Still blanking on 1 stop on our 16 night trip to Southern Italy in March/April

Matera to Rome is quite a distance. I don’t think train travel is difficult in that area, but there aren’t a lot of interesting places in between the two cities. We did a somewhat similar trip, stopping in Trani, which was a nice enough little town along the way, however, I think you need something more inland and if it was me, I would just pick a place along the way and be surprised.

HI Rachele,
Yes, we've been to Trani and we really liked it. My thoughts are: should we travel by train up the east coast to Pescara, or go back to the west coast and maybe go to Salerno again, or hang out in Barletta with family again and make the 4 hour train ride back to Rome.I think the thing is that we want to go to a whole new place. And finding a good place in between Matera and Rome, like you said, isn't easy. Thanks for your input!!

Where are you planning to stay in Maratea? In the town itself or on the coastal strip?

ekscrunchy, we are staying in the city center. is that a good move?

Hi Jenny,
It doesn't help break up the long train ride from Matera to Rome but you could possibly add your additional days to Rome and do several day trips from there by train. A few ideas would be Orvieto with its charming hill top location and underground caves and tunnels, and Tivoli where you can experience Hadrian's Villa, Villa d'Este, and Villa Gregoriana.
Good luck with your planning!

Hi Jenny,

You have 12 nights of your 16 night trip planned and you want to find somewhere to fill the gap between Matera and Rome.

Two thoughts. First is to add one more night to Naples, so you have 4 nights there. Between Naples and one or two potential day trips to Pompeii and/or an island such as Ischia, Procida or Capri, you really need 4 nights in Naples. And that still does not include the Amalfi Coast - which we also avoided on our 2024 trip to Puglia, southern Campania and Naples. (Like you, we chose to spend a little time - 2 nights - on the southern Campania coast, but in Pisciotta rather than Maratea.). Especially since Naples is your arrival stay, I’d give it a little more time.

That would then mean 3 nights on the way from Matera to Rome.

Were you to go to Bari for those three nights, you could enjoy the historic city there - with or without a day trip up or down the coast to Trani or Polignano a Mare or Monopoli. There is more to Bari than its old city center.

Looks like a nearly 5 hour train ride from Bari to Rome. There are also flights from Bari to Rome, which would be a little shorter travel time, though not much less given airport time plus time between city centers and airports. In any event, while a little long, Bari to Rome is not too much of a haul.

FWIW, our southern Italy TR from 2024 is at https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/southern-italy-30-days-three-ways-to-travel

Buon Viagge.

Add more time to Naples and/or Maratea.
On the way from Matera to Rome you could stop a few days in Bari.
You could also stop one or two nights in Caserta and visit the Royal Palace there.

Hi Jenny, look up Caserta. It’s a wonderful location to go the the Reggia di Caserta. I took advantage of the golf cart ride last time to go to the end of the expansive garden area.

It’s a 1-hour fast train up to Rome the next day for you.

Jenny,

Where did you decide to go to fill the gap?

Hey Fred!
Thanks for asking. The itinerary is now as follows:
3 nights Naples (day trip to Caserta-thanks to Jean and Roberto for the suggestion)
3 nights Maratea
2 nights Matera
2 nights Potenza
2 nights Salerno
4 nights Rome (Day trip to Orvieto possibly)
I'm still not sold on Potenza, honestly. It just seems like the most logical place to go on the way to Salerno from Matera.
Still open to suggestions, as the apartment bookings can still be changed at this point.
Jenny

3 nights Naples (day trip to Caserta-thanks to Jean and Roberto for
the suggestion) 3 nights Maratea 2 nights Matera 2 nights Potenza 2
nights Salerno 4 nights Rome (Day trip to Orvieto possibly) I'm still
not sold on Potenza, honestly. It just seems like the most logical
place to go on the way to Salerno from Matera.

I’d put the two Potenza nights toward Matera and Salerno, as there are so many things you can do from both.

Hey Val- besides Paestum(which we've done and loved) what are things to do from Salerno? I am excited to see the Minerva Gardens- last time it was closed and I was super bummed.
Can anyone who has been to Potenza let me know how they liked it so that I can make an informed decision whether to skip it or go?
Thanks!
Jenny

Could you let us know what else you have done in the area previously? The other main draw from Salerno is the Amalfi coast.

Hey Val,
Previously we have taken the ferry from Sorrento to Salerno, stopped in Positano for a bit and went to Paestum. We are not interested in going to Amalfi town or Positano or Capri, we would just love to find a beautiful town on the way to Salerno where we could hang for a couple days.
Jenny

All I can suggest is a new post asking about Potenza (and possibly on trip advisor also—be sure to share all the places you’ve already been, lol). It’s a tough area without a car to be sure!