Wandering Through Italy’s South – Puglia, Basilicata and Paestum

You’ll likely arrive to Puglia via Bari, whether that be via airplane or train. Once you arrive, I suggest you head to Locorontondo.

Once you arrive in Locorontondo, take time to stroll through the historic center. Visiting the church, Santa Maria della Graecia, and small shops. You can also view the sunset from Villa Comunale and look down into the Valle d’Itria. Enjoy a dinner at one of the many delicious restaurants! We enjoyed our first dinner at Osteria Il Rosone.

Head to Alberobello early in the morning to experience the zona dei trulli, before bus loads of tourists arrive during May - October. Wander the streets and admire the UNESCO site. Make sure to follow the steps up to Piazza del Popolo, where the Belvedere Trulli lookout offers fabulous views.

After Alberobello, head to Martina Franca for a lunch and wander the town’s picturesque winding alleys. You’ll likely visit Arco di Sant’Antonio and Palazzo Ducale. We enjoyed lunch at Gaonas.

In the evening, you may consider returning to Alberobello to see the sunset behind the trulli. Additionally, the crowds are significantly less! When we were there, there was also a light show on some of the trulli.

NOTE: If you’re visiting during the end of May/early June, it’s cherry season in Puglia. We bought them at the car park in Alberobello, as well as various farmer’s markets throughout Puglia.

Today, you’ll take your car and drive to Castel del Monte and Polignano a Mare. Make sure to wear comfy clothes and bring your beach attire.

Castel del Monte is a 13th-century citadel and castle situated on a hill in the Puglia region. It was built during the 1240s by King Frederick II.

Polignano a Mare is known for its beautiful beaches. You might consider having dinner here.

Today, you head to Lecce. Some say it's the Florence of Southern Italy; I’ll let you make your opinion once you’ve visited! Lecce is known for its Baroque architecture. When you arrive, you can visit the TI to get more information to visit the various beautiful churches throughout the city. They have a route for you to use. Enjoy a lunch during the heat of the day. We visited La Bottega del Corso.

If you’re feeling up for more adventure, you could take a drive to Galipoli. We weren’t intending to do this when we made our original plan. It was a nice drive and great to visit a city on the coast in the heat of the day! You can consider visiting the Galipoli Castle and make sure to notice all of the cats.

It’s a day for relaxation! Head to Baia dei Turchi early in the morning. This allows you easy access to the parking and to find a great spot on the beach.

Prior to leaving for the day, make sure you’re ready to be at the beach! You should bring your towel, umbrella and a picnic. There aren’t really public services for you at Baia dei Turchi on the beach.

If you leave the beach and still need a bit more adventure, you could consider driving further south along the coastline, making stops at the cute little towns you encounter along the way. We stopped for an aperitivo in one small town.

Ostuni is a lovely town to explore with really great food! Stroll through the winding streets of the whitewashed town, visit the historic center and take a passeggiata in the evening.

You could also consider doing an olive oil tasting on this day or visiting a Masseria for lunch. Make sure to reserve this in advance.

Before heading to Matera, we decided to drive to Taranto and visited the sites there. Additionally, on our way to Matera, we visited the Temple of Hera / Palatine Tables, which are Greek ruins. This is a quick stop, but we enjoyed it because you don’t see that every day in the U.S.

While in Matera, you spend plenty of time wandering the streets throughout the Sassi. You can consider visiting the following:

• Sasso Barisano: Chiesa San Pietro Barisano, Chiesa di Madonna delle Virtù and Chiesa di San Nicola del Greci

• Sasso Caveoso: Cassa Noha, Chiesa di San Pietro Caveoso, Chiesa di Santa Maria di Idris, Chiesa di Santa Lucia alle Malve, Casa-Grotta di Vico Solitario

• Piazza Vittorio Veneto

• Palombaro Lungo

There are also opportunities to hike, and you can consider viewing Matera from the opposite side or the gorge for sunset/twilight.

You will spend your day visiting Paestum’s Temples. The experience here will be very different than Pompeii. Paestum’s temples are smaller, older, more Greek and have less people. You will visit the Tempio di Cerere and Tempio di Nettuno. Make sure to save time for the museum that is nearby. It has numerous frescoes dating back to the fifth-century B.C.