Just Back from Puglia and Rome with Waterstone

Apr 27

Last week, I had the pleasure of accompanying a wonderful group of travel advisors on an educational trip to Italy. Starting in Puglia and making our way to Rome, every Waterstone member we met with throughout our journey welcomed us with open arms and spoiled us with incredible experiences. Full of fresh, fond memories, I have recapped our adventure below; feel free to follow along!

— Grace Partridge
Director of Marketing

Starting off the Beaten Path

We were lucky to start our fam trip in the small town of Nardò, where authenticity and hospitality were found in abundance. Antonello Rizzello, the owner of the Relais Monastero Santa Teresa, and his family made us feel special from the moment we arrived until the moment we departed – in fact, Antonello himself personally picked us up from the airport.

Over the course of our stay, we learned about soap and candle making from Antonello’s lovely wife, we cooked and giggled with his vivacious mother and explored the beautiful Salento area alongside his delightful children. The family dog Lulu even made an appearance! Each day was a true family affair, and we are beyond grateful for their overwhelming generosity.

Noble palaces, ancient castles, historic villas, local masserie, secret gardens, picturesque beaches, baroque churches, charming towns – our visit allowed us to get a better grasp on what travelers can experience when visiting this wonderful up-and-coming southern region of Puglia.

Strolling along the
local beaches

Learning from the pasta expert

Taking in the
monastero's history

On to the Valle d'Itria

Thanks to the Talea Collection, our fantastic DMC, we were picked up in Nardò and brought to “the white city” of Ostuni, where Daniella — our lovely, personable and knowledgeable guide for the next two days — led us on a walking tour. We then headed to Masseria Il Frantoio, where the Talea Collection had set up a very special visit for us that included what we all agreed was one of the best meals we’ve ever had.

After a quick stop in the rainy, yet still mesmerizing city of Alberobello, we arrived at our beautiful home for the next two nights: Il Melograno.

The next day was another full one, with Daniella leading us through the exceedingly charming cities of Polignano a Mare and Monopoli. Then it was time for a cooking class at Il Melograno, which was great fun and a truly wonderful way to spend the afternoon (though I’m not sure our chef instructors would agree after seeing the state of our orecchiette shaping skills).

Our night ended in the most serene and picturesque of settings — La Peschiera. Here, our delicious dinner was paired with local wine and the relaxing soundtrack of waves crashing just in front of us. It was the perfect way to end our time in Puglia.

Taking a look at
Cala Ponte Hotel

Coffee tasting in Polignano a Mare

Touring the
city of Monopoli

All Roads Lead to Rome

One easy and comfortable train ride later, we were excited to arrive in the Eternal City. It was only appropriate that our first stop was, well, The First, and so we started at the newest property to open, The First Musica. Located within the posh neighborhood of Prati, we enjoyed an incredible lunch at Alto, the hotel’s rooftop bar, followed by a visit to The First Arte and The First Dolce.

Our next stop was the Hotel L’Orologio, where we were delighted to be staying for the duration of our time in Rome. Arriving at any Wtb property always feels like coming home, and this was no different. After a tour of the hotel, which has been open just shy of a year, we enjoyed a beautiful city sunset alongside artisanal cocktails at the Santa Cocktail Club, Hotel L’Orologio’s fabulous rooftop bar. Joined by Laura Parato, Wtb’s Assistant Director, and Cristian Orrù, the Hotel Manager, we were then brought to a fantastic local trattoria just around the corner from the hotel, where we dined on perfectly prepared Cacio e Pepe and Bucatini all'Amatriciana.

The next day, the eating continued (no surprises there!) as we embarked on a Roman food tour through the charming neighborhood of Trastevere, courtesy of our DMC, LTP Travel. Equal parts delicious and informative, we strolled through picture-perfect streets learning about the history behind each of the Roman delicacies we tried along the way.

After a site inspection of the always iconic Hotel Hassler, our last stop was the Hotel Splendide Royal, where our tour of the property was capped off with an aperitivo at the Adele rooftop bar. With a gorgeous sunset over Rome, good vibes and delightful company, it was the perfect end to a wonderful trip.