, a castle, picturesque squares and an abundance of restaurants featuring fresh, regional cuisine. 

This retreat offers the perfect balance of culinary exploration replete with local meals in nearby picturesque villages, wine tastings, olive oil tasting, cheese making, sampling local breads and confections, coffee hour every afternoon, an array of meals in local trattorias, a visit to a Michelin Star restaurant, and an authentic dining experience served overlooking the landscape of a beautiful winery in the private residence of a local businesswoman.

Special Features

This is a unique opportunity to tour a not-so-touristy region of Italy while still experiencing the incredible culinary delights of the country. The tour will be enhanced by many specially curated events that cater to the interests and desires of our retreat guests.  If you love Italy, food, wine, shopping, sightseeing, the countryside, and visiting charming older cities, you’re gonna love this trip!

Description

This is a foodie-wine-exploration retreat!  It is for 8 women in the amazing Puglia region of Italy.  We will be staying in the Centro Gastronomique of Puglia, and you will have the opportunity to taste all of the specialty foods, wines and coffees of the region while you tour the natural scenery of most remarkable rolling plains, gentle uplands, olive groves and vistas of the area.  Ceglie Messapica is equidistant to both the Adriatic and Ionian Seas (approximately one hour in either direction to the coast) and is about 45 minutes form the Brindisi airport.

Food

Che buono! Buon appetito! Delizioso! !Buono Appetitoso! Ottimo! Squisito! Fa Venire L’Acquolina in Bocca! Gustoso! Eccellente! Succulento! Stupendo!


Activities

Dining in the gastronomic center of the Puglia, Italy region;  wine tasting (excellent Italian NA wine will be available too);  bike tour with olive oil tasting; guided wine tasting and sightseeing trips to Matera and Lecce; visit to the pottery center of Grottaglie (plan for a carry-on to take something special home); accommodations in the historic center of the city that allows for exploration of many destinations on foot, including a flea and farmers’ market; a custom designed dinner party at the home of a local resident; visit to a local farm, Masseria Fragnite, for a cheese making class and facility tour with light lunch sampling all of their locally produced foods and wine; beautifully curated regional Italian gifts from your retreat hosts ($300 value);  specially planned surprise evening get-togethers for those nights when no other events are scheduled.

Accommodations

KING ROOM WITH BALCONY  (triple occupancy)

ONE BEDROOM SUITE (triple occupancy)

DELUXE ROOM WITH BALCONY (single occupancy)

CAMERA MATRIMONIALE SUPERIOR  (double occupancy)

Rates include breakfast prepared with the organic products of a local farm, Masseria Camarda; free wifi; access to the eco-walk in the wood of the Masseria Camarda; daily cleaning.

Rates

$3295 per person in a triple room with en suite bathroom (2 rooms)

$3495  per person in a double room with en suite bathroom (1room)

$3695 single queen with en suite bathroom (1room)

Payment

A deposit of $500.00 USD with your trip registration forms is needed to hold your spot. Final payment is due by May 20, 2024.

All payments are by Debit or Credit Card, Venmo, PayPal or PayLater at JeannesTable.com. Special arrangements can be made for payment via other methods, to do so, please contact Jeanne at JeannesTable@gmail.com.

What’s Included

  • All ground transportation, including roundtrip airport transfers on September 20 and 28, 2024 from Papola Casale Airport, Brindisi, Italy.

  • Eight nights accommodations in an exclusive, historic 16th century mansion in the historic center of Ceglie Messapica, Italy.

  • Eight organic locally sourced Italian breakfasts.

  • Five amazing lunches featuring local delicacies.

  • Six incredible dinners prepared by Italian chefs in regional osterias, trattorias, masseria, and a Michelin Star restaurant. 

  • Assorted alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. 

  • Two winery tours with tastings.

  • Two private guided tours: Lecce, known for its baroque architecture and Matera, home to the Sassi di Matera (cave dwellings).

  • A private cooking class with instruction and tasting of traditional Apulian dishes.

  • A dairy farm tour with cheese production demonstration, plus a tastings lunch of foods and wine made on site.

  • A bicycle tour through ancient olive groves, with olive oil tasting. 

  • Visits to several quintessential Italian towns and villages , including Alberobello (home to the trulli), Polignano a Mare (home to Domenico Modugno who wrote & sang Volare), Matera, Lecce, Villa Castelli, Locorotundo

  • A gift from your retreat hosts: specialty Italian commemorative gift ensemble of items produced by regional artisans and local businesses ($300 value).

What’s Not Included

  • Your roundtrip flights from city of origin to Papola Casale Airport, Brindisi, Italy.

  • Tips for the driver, guides, maids (all service personnel).

  • Food, drinks, souvenirs, laundry service, any other /items activities not itemized in our package.

  • Items of a personal nature such as excess baggage, medical expenses, hospitalization, evacuation, travel insurance, and any expenses arising from the delay or extension of the trip due to weather, political disputes, sickness, failure of transportation, or other causes beyond our control.

  • Personal medical and trip cancellation insurance (must provide proof of purchase prior to departure).

How to Get There

Flight to PAPOLA CASALE AIRPORT, BRINDISI, Italy ONLY. Ground transportation between this airport and Ceglie Messapica is included in the trip price.

We look forward to your company on this journey!

Entry requirements : US residents need a valid passport to enter Italy. The passport must be valid for at least 3 months after your departure from Italy and have at least 2 blank pages. A return flight ticket is needed when entering Italy. The immigration officer will ask for it upon your arrival as well as where you will be staying in Italy. 

Currency: the Euro is the official currency and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are widely accepted . ATMs are located throughout the country and offer the best conversion rates.

Sales tax or Value Added Tax (VAT) is 22%. It is included in the final price of every service or product purchase.

Electricity: 220 volts, 2 round prong sockets. A plug adapter is needed for US flat pronged plugs. Most modern small devices designed to run on dual voltage such as cell phones & laptops don’t require a power converter. (A power converter may be needed with older devices or ones that use high current such as hair dryers - but you don’t need to bring one as there is one in your room).

Weather:  Puglia has a warm Mediterranean climate with an average temperature of 77 degrees and on average, two inches of rain in September.

Water: tap water is completely drinkable 

Cell phone: an unlocked cell phone will work in Italy. But remember to call your wireless provider before you go to add global roaming capabilities to your plan. You can also buy a SIM card and use your unlocked cell phone in Italy.

Cancellation Policy

  • Personal medical and trip cancellation insurance is required (must provide proof)

  • Cancellation 120 days or more before departure incurs no loss of deposit

  • Cancellation 90-119 days prior to departure date will result in a total surrender of $500 US deposit

  • Cancellation 60-89 days prior to departure date will result in loss 50% of the trip price

  • Cancellation 59-0 days prior to departure date will result in a total surrender of trip price

  • All cancellations must be received in writing

  • We reserve the right to cancel the trip if it is not meeting the minimum (a full refund of all monies paid by committed retreat participants will be issued).

    Jeanne’s Table reserves the right to cancel any trip for any reason whatsoever (we appreciate your cooperation and understanding if the need to cancel arises due to an unforeseen circumstances), including an insufficient number of participants or logistical problems (e.g. acts of god, war, strikes, etc.), which may impede trip operations. The refund of all payments as described in this paragraph below shall release Jeanne’s Table from any further liability. A trip cancellation due to insufficient numbers would normally occur at least 35 days prior to departure, unless acts of god, war, strikes or other events impede our departure causing large numbers of participants opt to cancel participation on the journey in the last days before departure.

    Jeanne’s Table must make substantial payments to suppliers far in advance of the scheduled date on which we embark. If a trip is cancelled due to forces beyond our control (acts of god, war, labor strikes, earthquake, flooding, etc.), Jeanne’s table will promptly refund the portion of the trip not advanced to suppliers. Jeanne’s Table will use its best efforts to recover advance payments and will refund to you your portion of the amount recovered, if any. However, Jeanne’s Table does not guarantee recovery of any or all of the advance payments made, and our use of best efforts to recover those payments will not include the institution of any legal proceedings in a foreign country. This policy applies to a trip cancellation by client choice following any necessary increase in trip costs.