Bari or Ancona?

You might get better results if you edit the title of this to be "Bari or Ancona?" Good luck.

Thanks. Maybe that will help.

Do be sure to also check the TripAdvisor travel forum. They have subforums for specific cities and regions in Italy and a remarkably high number of people frequent that board. FWIW, I've heard only negative things about Bari. Nothing about Ancona. You might pick up a comprehensive travel guide such as Lonely Planet or Frommer's. Maybe browse a few in a neighborhood bookstore and buy a copy. They cover lots more places than the Rick Steves books which are geared more for the first time traveler and focus on the highlights.

Are you going during the summer? There are some decent beaches near Ancona that could keep you entertained (just don't expect fine sand like The Bahamas or Mexico) and places like Portonovo or Numana will keep you busy for a day. There's also Loreto nearby where you can spend a few hours. But having lived and worked in Ancona, it's pretty much a port city with not a whole lot of sightseeing opportunities within the city limits to keep the average tourist on a short vacation feeling like they made a good decision to stop and stay for a couple nights unless their goal is to simply relax and not cram much more than sitting around eating, drinking and people watching into their itinerary while they wait for their boat.

I love Bari, but it's not an easy city. Beautiful old town but not a relaxing place. Between the two, I would say Ancona might be a better choice if you want a little beach time after Rome.

There are some beautiful little coastal towns a short (one hour or less) bus or train ride from Bari: Polignano a Mare and Monipoli to the south, and Trani to the north. Google them, and do a little reading on Trip Advisor to see which seems most appealing to you. Also from Bari, there are almost-hourly trains and buses to and from Matera, a World Heritage site about 90 minutes away. This would definitely qualify as an interesting and worthwhile place to spend a day or two.

I haven't visitied Ancona, but I was in Bari recently. While the cathedral was stunning and the old town is attractive, it seemed like a town where you could easily get ripped off (the very first shop we visited deliberately short changed us and the person who was supposed to meet us at our b&b was missing in action). We found it difficult to find an affordable place to stay there. I'll agree with previous posters that there are other intersting towns nearby, most especially Matera (wow!), Trani, Ostuni and Alberobello.

Thanks for your input. I was looking at Matera but wondering how you get around there without a car. Has anyone been to Urbino which looks to be fairly close to Ancona?

I was able to get around Matera by car. We reached it by bus and left by train. I haven't been to Urbino but will be there in November. Looking forward to seeing Palazzo Ducale.

I don't think you would need a car for a short visit to Matera. I haven't been there yet, but I've done a lot of research in preparation for our upcoming trip in October. We will be there for 2 nights, arriving via train from Bari. When we leave Matera, we will rent a car for the next part of our trip. Locanda di San Martino is a highly recommended hotel in Matera.

I love Matera even more than Bari, but a word of caution: there are two bus stations run by different companies, one closer to the center of town and one on further out. The sassi in the middle of town are incredible, and the history of the town is compelling. I stayed at a B&B run by two sisters, B&B Donna Eleanora, just a staircase away from the center of town and the entrance to the sassi. They are very knowledgeable about the area and its history, and will help you with any information you need. They only have three rooms, and I understand that they go quickly. The B&B is spotlessly clean and completely updated inside, has a lift (it's on the first floor), and you will have keys to the building, the B&B, and your room. I found it on Booking.com and it's very reasonably priced. Breakfast is brought in fresh daily by one or both of the owners.

I've been to both Matera and Urbino (which is one of my favorite spots in Italy). You reach Urbino by bus from the train station in Pesaro. I'm glad to have seen Matera (so unique), but it's not a spot to which I would return. My husband and I did Matera by public transportation and getting around the town was fine without a car.

Zoe Do you happen to have an e-mail or web site for the place you stayed in Matera? Thanks for your input.

www.donnaeleonora.net or you can google B&B Donna Eleonora Matera. Be sure to hit the "translate" button on the home page. The sisters speak English and are very interested in your having a great time in Matera. To tour the sassi, you can get a guide (they will recommend one) or do it on your own. This city has my heart (or what's left of it after Rome).

With regard to Ancona, I can attest that it is a very safe and welcoming port city. There are some beautiful beaches located north of the city. The nearby Parco del Conero is also a place not to miss. If you have time, try going to Urbino. It'll take you less than two hours, by car. While it's a stunningly beautiful Renaissance town with many things to see, it's still a pocket-size one. Two other very attractive towns not far from Ancona are Macerata and Ascoli Piceno. I was truly impressed by the friendliness and industriousness of the marchigiani. In my opinon, this is a lovely region (and and undervalued one), a gem for the discerning visitor.

Thanks, Ernesto. We will be staying in Urbino 1 night but we will not have a car. Hope that the train/bus transportation will work.