Very Rough Itinerary

A few random thoughts:

• Southern Italy is marvelous. Things move at slower pace, and the people are very welcoming to tourists. In Matera, I recall several older ladies walked up to to us at random to welcome us. They asked where we were from, what we thought about Matera and whether we were enjoying our stay. When we responded positively, they asked us to please spread the word that Matera is a nice place to visit. That would never happen in the more touristy areas in the north.

• The food is amazing! A particular favorite of mine was pureed fava beans and chicory greens. They were always served as a pair, and most restaurants offered it. Also, my favorite gelato place ever - I Vizi degli Angeli (The Vices of the Angels) - is in Matera.

• One thing about southern Italy if you are traveling on your own is that most people you encounter outside of hotels don't speak English. If you go to a restaurant or a farmacia, chances are that Italian will be the only language spoken. It wouldn't hurt to brush up on your Italian a bit.

As for the itinerary:

• Matera is magical (although I have heard that it is more touristy now than it was when I was there in 2015). If you have ever put your map away and embraced the joy of getting totally lost in Venice, you will love the Sassi in Matera. You can get lost on the narrow and twisting paths, but never too lost. Matera is a small town, and so you don't need more than one full day (two nights) Matera itself. Add a third night if you want to make an excursion to Alberobello, which I highly recommend.

• I think we stayed two days/three nights in Lecce: one day to see Lecce and one day to go to Otranto. The small cathedral in Otranto dates back to Norman times is definitely worth a visit. The huge floor mosaic describes basically everything they knew about the world, with Greek mythology, Bible stories, and King Arthur all intertwined into a single work. Fascinating stuff. The altar, with the skulls of hundreds of people, is maybe a bit morbid but historically significant. I won't go into the details here. Definitely put Otranto on your list.

Lecce and Matera both have an easy going vibe. Businesses and stores tend to shut down in the afternoon, and then everyone goes out for the passaggiata in the evening.

Other folks can probably give better advice on Sorrento. We used it as a base for Amalfi, Capri, Pompeii, Vesuvius, and Naples.

OK! So what time of year? We are going in March and will spend three nights in Matera. Good choice .

Thank you so much for the detailed response. It’s making me very excited and wanting to hear more from others.

Timing of the trip will be the last week of May/First week of June 2020.

In late May, I'd look for a place on the AC or choose Salerno. You could rent the car in Salerno when you leave the AC. If you stay in Salerno, consider renting a day earlier and driving to a buffalo farm (see Vannulo) and Paestum for the Greek temples. Or you might be able to detour there on your way to Matera. If you stay in an AC town, you can take the ferry or bus to Salerno at the end of your stay to pick up the car.

Sorrento is charming, Salerno is interesting (and it has a nice sandy beach and cheap prices). If you choose Salerno, just take the high speed train from Naples.