Hi all, we plan on visiting southern Italy next October, as well as staying around tuscany. We will fly into Rome and stay the night, then take the train down to Bari the next morning and pick up a rental car. I'm planning about 5-6 days down that way and definitely plan to stay in Matera for a few nights. Otherwise, I'm not sure where would be best? We would like to do some sort of wine tour in the area so it would be best to find a place that is a good base for that. I have done a day trip to Ostuni and alberobello before and have briefly visited distant relatives in accettura but I'm mostly unfamiliar with the area. Thoughts?
Posted by
11131 posts
We found Polignano a Mare to be a good base for Puglia. It is located right on the blue green Adriatic Sea South of Bari.
We loved drinking Primitivo there, a cousin of Zinfandel. We didn’t visit any wineries but drove past many of them.
I am glad we visited Matera but would not want to spend a lot of time there.
Posted by
OP
newark, DE, United States
110 posts
Suki, I'm going to look into that town. The pics look pretty. Did you stay right in town? Did you have a car as well?
Posted by
Clrwtr, FL
169 posts
Another vote for Polignano a Mare. We stayed for 2 nights (on a group tour) at Covo dei Saraceni. It's a bit pricy but the views over the sea and toward the old town are nothing but spectacular. Don't think there is parking at the hotel - the bus dropped us off and moved. But I'm certain there is a city lot somewhere nearby. Anywhere in the area of the town would be great - there is a very nice and small old town and you can do several day trips from there. We actually did Bari on our "day" - had 2 evenings in P-a-M. Then headed down toward Lecce and back to Alberabello and Matera and back to the "west" coast. But you could do several of these from there.
Think DH speaks of that hotel the most of the hotels on that trip. In Matera, we had a wonderful lunch- apparently the day's special. A "board" of local meat/cheese, jams & bread treats at a small cafe - directly across from the "bone" church.
Oh to be back again!
Posted by
Northern Rockies, British Columbia, Canada
532 posts
Hi Wendi.
Check the Trip Reports forum for details of a short trip Nelly made to Monopoli, just south of Polignano a Mare.
Posted by
11131 posts
we also stayed at Hotel Covo di Saraceni with it’s incredible sea and old town views. Highly recommend it!
Posted by
31 posts
I'm going to suggest making Lecce your base. It is further south and from there you can easily reach numerous coastal towns like Gallipoli and Otranto.
Southern Puglia has yet to be discovered by blue and gold guidebook toting Americans. You will mostly find Europeans visiting especially Italians.
The architecutre, the history, the wine and the food of the area is excellent. And the clearest coastal water I have ever seen.
Posted by
OP
newark, DE, United States
110 posts
This is really helpful advice. I'm soooo looking forward to planning this!
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
This blog should give you lots of useful info on the Puglia region.
https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/8-towns-not-to-miss-in-puglia/
Posted by
4326 posts
I have visited Matera twice and would return again in a second. The reds are great in that area, though I am more of a white wine lover. If you are set on three days there, then I would not try to head too far south for only 2-3 nights. Of course it depends on how much driving you wish to do per day, but I would look in the Itria Valley area or the nearby coast (including Polignano, but I stayed in Monopoli). Do you return to Bari to take a train to Tuscany?
Since wine is your focus, try googling "Puglia wine tour" to get ideas. Just researching Puglia/Wine is likely to give you several good leads as well. There are some good trip reports on this Italian food blog I read:
https://www.italianfoodforever.com/?s=Puglia&submit=
Posted by
OP
newark, DE, United States
110 posts
Valadelphia, I have really been researching it to death and there isn't much offered that I'm aware of. I will check out all the links posted though. And yes... great reds in Matera! We actually don't plan on doing much driving once we are parked in each town we stay. We are hoping to pick up tours where we have transfers, especially if we are doing wine tours.