Hi All,
I need your help and advice regarding whether or not to extend my stay in Italy after a business trip in Valenzano and where to go. The business trip is to Valenzano - Bari Italy and it will take place at the end of January so going to a beach is not an option. I was thinking of visiting Milan but apparently it will be far away as I won't be able to extend my stay more than 3 days. So any suggestions or recommendations
Thanks in advance
Yes, Milan is a bit far in a short time. Maybe consider where you are flying in and out of first, but for Winter months, I prefer cities, as the tourist businesses tend to shut down for a while during that time in the smaller places. Naples or Rome would be the most obvious large cities. Not sure if Bari will have much to offer in January, but a couple sights and restaurants are mainly all you need, so maybe. Naples would offer Pompeii, the Archeological Museum, and pizza, Rome a wide range of offerings.
Have you been to Italy before? If so, where have you been?
Are you committed to a specific departure point to return home?
Not the time for the beach but daily temperatures are in the high 60s F (basically California coast weather) therefore a pleasant climate even in winter. Even without the possibility to swim in the Adriatic Sea, Puglia offers plenty of places that are nice to visit at any time of the year. You might need a rental car to maximize your time there, but all most famous towns of Puglia will be open for business and will be pleasant to visit in January as well. Besides Bari itself, do some searches on the most famous towns of Puglia (Alberobello, Lecce, Locorotondo, Martina Franca, Polignano, Ostuni, etc.) or even Matera in Basilicata, and I’m sure you can find plenty of things to stay busy during your extra 3 days.
Thanks all for your feedback and recommendations. Yes I have been to Italy before and I have visited the following cities: Rome, Venice, Florence and a day trip to Naples. I am not restricted to a departure airport.
Loads of wonderful places to visit in Puglia! Bari itself, or many towns on the coast, from Trani to Polignano a Mare, or Lecce.
Matera in Basilicata is fantastic. All considerably nicer than Milan in January!
https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com/2019/11/puglia-bari-in-april-trip-report.html
We were in Puglia last February, and the weather was great. We spent 6 nights in Lecce and that was not too much. We did a daytrip by train to Monopoli, and my husband swam in the Adriatic there on February 24. He doesn’t mind cold water too much. But there was a British woman swimming there who stayed in the water much longer than my husband did.
Thanks a lot to you all for your recommendations. It is really useful.
