Calabria and Puglia

If you plan to rent a car for this trip, please drive between the two. It is a much better option than using trains or buses. The route you take will largely depend on where you start from and where you go to, but in most cases you will have to take the route along the Ionian Coast through Metaponto. The highway is good, partly 4 lane divided freeway. Yes I’ve driven through it but many years ago, I’m sure the highway is even better nowadays.

Thankyou for your reply

In September 2022 we drove from Rome airport to Matera to the southern tip of Puglia, then Puglia through Calabria to Sicily. Then Sicily through Calabria/Basilicata and finally back to Rome. The Calabrian portion was breathtaking. We drove from Marina San Gregorio (the southwest tip of the boot) to Pizzo in one long day. Fantastic mountain vistas, many many tunnels, highway roads that were smoothly paved but suddenly merged into one lane each way on the "wrong" side, then back to four lanes divided. Speed cameras all along the way. I love navigating and husband loves driving. We would do it again (except not fly into Rome, fly in to Puglia and out of Palermo - not an option at booking due to cuts in flight choices). Whatever happens, make sure you spend a night (or three) in Matera. After dark it is a fairlyand. And I'd add another night in Pizzo, a charming village.
We let google determine the route, so it took us Marina San G to Lecce to Brandisi to Taranto. Seemed like a weird longer route, but we got advice (here) that sticking to the west coast of Puglia would not be scenic, and would be tedious. Google apparently agreed.
If you need my lodging choices in Matera or Pizzo, I'd be happy to share. Loved both.