For a six to seven night stay in/ around Puglia, we are thinking of booking accommodations in three places: Vieste, Lecce and Matera. It looks like most of the towns we want to visit are fairly easy day trips from one of those bases. Any opinions on this plan? Suggestions on great places to stay? We're traveling with another couple and would enjoy a villa, B&B, masseria (agriturismo), etc. more than just a hotel. If anyone has a place to highly recommend, but it isn't in one of these towns, please suggest it, as we're open to any ideas on how to structure this. I'm having a difficult time finding accommodations that appeal to me in Vieste. This will be week 2 of a 2 week trip to Italy. The first week will be a stay in a villa on the Amalfi coast. We don't mind a series of two-night stays in Puglia, when the the trip will have started with a single home base for a week on the AC.
Posted by
4320 posts
I have not been to Vieste but considered it for my two Puglia trips. While on the one hand, it will make a nice contrast to the busy Amalfi Coast, it is somewhat similar in scenery and also very far for day trips, so it just depends on how much time you want to spend in a car.
I would consider two bases, or make your third stop somewhere near the Itria Valley, such as Locorotondo or any of others, or Monopoli or Polignano on the coast nearby.
Matera is a great stop. Lecce is a great base for the Salento.
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
1385 posts
For such a short trip, I would skip Vieste and the entire Gargano. So many, many more interesting places to visit! (Full disclosure: we stayed in and drove all around the Gargano for 4 days, but it was in November and we hate beaches.)
Stay in Matera for 2 nights, just to see it, not to use it as a base. Try to stay in a cave. We loved La Corte dei Pastori B&B, especially its location and view from the terrace, but that was 6 years ago.
Stay at the Masseria Aprile outside of Locorotondo --- an excellent base and you get to stay in a trullo. Excellent hosts and food, too. There are also many lovely trulli you can rent throughout the area. We stayed in a great one last spring, but it was for 6 people, so may be too big for you.
Stay in Lecce in the old town, but close to the wall so that you can park outside the walls. Our B&B there was fine, but I think we could have done better, maybe in an apartment.
Tell us what towns you would like to visit!
Posted by
Boston
1689 posts
I've been to all three, and I think you've chosen well. I also agree that Vieste is the weakest link, but the Gargano is fascinating and different from the rest of Puglia. The Foresta Umbra is one of the last virgin forests in Italy, Monte Sant'Angelo is incredible with it's cave/shrine going back to the 400's if I remember right. The view from the town are staggering.
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
We visited this area last October. We were going to include Vietri, but time simply did not allow. We did however include Trani as a day trip. Cute fishing village.
Naples -Lecce. We spent 2 nights. Visited Gallipoli and Otranto on the same day.
Lecce-Ostuni-Locorotondo. 3 nights. Stay in a Masseria, this is beautiful country.
Visited Martina Franca, Alberobello, Monipoli, Polignano a Mare and Trani.
Locorotonda-Matera. 2 nights, parking is difficult, use one of the parking garages.
Traveling from Naples, take the E847-E90. While it's contrary to googles recommend route, we found it faster than the Alternate route further north.
Posted by
OP
Wisconsin
454 posts
Thanks to everyone who has replied. The Gargano peninsula looks beautiful, and the cliff-top setting of the town Vieste is very dramatic, but perhaps since we're going to Puglia after a week on the Amalfi coastline, where we'll have had lots of time in cliff-top coastline towns, we can eliminate Vieste from the itinerary and have more time for the other parts of Puglia and for Matera in Basilicata. Love this travel forum!
Posted by
Boston
1689 posts
You might find this trip report relevant to some of your decisions. https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/7-days-6-nights-in-puglia-1149921/