Staying in Brindisi for two nights. Renting a car for ten days and plan to stay in Lecce, Matera and Trani. Lecce and Trani are not set in stone but appear to be a good base. Definitely plan to see the trulli, sassi and visit Parco Nazionale del Gargano. Would appreciate any recommendations for lodging ( b & b or small family run hotels) ,local restaurants, tours (food & wine & historical) as well as other not to miss places.
Thanks
Diana & Jim
Can't help with Brindisi, but if you are willing to rethink your one of your bases, there is a lovely, small B&B in the countryside about ten minutes' drive from Alberobello. The name is Podere Papilio. The main house is a restored trullo, guest rooms adjoin it. Each guest room has a terrace. Daniele and his wife are wonderful, they have orchards and make their own fruit preserves. My friends and I visited many hill and coastal towns from there with a car.
Take a look at it on booking.com.
In Matera, I try to stay at B&B Donna Eleanora, a short staircase away from the Main Street that leads to the sassi. The two sisters who run it bring in fresh breakfast items every morning, will help you arrange tours and recommend sights, restaurants. Great restaurant is Il Cantuccio. We stayed at a cave hotel a couple of nights, but I found it a little damp.
Wherever you stay in Matera check whether parking is provided. We found the place a nightmare for parking but absolutely wonderful in every other way.
The B&B I suggested will show you where to park (we parked across the street, uphill toward the castle, free parking).
We recently returned from a 12 day visit to the area you're headed for. In Lecce, you couldn't do better than to stay at Il Cortile dei Esperidi. It's a newly built property; and therefore, has an elevator and underground parking garage. It's a couple of blocks walk to the historic center. The owners may just be the kindest, most welcoming people on the planet, ready to help you in any way. They serve a wonderful breakfast, with lots of home-made goodies. The rooms are large and sparkling clean; beds, super comfortable. The owners recommended a nearby seafood restaurant, which we liked so much, we ate there twice. I can't remember, but it might have had the word "blue" in the name.
Don't worry about seeing trulli. In the Valle d'Itria they are everywhere. We particularly liked the towns of Ostuni and Locorotondo there. While in Lecce, you can easily get to Otranto. The main attraction is the cathedral with its very old mosaic floor. Really a don't miss.
We hired a private guide, Nadia Garlotti, to tour Matera. She is very knowledgeable and her price, reasonable. I think we paid her 50 euros for a 3 hour tour.
For natural wonders, look at Castellana Grotte (the town). The caves (Grotte dei Castellana) are pretty spectacular, and there are tours in English at regular intervals.
We didn't go to Brindisi. I think it's a somewhat griity city without much to interest tourists. Unless there's some special reason you want to go there, I'd skip it.
You can pm me if you have more questions.
Actually, we liked Brindisi quite a bit - though we were only there on a day trip. I think I would enjoy staying there for a couple of nights. The day we chose to visit was a national holiday and around noon the streets were full of people, balloons, vendors, and all the restaurants were packed. When we came back through the downtown area in late afternoon there was not a soul to be seen.
