Suggestions requested

"From where would it be best to visit Mt Etna? Will 1 day be sufficient?"

Mt Etna is in Sicily which is not on your itinerary. I'm assuming you are talking about Vesuvius?

Hi,
No..I did mean Mt Etna...don't think I have sufficient time to visit anything else in Sicily.
Thanks!

I love southern Italy and Sicily. Your plan sounds good for the most part. It doesn't matter if you do the Amalfi Coast sooner or later, most things will stll be open in October and the ferry should still run. Your trip to and from Matera will likely involve backtracking through Bari train station, since the train is a local one that runs only between Matera and Bari with stops in between. From Matera to Naples, you still would have to go to Bari to change trains. I think the towns you chose are great, enjoy the wines and local foods!

If you are only going to Sicily to see Mount Etna, I would think about doing that as part of a trip to Sicily another time. There are a few flights daily to Catania, from there you would have to rent a car to make it back to the mainland in a day, unless there's a tour or guide you can hire in advance. Weather could be an issue. If you do this, take only a daybag snd leave your luggage somewhere (hotel or train station, but note train station deposito bagagli hours).

Thanks for the feedback Zoe! For the fact that I am travelling all the way from SE Asia, maybe I should consider taking the train from Salerno to Mt Etna. I thought 3 weeks was sufficient for Italy, but now time seems short for all that I would love to see and eat n drink..sighhhh :)..thank you once again!

Mt. Etna on Sicily is pretty distant from the rest of your itinerary, and would take considerable time each way, no matter how you travel there. Of course, we each have our own tastes, but I spent two weeks in Sicily just this past May, and of all the great places I visited there, I found Mt. Etna to be about the least interesting of all. And I was there on unusually clear days, when the volcano was actually erupting, or at least emitting steam/smoke. Not red lava, now that would have made it more special. I understand that often the mountain is clouded over.

Personally, I would not do Southern Italy via public transport for my first time. You will waste an incredible amount of time traveling from place to place in the South, ie, if you take the train to Sicily crossing the 3-mile channel to Messina is about an hour and 45 minutes. You are traveling long distances, in the South, and are getting very little bang for your buck (especially compared to Venice, Florence, Rome and the Amalfi Coast which are world class destinations). You would be able to experience the nightlife (by staying a few nights in each place) with real Italians eating at the locals favorite places. Matera and Alberobella are about the only main sights to see in the South. And Sicily will take a lot of planning and time, believe me! You have 17 days and it will feel like a long weekend. Italy/Sicily is NOT like the rest of Europe, it can being very frustrating for a first trip! Do as you wish, of course, but I would do Venice (3) - Florence (4) - Rome (4) and on your way (or after)the Amalfi Coast spend a night in Matera if you must. An absolute MUST that I advise my friends when going to Italy is get Rick's POCKET books for V - F - R and the SNAPSHOT book for the AC. This will save tons of time and money!! No standing in 2-hour lines and his "masterpiece" and city/town walking maps save additional tons of time and money. You carry the books with you (no apps or downloads pls) and they act as your free tour guide (fit in your pants pockets). The books act as a travel journal too - I would take daily notes. Again trips to Northern Europe I never took a note becuz I remembered everything but Italy is an overwhelming feast for the eyes and mind and palate!

Must disagree with jim_bird. Southern Italy has lots to see - I did not mention the Tremiti Islands, beautiful regional and national parks, Lecce, Castel del Monte, dozens of whitewashed hill towns that seem suspended in time, great food and wine. but that's just my opinion.

Jim makes a good point about public transportation being more challenging than in northern Italy, but careful planning, a backup plan and a sense of humor (if not destiny) will help.

If you decide to spend a night or two in Matera, I can recommend a great little B&B just a few steps from the entrance to the Sassi, or a cave hotel if that intrigues you. PM me if you want the name.

Matera, Ostuni and Lecce and environs are best seen by car, sorry to say. Puglia is a vast area and is poorly served by trains and buses. I fear you will spend your precious time in waiting for transit. Can you possibly pop for a car? You can take the train to Bari from Rome, rent a car, and spend perhaps 3 nights in Lecce to see the heel, then 3 nights in Matera seeing the more northern parts of Puglia as well. Don't miss Martina Franca or Castel del Monte. By the way, the food is to DIE for in Puglia - inexpensive and high quality. Drop your car in Bari and take the train to Salerno or Rome. Or add a week. :-)

Lots of trains!! The area is worth it however. In case you don't have them here are the trains for the area.

Roma-Lecce, this is your furthest point start here

FSE http://www.fseonline.it/SearchTimetables.aspx.

Lecce-Galipoli, Gapoli-Ortanto, Ortanto-Lecce, Bari-Alberobello.

FAL http://ferrovieappulolucane.it/ricerca-corse/ this train will get you to Matera.

Trenitalia will be the train for Lecce-Brindisi, Brindisi-Bari, Bari-Ostuni,

Bari-Salerno

Salerno-Firenze

Firenze-Roma

You will love this area, have a great time...Sip some wine for all of us.

Matera is in Basilicata, next region to Puglia.

Thanks for your replies. Have decided to do Sicily another time and just do the rest in leisure.
Gerri..those links are invaluable..thank you!