Puglia: Fiat 500 Photo Tour in Valle d'Itria with Tastings

Summary

Vintage Fiat 500 drive through Valle d’Itria’s trulli towns and olive groves

You’ll wind through Puglia’s Valle d’Itria behind the wheel of a vintage Fiat 500, stopping for photos at ancient churches and trulli villages. Taste cheese at an olive farm as cicadas sing nearby, chat with locals over limoncello, and finish among lush gardens. It’s less about perfect photos than feeling part of this sun-washed place for a day.

What’s the experience like?

I stalled the Fiat 500 before we even left the Pistola Gardens. Twice, actually. The guy handing over the keys just grinned and said, “Everyone does.” That little car rattled like it was laughing at me, but once we got rolling through Valle d’Itria, I sort of forgot about everything except the road and that weirdly sweet smell of wild fennel everywhere. There’s something about driving a vintage car here — you feel like you’re in an old movie, or maybe just someone else’s life for a while.

The first stop was this blindingly white church — San Michele in Frangesto. I’m not religious, but even I had to stand there for a minute just looking at the way the sunlight bounced off those walls. My friend tried to get an artsy photo but ended up catching a local woman shooing her cat away from our tires. She waved at us anyway. Then came the farmhouse: cicadas going full volume, olive trees flickering silver-green in the breeze, and that dry stone under your feet that crunches when you walk. We tried some local cheese (still can’t pronounce what it was), and honestly, I could’ve sat there all afternoon if we didn’t have more stops.

Driving between places felt like its own adventure — winding roads, glimpses of those odd little houses with domed roofs (trulli), and then suddenly this house straight out of an Arabic storybook popped up on a hill. You can’t go inside but it kind of sticks in your mind anyway. The last village was tiny; every building looked like it belonged in a postcard. We chatted with an old man who insisted we try his homemade limoncello (“just one sip!”). Not sure if it was legal to drive after that but… well, we made it back.

I took one last photo in the Pistola Gardens before returning the keys — something about the late sun on those flowers made me want to stay longer than I should’ve. Even now, when I see a Fiat 500 anywhere else, I remember how small things can make you feel wide open again.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Photo stops in Itria Valley

• Visit San Michele in Frangesto church
• Photo stop at Apulian farmhouse
• Pass by Islamic style house
• Explore old trullo village
• Visit San Marco church
• Photo at Giardini Pistola gardens

Top questions

Do I need to know how to drive manual for this Fiat 500 tour?

Yes, you must be able to drive a manual gearbox to join this tour.

Where does the vintage Fiat 500 photo tour start?

The tour begins at Giardini Pistola in Valle d’Itria.

Is there a guide during the Valle d’Itria Fiat 500 tour?

No guide accompanies you; you follow an illustrated map and GPS directions provided in your car.

Are food or wine tastings included on this day trip?

The itinerary includes stops at farms with tastings such as cheese; details are provided during your route.

How long is each stop during the photo quest tour?

The timing is set by the itinerary; participants must respect scheduled stops for the best experience.

Is pickup included or do I need to get to Pistola Gardens myself?

You need to arrive at Giardini Pistola yourself; no hotel pickup is included.

Are service animals allowed on this Valle d'Itria tour?

Yes, service animals are allowed during this experience.

Can beginners join if they have never driven in Italy before?

If you can drive manual and have a valid license, you’re welcome—just be ready for country roads!

What’s included

Your day includes rental of a vintage Fiat 500 (manual transmission), all entry fees and taxes along your route—including entrance to Giardini Pistola—and an illustrated map plus GPS link for easy navigation between each carefully planned stop before returning to where you started.