SEPTEMBER 20-27, 2026
An active experience in Puglia designed to refresh and invigorate through strength training and learning the Italian art of being present.
Like stepping back in time, the landscape of Puglia places you in an ancient world that somehow feels familiar, where shepherds lead their flocks to pasture, homemade pasta is a daily ritual, and wealth is measured by the hours spent with friends around the dining table or the stern of a sailboat. Largely undiscovered by travelers outside Italy, the sea-faring people of 'Apulia,' as the Romans called this region, have preserved an approach to life that is increasingly rare in a globalized world. The courage of warriors and martyrs still animate this land. The mythology of the Greeks still shapes its folklore. Every morning wakes with possibility: olive groves and limestone coastline ahead, a hike and a swim awaiting, new flavors and hidden coves to discover. Unlike some experiences of Italy, this journey through Puglia is not simply a vacation, but a call to adventure and personal growth. Each day will begin with energizing workouts led by Tony Becker, Toned Body Fitness style, designed to help you feel your best now and far into the future. You'll dig deep and move with longevity in mind, followed by unique experiences that embrace a Pugliese approach to strengthening the body and living life to the fullest.
For those daring to break from ultra-processed foods, long winters, cheap dopamine, and the daily grind, a week away in Puglia offers a hard reset. Throughout the week we'll be completely immersed in uplifting nature and culture, free to trek the Adriatic coast, wander baroque corridors, cycle between storied villages, and ride the waves of the Mediterranean. Grounded by daily movement and the 'dolce vita,' this week will unfold from a beautiful masseria–a converted Italian farmhouse–where you can jog through the olive groves, lay by the pool, enjoy a massage, and rebuild deep reserves of energy. This retreat is not just a chance to invest in yourself through time carved out for fitness, relaxation, and eating well, but also an invitation to move daily, rest actively, and connect with local artisans who give Puglia its charming character. Cheese makers, wine vintners, olive farmers, poets, sailors, and ceramics masters; these men and women won’t just share their craft with us, but invite us to become personal friends and participants in Italy's most hallowed traditions. Here in Puglia, meals are unhurried, organic is the default state of being, and strength is found in the occasional siesta after long walks with good company and wine. Return home feeling inspired and enriched by an authentic experience of Southern Italian living.
Just as strength training refines how you move by building muscle, sharpening coordination, and training your body to handle life’s demands with greater ease and endurance, travel stretches us in unexpected ways. By stepping into foreign topography, cultures, and rhythms, travel pushes us to adapt, to notice subtle differences, and to meet whatever the world throws at us with curiosity and courage instead of routine responses. This heightened awareness becomes a toolkit in your arsenal long after a trip ends, helping you navigate daily life with fresh perspective, resilience, and a expanded sense of possibility.
After arriving at your Pugliese masseria, operating as a farm from the 1700's, you'll check into your room and be free to relax by the pool with a glass of wine or visit the spa. At 4:00 pm you'll gather for an orientation to Alithea's style of slow travel in Italy while meeting the travelers you'll be hiking, cycling, and relaxing with over the coming week.
This evening you'll have dinner together at the masseria—your first taste of Puglia's hospitality and the pleasure of being connected to nature through food and wine.
At 8:00 am your day will begin with coffee and a Toned Body Fitness workout, followed by breakfast.
Mid-morning, you'll set out for a day of cycling as you cover the territory that reveals the DNA of Puglia in traces of Roman and Byzantine history, beautiful seaside towns, stunning cave formations, and marvelously frescoed churches. While moving at the speed of a bicycle you’ll have more time for conversation, observation, and the feeling that slowing everything down means seeing more of the world around you, not less.
In the late afternoon, you’ll return to the masseria in time for a slow flow exercise session or a dip in the pool, followed by dinner.
Biking: ~ 4 hours
After a morning of training with Tony and enjoying a leisurely breakfast, give your glutes a rest with a day dedicated to pottery and wine. Your first stop this morning will be a ceramics workshop where you’ll have a chance to throw clay with a local potter before heading out for a late lunch at a nearby vineyard, where you’ll taste the great Pugliese wines with unique pairings.
After returning to the masseria, you'll be free for the afternoon and for dinner, with options to dine at the restaurant of the masseria or head over to a nearby town.
Bus time: ~1 hour
After a morning of energizing fitness with Tony, you’ll set out for a day of hiking and swimming along Puglia’s limestone coast. Enjoy breathtaking seascapes and a good burn while encountering the local flora and fauna with your guide, stopping for lunch with a view.
In the late afternoon you’ll return to the masseria for a cooking lesson where you’ll learn to make orecchiette e maccheroncini, the homemade pastas of Salento, followed by a dinner you helped prepare.
Hiking: ~ 5 hours
After breakfast and a slow flow Pilates session, you’ll be free to enjoy a leisurely morning by the pool or in the spa. You’ll depart after lunch for nearby Lecce, the jewel of Puglia, as rich in baroque architecture as in its thousands of years of history dating back to the Trojan War.
This afternoon you’ll walk through the civilizations from the Greeks, Romans, Normans, to the Holy Roman Empire and modern Italian state with a guided walking tour through the city.
In the evening you’ll be free to explore the winding streets, shops, and restaurants before returning to the Masseria.
After workout and breakfast this morning, you’ll head to the Ionian coast for an afternoon of sailing.
Gliding at the speed of the wind, you’ll take in the coastline and sea caves from the water, with plenty of time to swim and to savor Pugliese food and wine.
Your next stop this morning will be a traditional frantoio where you’ll experience an underground olive oil press operated by a local farmer that still speaks the endangered language of griko, the ancient tongue of Greek settlers.
This afternoon you’ll have some free time to relax by the pool or visit the spa before the evening’s celebrations, where you’ll learn the traditional song and dance of Puglia over dinner, the pizzica, performed by live musicians in folkloric vernacular.
Biking: ~1.5 hrs
This Italian Retreat concludes with a final workout with Tony and breakfast. Your guide and your instructor will be available to help with the next leg of your journey as you continue to practice the intentionality of movement and the art of being present everywhere you go.
Tony Becker grew up in the small town of Two Rivers, WI, where he first discovered his passion for fitness. As an overweight child topping out at 260 pounds in high school, Tony realized he had to make a change. The summer between his sophomore and junior year, he dropped from 260 to 185 pounds by sticking to a rigorous exercise routine. This transformation ignited in him a newfound confidence and love for fitness, which led Tony to earn a degree in Exercise and Sports Science from UW-La Crosse, minoring in Nutrition and Strength & Conditioning. His well-rounded education and dedication to improving lives carried Tony all over the United States, where he's worked with everyone from professional athletes to first-time fitness clients.
Since bringing his talents to the Milwaukee area, Tony has been a community leader and pioneer in the Health and Wellness field for over a decade. He saw an opportunity to start his own business and created Toned Body Fitness, Milwaukee's first and only All-Inclusive health and wellness facility! With a deep passion for training clients and coaches shining through in every session, Tony customizes workout programs to meet individual goals, and keeps the energy high in group trainings by helping people build strength, mobility, and confidence in their own skin. In his free time Tony enjoys traveling to Italy, spending time family, and offering unique fitness experiences to the Elm Grove and Lake Country community.
For further questions don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.
Previous fitness experience is not necessary and beginners are welcome. If you are new to strength training and HIIT, you'll receive helpful coaching and learn the foundational movements that strengthen muscles, improve posture, enhance flexibility, and develop overall body awareness.
This is an active trip with physical activities planned each day. In addition to the morning workouts, you will spend considerable time walking, hiking, and cycling throughout the week. If you do not lead an active lifestyle or would like recommendations on how to prepare physically for the trip, please write to us before signing up.
The masseria is about one hour by car from Brindisi (BDS), the closest airport. You can also fly into Bari (BRI) or other Italian cities and take the train to Lecce. From Lecce it’s about 30 minutes by car to the masseria. Wherever you choose to arrive, we recommend setting up a transfer service with Daniele Scodari (danieletransfer@libero.it).
There is much more to see in Puglia and spending a little extra time in the masseria is a great way to settle into the rhythms of southern Italy. If you wish to extend your stay before or after the trip dates, let us know and we’ll help coordinate the additional nights.
For further questions don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.
Previous fitness experience is not necessary and beginners are welcome. If you are new to strength training and HIIT, you'll receive helpful coaching and learn the foundational movements that strengthen muscles, improve posture, enhance flexibility, and develop overall body awareness.
This is an active trip with physical activities planned each day. In addition to the morning workouts, you will spend considerable time walking, hiking, and cycling throughout the week. If you do not lead an active lifestyle or would like recommendations on how to prepare physically for the trip, please write to us before signing up.
The masseria is about one hour by car from Brindisi (BDS), the closest airport. You can also fly into Bari (BRI) or other Italian cities and take the train to Lecce. From Lecce it’s about 30 minutes by car to the masseria. Wherever you choose to arrive, we recommend setting up a transfer service with Daniele Scodari (danieletransfer@libero.it).
There is much more to see in Puglia and spending a little extra time in the masseria is a great way to settle into the rhythms of southern Italy. If you wish to extend your stay before or after the trip dates, let us know and we’ll help coordinate the additional nights.
