Hello all!
I am struggling with the itinerary of this trip. I would love suggestions on my blank days. Our last 2 trips have been south of Rome, but the last time, we landed in Rome and trained straight to Barletta because we have family there, and we don't really want to repeat that long train ride right off the gate again. Here's a very rough itinerary.
March 21-SFO-Rome
March 22 Rome-Naples
March 22 to March 25 Naples
March 25 Naples-?
March 27 to March 30 we need to be in Matera to meet family from Barletta
March 30 to April 3?
April 3 to April 7 Rome
Can anyone suggest where to go after Naples on the way to Matera and where to go after Matera on the way to Rome?
We will rent a car if necessary but would always prefer to train or ferry.
As always, thank you in advance for any and all suggestions.
Jenny
Posted by
6305 posts
You mentioned on your other thread (you may want to merge them or delete that one) that you have already been to Salerno -- that is important to include because it is a very popular suggestion here.
Without a car, I felt like extending in Naples would give you the most options and I was wondering if you had been there. It by far has the most options of things to do. Renting a car would greatly open up your options, allowing you to consider small villages if that is of interest to you--I think the major attraction city options are fairly limited. How about hopping over to Ischia for a couple days?
Also important to add where you visited in Puglia before, as Bari is the most obvious for train convenience after Matera and before Rome. You could also insert Lecce.
Posted by
new york
883 posts
If you rent a car, I recommend spending a night in Tursi, in the Rabatana quarter. It's the ancient Arab district dating back to the 800s--stone buildings, winding stone streets....unmarred by tourism.
We stayed in a B&B run by a delightful woman from London, Martine, who has relocated to this town.
https://www.theorangeryretreat.com
One of our best meals off that trip was our dinner in Tursi.
It's about an hour or so from Matera.
This is the review I left on TA:
<<<anonymous05 wrote a review Oct 2023
New York City, New York3,460 contributions37 helpful votes
SMASHING PLACE TO STAY IN one of Italy's last off-the-beaten-track towns...but not for long!
Absolutely smashing place to stay! Just to meet Martine makes the trip worth the drive in our case, from Maratea. She is a charming, beautiful Londoner who has made her home in this stunning area of Basilicata for many years, after a successful career in fashion. Her experience in design shows in every inch of this property. We stayed overnight in the upstairs "room" which was unlike any hotel room I've ever encountered. More like a full-fledged apartment, with full kitchen, large refrigerator, and even a vast outside area complete with comfy bed to sleep under the stars! Tursi itself is a fascinating town and Martine's place is deep inside the Rabatana, the oldest quarter, of which Martine will share the history. Nearby Matera (an easy drive of about one hour on good roads) is world famous. Tursi is not, so I suggest going before it secures its place on the tourist track...the views from the room, alone, would make the drive worthwhile, and there is so much more. Martine guided us to a restaurant that ranks in the top tier of our three-plus-week visit to Basilicata, northern Puglia and Molise. An outstanding meal; just ask Martine!!! Highly recommended for a most unusual, and very comfortable, lodging, in a town which before too long, might be much more famous among tourists than it is now. Go soon!!! We will return!!! EK and JL from New York City
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Posted by
OP
Martinez, California USA
30 posts
Hi Valadelphia, thanks for your reply. I wrote this post on Saturday and it seems to have just shown up. I deleted the other post. This will be our 2nd time in Naples and I think we might head on to Salerno after, then to Matera. After Matera, I'm just stuck. I've been to Bari, Lecce, Barletta, and Trani in Puglia. Would anyone recommend Foggia, then on to Pescara, then Rome?
Posted by
OP
Martinez, California USA
30 posts
ekscrunchy- thank you for the recommendation. It looks beautiful! I will add that to the possibilities.