Here in Puglia in 2026, tour managers Massimo and Dario were captured in a photograph that holds a special story. This quirky tale begins with a Sunday in the charming city of Lecce, located in the southern Italian region of Puglia. But to fully appreciate it, we must rewind to the previous year, when a wonderful tour through France took place.
A Memorable French Adventure
Lasting just over a fortnight, the French tour journeyed south from Paris to the Cote d'Azur, passing through unforgettable regions such as the Loire Valley and the Dordogne. Overseeing the trip was Massimo, an Italian-born tour manager, supported by the genial French driver Laurent, affectionately nicknamed “Lolo”.
Waking Up in Lecce
Now, halfway through a new tour that began in Naples, the traveller finds himself in Lecce, reflecting on the experiences so far and the myriad characters met along the way. Comparing this trip to the French one, he notes that both have provided countless moments to cherish and smile about, making it difficult to choose a favourite.
As he makes his way to the top floor of the Santa Chiara hotel, he bids “buongiorno” to Dario, the likeable tour manager of the current trip. Over breakfast, which includes a double espresso and a variety of sweet and savoury items, including the local pasticciotti pastries, he notices a door leading to a roof terrace. The barista encourages him to explore, and he climbs the stairs to find loungers and glorious panoramic views of Lecce, with the cathedral’s bell tower standing out.
An Unexpected Reunion
Buoyed by the uplifting breakfast, he prepares for a group day trip to the seaside town of Otranto. Stepping out of the hotel, he sees a familiar face across the street. Standing on the square is Massimo, the tour manager from the France trip. The sight sends hairs on the back of his neck standing and his heartbeat quickens at the incongruous situation.
Massimo looks much the same, and his wide eyes indicate recognition. “What a small world,” he says, his calm voice triggering memories of the tales he shared during the French tour. The traveller admits he was just thinking about that trip half an hour ago.
It turns out that Massimo is scheduled to lead a future itinerary of the Collette Amalfi Coast to Puglia tour and wanted to do a recce on today’s outing to refresh his knowledge. As they board the coach, Dario introduces Massimo as a “special guest”.
Reflecting on Rare Coincidences
The traveller reflects that in 20 years of travelling, he has rarely randomly encountered the same person twice. While it is common to associate people with places, physically seeing them again is almost unheard of, making this a strange but heartwarming coincidence.
He scrolls through his phone to find a picture from the France trip showing Massimo with driver Laurent by the River Rhone in Avignon. Later, he shows the photo to Massimo, who smiles at the memory of the trip and recalls the lovely people, including “Lolo”.
Before parting ways, he snaps a photograph of Massimo and Dario together, keeping it as a memento and a trigger for future memories, should he ever bump into either of them again.
Steve McKenna was a guest of Collette, who had no influence over this story and did not read it before publication.
Fact File
- Collette’s 13-day Amalfi Coast to Puglia tour departs from Naples between March and November, with prices from $7999 per person (based on two sharing). Visit gocollette.com/en-au.
- For trip planning to Puglia and Italy, see visit.puglia.it and italia.it/en.
