Adriatic Coastal / Inland Tour

Hi, a week based in Lecce is a great idea, but I wouldn't miss the rest of Puglia when heading north. Many of the towns along the coast between Monopoli and Barletta fit your requirements and are really beautiful: Monopoli, Polignano a Mare, Bari old town, Giovinazzo, Trani, Barletta.....And inland, yes, Alberobello for the trulli is full of tourists, but for good reason - it's unique!
https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com/2019/11/puglia-bari-in-april-trip-report.html

Sulmona is a great choice. Relatively flat, but interesting and great food.

Ascoli Piceno in Le Marche? It’s a decent-sized town and supposedly beautiful, with travertine marble facades and piazze. I haven’t been but it’s on my list. It’s inland again but I think the seaside towns in Le Marche will be shut down by then. If you go, don’t forget to try the Olive Ascolane, big olives stuffed with ground meat and seasonings, breaded and deep-fried. Delicious but one or two will do ya.

We were in Ascoli Picino in Le Marche last fall. It was beautiful and quite flat. I also have difficulty walking. My memory is that almost everywhere in Puglia is relatively flat. Materain Basilicata is more challenging- lots off steps many places.

Thank you for the suggestions. I do hope to see many of the nearby towns while using Lecce as a home base. I will eventually rent a car in the Abruzzo area but plan to use bus and train transportation as much as possible. What town would you suggest visiting (from Lecce) for a beach excursion?

There were a couple of mentions for Ascoli Piceno... On a previous occasion I stopped there briefly and had an evening drink in the central piazza. I remember the architecture as being particularly impressive. Can you suggest things to do and see there, as well as restaurants to visit while staying there?

Nelly, while in Sulmona, we plan to visit several of the neighbering towns. Included among them are Pescocostanzo and Scanno. Could you suggest other's that you think might be of interest to us. We also enjoy great views and good food so restaurant suggestions would also be welcome.

Thanks,
steve

From Sulmona you can easily visit Introdaqua, Pacentro, and Anversa.

Do visit Pacentro, tour the small castle and town, and eat at Taverna de li Caldora. Expensive for Abruzzo but outstanding.

If you like, you can carry on over the Passo San Leonardo to Sant’Eufemia a Majella, Caramanico Terme or Roccamorice. Each town has at least one really good restaurant, but Locanda del Barone in Caramanico is a cut above the rest. It’s about 45 minutes from Sulmona. I highly recommend the road past Pacentro and up the mountain (SS487) at least one way. It is spectacular.

Pescocostanzo and Scanno are great choices, though not flat.