Horse Riding in Puglia: The Local's Guide to Valle d'Itria 

Puglia is one of the most compelling regions in Italy for horse riding, and one of the least covered. The landscape does extraordinary things when seen from the saddle: trulli dotting the limestone plateau, centuries-old olive groves silver in the morning light, vineyards running down into quiet valleys between whitewashed hill towns. Most visitors drive past it. The best way to move through it is on horseback.

This guide covers where to ride in Puglia, what it costs, who each experience suits, when to go (heat matters more here than anywhere else in Italy), and how to get there. Valle d'Itria is the hero , the single best area for horse riding in Puglia.

Where to Ride in Puglia  

Puglia is a long, varied region and horse riding is available in several distinct landscapes. Here is a brief orientation before narrowing to the best option:

The Adriatic Coast — Beach rides are available along the northern Adriatic shore. Scenic but heavily seasonal, tourist-facing, and short in duration.

Salento — The far south of Puglia, towards Lecce and the tip of the heel. Flat, wild coastline, and pine forest trails.

The Murge Plateau — The elevated limestone tableland that runs through the centre of Puglia and gives the Murgese horse its name.

Valle d'Itria — The valley at the heart of the Murge plateau, enclosed by Locorotondo, Cisternino, and Martina Franca. Trulli, vineyards, olive groves, medieval towns, and a family-run riding club that combines all of it into a single experience. This is where to go.

Valle d'Itria — The Best Place to Ride in Puglia 

Valle d'Itria sits in the heart of Puglia's interior, roughly equidistant between Bari and Brindisi. It is best known internationally as the land of the trulli — the distinctive white conical dry-stone houses that UNESCO has protected in Alberobello since 1996. Less well known is that the valley is also surrounded by working vineyards producing Primitivo and Verdeca, centuries-old masserie (farmhouses), and organic olive groves producing some of the best oil in Italy.

Riding through this landscape, rather than driving through it, changes the experience entirely. The valley opens up differently from the saddle. The pace is right. The scale makes sense.

The riding club here sits a few minutes from the centre of Martina Franca, directly between Alberobello and Locorotondo. It is the only operator in the region offering Murgese horses — the native Pugliese breed — combined with sommelier-led wine tasting, organic olive oil tasting, and a farm-to-table lunch, all as part of a single day's riding.

The Rides — What's On Offer and What Each Costs

Riding Lessons — from €35 per person

1 hour · All ages and levels · Available all year, all weather

The most accessible starting point. Paolo is a qualified ENGEA riding instructor with showjumping competition experience. Lessons cover everything from fundamentals for first-timers to technical flatwork and jumping for those looking to improve.

What you'll experience:

• Structured tuition in an all-weather arena
• Guidance from a qualified instructor with international competitive experience
• The foundation needed before progressing to trail rides

 
Lesson Type & Prices

•  Single standard lesson (1 hr) | €35 pp 

•  Single specialised lesson — Showjumping | €55 pp 

•  Block of 4 lessons | €100 pp 

•  Block of 8 lessons | €180 pp 

 Lesson blocks valid for 1 month. 

Riding Out — €35 per hour

Minimum 1.5 hours · Intermediate+ riders only

Guided trail riding by the hour through the Valle d'Itria countryside. The most flexible option for confident riders who want to spend time in the saddle without committing to a full-day experience.

What you'll experience:

• Riding through olive groves, vineyards, and open Valle d'Itria countryside
• Trails chosen to your level and time available
• The Murgese horses in their native landscape

🧺 Day Ride with Saddle Picnic — €115 per person

Approx. 4–5 hours total · Min 2 people · Competent riders

A full morning in the saddle with a proper Pugliese picnic at its centre.

What you'll experience:

• Light breakfast before setting out
• A 2-hour guided trek through the Valle d'Itria
• Wine and a countryside picnic under open sky
• A 1–2 hour ride back to base

🍷 The Valle d'Itria Trail-Ride — €165 per person (Flagship)

Approx. 6 hours · Min 2, Max 6 riders · Competent riders (walk, trot, canter)

The centrepiece experience. A full day that combines a serious trail ride with a sommelier-guided wine tasting at a partner vineyard, an organic olive oil aperitivo, and a farm-fresh family lunch. Paolo is a certified olive oil sommelier — the tasting is not a tourist add-on, it is a guided education in one of Puglia's defining products.

What you'll experience:

• Light breakfast and an arena warm-up before departure
• A 6-hour trail through the Valle d'Itria to a partner vineyard
• Sommelier-guided wine tasting at the vineyard
• An aperitivo featuring Paolo's organic olive oil — tasted properly, not drizzled over bread
• A seasonal farm-fresh family lunch on the return

🛠️ Build Your Ride — Price on enquiry

Max 4 hours riding · All levels

For groups or visitors who want something beyond the standard menu. Paolo and Amyra will plan the itinerary around your preferences, ability, and timing.

What you can combine:

• Riding at your pace and level
• A Murgese masseria tour — visiting a traditional Pugliese farmhouse
• Picnic lunch or aperitivo in the countryside
• Wine and/or organic olive oil tasting
• Carriage ride component for non-riders in the group

🐴 Carriage Rides — For Non-Riders (and Those Who Want the View Without the Saddle)

The carriage rides are a genuinely elegant solution for mixed groups — couples where one rides and one doesn't, families with younger children, or visitors who simply want to move through the Valle d'Itria at a horse's pace without getting on a horse.

⚠️ Important: Carriage rides are not available in July or August, or on any day when temperatures exceed 27°C. This is a welfare decision — the horses come first. Plan carriage rides for spring or autumn.

🌿 Valle d'Itria Carriage Tour — €35 per person

1 hour · Min 2, Max 4 people

A one-hour horse-drawn carriage ride through the Valle d'Itria countryside.

What you'll experience:

• The trulli landscape, olive groves, and vineyards of the valley from a carriage
• The unhurried, traditional rhythm of Pugliese countryside travel
• An introduction to the landscape before, or instead of, a ridden experience

🍇 The Wine Tour (Carriage) — €60 per person

3 hours · Min 2 people

The most complete non-riding experience on offer. A carriage ride to a partner vineyard, a sommelier-led wine tasting, and an olive oil aperitivo — all in one afternoon.

What you'll experience:

• A countryside carriage ride to an award-winning family vineyard
• Sommelier-guided wine tasting from the partner winery
• A luxury aperitivo with organic olive oil tasting
• Three hours in the Valle d'Itria without a horse between your legs — but with everything else

Quick Experience Comparison 

The Murgese Horse — Puglia's Native Breed

The Murgese is one of Italy's oldest horse breeds, named for the Le Murge limestone plateau that runs through the heart of Puglia. Its history dates back to at least the 13th century — Emperor Frederick II, who ruled southern Italy and was famously obsessed with horses, is credited with early development of the breed on this same plateau. The Murgese fell into near-extinction in the 20th century before a dedicated breeding programme revived it from the 1970s onwards.

When to Go — Heat Matters More Here Than Anywhere Else in Italy

Getting the timing right for horse riding in Puglia is more important than in northern Italy. The region gets genuinely hot.

The short version: Book between April and June, or September and October, for the full range of experiences. If you are visiting in July or August, trail rides are still possible but only early morning — and carriage rides will not be available on hot days.

Getting There — What You Need to Know

Nearest airports:

• Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport (BRI) — approximately 1.5 hours by car
• Brindisi Airport (BDS) — approximately 1.5 hours by car

A car is essential. The Valle d'Itria countryside is not accessible by public transport. Hiring a car at either airport is straightforward and strongly recommended — it also allows you to combine the riding with visits to Alberobello, Locorotondo, and Martina Franca, all of which are within a few minutes' drive of the stable.

The stable address: Strada Alberobello Z/A 582, Martina Franca, 74015 Taranto, Puglia.

From Alberobello: ~5 km · From Locorotondo: ~5 km · From Martina Franca: ~5 km

How to Book

All rides and packages are bookable through Cavago, the specialist platform for horse riding in Italy:

Book Horse Riding in Puglia on Cavago

FAQs

• Is horse riding in Puglia suitable for beginners? Yes. Riding lessons are available year-round for all ages and all experience levels, including complete beginners. For trail rides, an arena assessment takes place before every ride to match each rider to the right horse and route. The carriage rides are available to anyone, regardless of riding experience.

• How much does horse riding in Puglia cost? Prices range from €35 for an hour-long riding lesson or a carriage tour, to €165 per person for the full-day Valle d'Itria Trail-Ride including wine tasting, olive oil tasting, and a farm lunch. Most riders consider the trail-ride exceptional value given what is included.

• Can I ride a Murgese horse in Puglia? Yes — and this is one of very few places in Italy where you can. The Valle d'Itria riding club focuses specifically on the Murgese breed, Puglia's native horse, named for the Le Murge plateau the valley sits on.

• Are carriage rides available in summer? No. Carriage rides are suspended in July and August and on any day when temperatures exceed 27°C. This is a horse welfare decision. If you are visiting in high summer and want to experience the Valle d'Itria from a carriage, plan your trip for spring or autumn instead.

• Do I need a car to get to the riding club? Yes. The stable is in the countryside outside Martina Franca, approximately 1.5 hours from both Bari and Brindisi airports. Hiring a car at either airport is the standard approach. The same car lets you combine riding with visits to Alberobello, Locorotondo, and other Valle d'Itria towns.

• What is the Valle d'Itria Trail-Ride and is it worth it? It is the flagship experience — approximately 6 hours combining a trail ride through the valley, a sommelier-guided wine tasting at a partner vineyard, an organic olive oil aperitivo (led by a certified olive oil sommelier), and a seasonal farm-fresh lunch. At €165 per person, it is the most complete single-day equestrian experience in Puglia.

• Can non-riders join the experience? Yes. The carriage rides and wine tour by carriage are specifically designed for non-riders. The Build Your Ride option can also be structured to accommodate mixed groups with both riders and non-riders.

• What is the best time of year to go horse riding in Puglia? April–May and September–October. Temperatures are ideal (15–26°C), the landscape is at its most scenic, and the full range of experiences — including carriage rides — is available. Autumn has the added advantage of harvest season, when the vineyards and olive groves are at their most active.