Help with Puglia itinerary

Trani is a delightful town and somewhat smaller than Bari. Parts of Bari have a rough reputation although you can probably avoid those places. Also Poligano is just a 30 minute drive or so from Bari so staying in those two places might involve some duplication.

Between Lecce and Otranto, you might prefer Lecce. It is essentially flat while Otranto is hilly. Also in Lecce you can park just outside the town walls and stay inside for the atmosphere. If you do the same in Otranto it will involve the hills and be more distant.

Here’s my votes:

1) Trani or Bari? (2 nights) - if you like cities, I would stay in Bari. I stayed in the Bari Vecchio neighborhood and will be there again next May.

2) Poligano or Monoply? (2 nights) - Polignano a Mare is lovely!
3) Cisterno or Martina Franca? (3 or 4 nights?) - Martina Franca for more options for dinner, but if you would like a small town for one stay, then Cisternino…..or Locorotondo is a pretty one.
4) Lecce or Oranto? (3 or 4 nights? ) - I haven’t stayed in Otranto. But for April, I would think Lecce is the better choice.
5). Matera (2 nights)

Be sure to take the time to go through the Caserta Reggia while you are there! And save your legs by going to the far end of the expansive gardens with one of their golf cart ride tours. I bought my tickets ahead of time on-line for the palace; they are timed tickets.
https://reggiadicaserta.cultura.gov.it/en/tickets/

Your options are all pretty close together, so except for Bari v Trani (city vs small town), accommodations might help you choose.
I chose Bari, Monopoli, Cisternino, and Lecce.(I know spell check does strange things but be sure to check when looking for directions, etc.)

I would choose Polignano over Monopoli, Lecce over Otranto.

S, F, 70+, solo, public transpo only and 99% stay in apts with mini of 3-30 days. Just returned from a month in Puglia. Nov 2021 fractured my leg had to come home early and have been extremely, extremely careful about how and where I walk now.

1) stopped in Bari on the way from Matera to Lecce. Lovely but a fairly large city. Trani nice and flat, small centro.

2) PAM or Monopoli--I opted for 5 days in PAM and traveled out from there. For my public transpo options PAM was a tad better although had originally booked an apt in Monopoli. After going to Monopoli wished I had stayed there. PAM is very walkable, fairly compact but Monopoli has history all around and lots of alleys and streets to meander through.

3) Didn't visit

4) 5 days in Lecce. Really lovely, eyes will bug out with baroque everything. Otranto very nice but Lecce is great. I had a large apt within walking distance of everything but I'm a walker or take the bus.

5) I stayed in Matera Friday to Monday. Saturday Market by the town hall. Sassi area somewhat hilly and sometimes steep. I had a wonderful apt with parking and very easy to walk to center.

I would watch lots of youtube vidoes to see the lay of the land before deciding. People were fabulous, pastries were to die for and weather was 1 hour of mist in 30+ days.

Just returned from a one- week stay in Trani. Having visited Bari as well, I am glad we stayed in Trani, but our preference is almost always smaller towns.
Trani was perfect for us — everything walkable, lovely old town and port, restaurants everywhere, vibrant with people out walking and socializing through late hours, easy access parking, great accommodations (we stayed in a one-BR apartment right on the port).
Old Town Bari was also very nice, but parking was a bear (took us 45 minutes to find a spot on a Sunday morning). It would have been a PITA as a base for day trips. Streets are fun to wander, but for us felt a little claustrophobic after a few hours Just the nature of a very old city, but after a few hours we were ready to “escape.”
I’ll post a trip report soon with all the details, but wanted to give a plug for Trani in the meantime.

*Thanks to all for the very detailed and helpful information!!!*

1. Another vote for Trani, driving into the centre of Bari is going to be stressful and time-consuming. Trani is easy by car (and my favourite place) https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com/2023/04/why-i-love-trani.html 2/3 Both options of each would be great. I'd be swayed by suitable accommodation with easy parking.
2. Weather might already be pleasant by then, not beach weather, but pleasant to be near the sea. Again, it's easy to get from Lecce to Otranto by car. Be aware that end of April early May is not low season in Italy due to the fact 25th April is a public holiday which is on a Friday in 2025 so will make a 'ponte' or long weekend. (This year the end of Easter week because Easter is on 20th/21st April.) Also May 1st is a public holiday on a Thursday so a long 'ponte' from Thursday to Monday. A lot of Italians will be travelling those dates, especially Matera and Lecce are ideal destinations for spring long weekends for Italians, or for more local people, a day out

Another option I would have considered if I was driving in Puglia vs. going by train & bus is to stay in a Masseria with trulli in the countryside near one of the cities in the Valle d’Itria. There’s some wonderful options for these!