My husband and I are planning a two week trip to Southern Italy next July 2022. After much research we have decided to save Rome & Amalfi area for another time/season. We are going to fly return to Lamezia Airport. We will rent a car upon arrival. Thinking of using Tropea as a home base for the first week. I am having a hard time deciding on the 2nd week. Taormina looks lovely but not sure of logisitics for getting there (with a car). I'm sure Puglia would be lovely for a 2nd week as well. I would appreciate any feedback. Any suggestions for a home base in Puglia. We are interested in food, wine, the sea, people watching, relaxing and absorbing the local culture. Not much for organized tours.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7403 posts
We did the Taormina part in reverse from what you’re considering. A short drive from Taormina is the car ferry port at Messina, on Sicily. We arrived as they were loading the car ferry, but when it’s full, they stop loading. We just missed getting on that boat, but the next one was just an hour later, and we were one of the first cars on the next ferry, so one of the first cars to drive off that boat onto the mainland. We went from Messina to Reggio di Calabria, but there are also car ferries between Messina and Villa San Giovanni, which is closer to Tropea.
Cars going to Taormina use a parking garage. We actually rented from Europcar on Sicily and returned the car on mainland Italy, so depending on where you’re departing from on the way home, you don’t necessarily have to return it where you picked it up.
Posted by
Freedonia
15128 posts
For Puglia, Lecce would be a good, central location. From there, almost all of Puglia is an easy day trip.
If you want to stay by the sea then I would suggest either Otranto or Gallipoli. Polignano a Mare is also nice but a bit further north.
Taormina is also very nice. A little bit of history,, a little bit of scenery and a lot of good food and wine.. For the best granita in Taormina, go to the Bam Bar.
Posted by
11196 posts
In Puglia, we stayed in seaside Polignano a Mare for a week. Loved it there with it’s old town, sea views.
Lecce and Monopoli are other places to consider staying too.
We loved Sicily but not the over touristed Taormina. Sicily needs a minimum of two weeks. If you only have a week there, spend it on Ortigia Island, Siracusa.
Posted by
WA State
3961 posts
We spent two nights in Taormina following a Southern Italy Culinary Tour. We arrived by ferry from Messina. We felt fortunate that our guide was from Taormina. It was lovely with beautiful views, amazing squares and many wonderful restaurants. We especially enjoyed a concert at the ancient theatre. We had the best Arancini at Da Christina. Following our tour we spent 5 nights in Ortigia. Many historical landmarks, several cultures; that include Arab, Roman, Normans Byzantines, Spaniards and more. If you have time we highly recommend staying there and visiting the Baroque towns of Noto, Ragusa and Modica. We did a day tour from Ortigia.
Posted by
4442 posts
It is tough to get info about Calabria but not impossible. I'd get a Blue Guide and do a deep dive to see what else might be of interest to you since you are already flying there. I'm an avid hiker, so I hope to get there and explore the national parks one day. You might want to stay in the interior or mountains since you already have the seaside covered. I would save Puglia for a trip in which you fly into Bari or Brindisi, and ditto for Sicily.
https://www.calabriatheotheritaly.com/
https://www.summerinitaly.com/guide/calabria
https://www.wanderingitaly.com/maps/calabria.html
http://www.italia.it/en/discover-italy/calabria.html