Basilicata, Calabria, and Apulia

I spent about six days in Puglia last year, based in Lecce. It's a lovely, walkable Baroque city that was convenient for me, a user of public transportation, because the tourist office organized groups for very inexpensive transportation-only day-trips to neighboring towns like Alberobello for the trulli and Matera (which is actually in Basilicata) for the cave houses. It's hard to visit more than two of those small towns in a day if you have to depend on public transportation, so it was great to be able to hit four to six in a day, at a cost of only 55 euros.

There is much to see in that area. I'd like to have another 2 weeks for Puglia alone. It is extremely hot during the summer, though, another reason I appreciated the day-trips via air-conditioned van.

Graced
I rented a trulli in Cisternino last year at resort LaFogliarella. The town of Cisternino is really central to many of the attractions. You should have a car for any of these towns. Even though there are train stations in most of the smaller towns you will have to get to the train station. I was able to drive to the towns quite easily. The only time I rode the train was to Lecce it is quite a distance and we did not feel like driving. I wanted to enjoy the countryside. I strongly recommend a car and the LaFogliarella is just perfect. Privacy , clean, pool.... trulli a great experience. Check out the website.

Enjoy your trip!

Lorie

How much time do you have? The coast of Calabria is my favorite of the three regions for beaches. I like Tropea especially.

Matera is the main sight in Basilicata, a small B&B near the sassi is where I usually stay, although there are cave hotels as well.

Puglia is quite long, you might want two bases there. I stayed at a small agriturismo ten minutes' drive from Alberobello. Castel del Monte is interesting, especially if you can see it at night surrounded by stars. Towns in the region: Locorotondo, Ostuni, Martina Franca - a series of "white cities" on hills, plus Trani, Barletta, Lecce, and Otranto at the very end of the heel.

I love the towns of Maratea and Aqua Fredda on the west coast of Basilicata. It is an unbelievably beautiful area with the sea as their doorsteps.