trains/buses to Alberobello

Lin, when we did Puglia we used a rental car. Public transporta tion is limited...to the small towns.....but it is available. There is excellent train trans from Siena to Rome, Naples, and Bari and Brindidsi. And then is it not so easy to get to the towns that you mentioned. (we flew from Rome to Brindisi...lot so cheap flfight are available.) Post this same question on Trip Advisor, Puglia. There are some people there that regularly use pub trans. Also get a copy of a Lonely Planet guidebook for the area. They do a great job of covering pub trans, restaurants, lodging, etc. Alberobello is worth a stop, and that is about all. Matera is facinating; there are even some cave hotels there. Ostuni is a nice little seaside town. But I have no idea how you are going to do, Ostuni, and then get to Alberobello, then Matera, then Paestrum, then try and make your way back uo to Sorrento.

We did Alberobello and Matera by public transportation in May 2009, but it wasn't easy! We had more than three weeks in Puglia/Basilicata and never could work a schedule to make it to Ostuni, which is a regret. We took the train from Bari to Matera (Ferrovie Appulo-Lucane, www.fal-srl.it). We then took the Co-Trap bus to Taranto and the Ferrovie del Sud-Est train from Taranto to Alberobello (www.fseonline.it). For Ostuni, you can take the STP bus from Brindisi or Martina Franca. (Trenitalia stops at Ostuni, but the train station is 3km from town. There's a local bus every half hour to connect from the station.) In other words, none of these places works as a home base to visit the others, unfortunately. The transportation connections just aren't good enough. With only a couple of days, I really think you're out of luck. Paestum I think you can do! Here's what Lonely Planet has to say about travel to Matera: "...train travel to Matera is a problem. There is no direct connection with Potenza, and trains from Bari are slow as they involve a change at Altamura."

Thanks. Yes I'm sure we are being too ambitious...want to see everything. We will stick to Alberobello for sure, and maybe Matera. Now any suggestions on how to get there from Siena, and how move on to Sorrento?

Matera is a must-see! Take public transport from Siena to Pisa's airport (http://www.pisa-airport.com/aeroporto_di_pisa_196.html). Fly Ryanair (http://www.ryanair.com/en) from Pisa to Bari and take the Pugliabus (http://pugliairbus.aeroportidipuglia.it/) from the airport to Matera. Return from Matera to Bari and take the FSE train (http://www.fseonline.it/) from Bari to Alberobello.

I think I might have found a solution. There is a tour for 3 days/2 nights leaving Sorrento and visiting Castel Del Monte, Alberobello, Lecce, the Castellana Caves and Matera ending at Sorrento or Rome. Has anyone else been on this tour? I have also found a bus/train route from Siena to Sorrento. A long travel day with many transfers, but I think it will be doable.

Lin, take the bus from Siena to Florence), train to Naples, then take the bus or local train (or ferry!)to Sorrento. Rick Steves book does an excellent job telling you how to transfer from the Naples train station to the transportation conections to Sorrento.

Thanks Steve, (and Rick). I see now that is a good route.