Hi, my husband and I are travelling to Puglia for the first time in September. We are looking for a base town to explore what we can in the short 6 days that we have. We will have a car and happy to do day trips. At the moment I am tossing up between Carovigno and Ostuni. Would be grateful for any advice- thank you! (For reference when we did Umbria we based ourselves in Spello and loved it!)
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Puglia base-HELP!
- Thread starter Vbeez
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Alpinista
500+ Posts
We based in Lecce (also 6 days) and, if doing again, would have split between Lecce and a town to the west to shorten up some of the day trips. You might consider something more to the south or west of Ostuni/Carovigno for a base to shorten your own drives? Lecce was great for architecture and dining -- not so easy to get in/out by car.
Our trip included: Lecce, Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca (Grotta Zinzulusa), Gallipoli, Taranto, Metaponto, Matera, Alberobello, Locorotondo, Martina Franca, Cesternino, and Ostuni. We went by way of Brindisi and Bari on our drive back to Tuscany.
Our trip included: Lecce, Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca (Grotta Zinzulusa), Gallipoli, Taranto, Metaponto, Matera, Alberobello, Locorotondo, Martina Franca, Cesternino, and Ostuni. We went by way of Brindisi and Bari on our drive back to Tuscany.
Ian Sutton
1000+ Posts
Arrival location can be important - are you arriving/leaving via Bari, Brindisi or another location?
For me 6 days would mean leaning to one base, and ideally having a number of day trip possibilities researched. We never like to ink things in, but having 4-5 nearby towns prep'd would work for us. Some might just be a morning, or there might be 1 combined into a full day. We also like to choose a base that is itself very interesting, so the car can be left parked up for 1-2 days.
For me 6 days would mean leaning to one base, and ideally having a number of day trip possibilities researched. We never like to ink things in, but having 4-5 nearby towns prep'd would work for us. Some might just be a morning, or there might be 1 combined into a full day. We also like to choose a base that is itself very interesting, so the car can be left parked up for 1-2 days.
Tina
100+ Posts
I agree with Ian it also depends where you are arriving. We have visited many places in Puglia and Ostuni is unique and unforgettable and you can spend some time just wandering the streets of the white washed historical centre but also the surrounding not modern part. We went twice, the first time in November and a second time in May. Instead, when you said 'Carovigno' I had to search in my mind which small town Carovigno was.....yes, nice, but not as memorable as, for example, Martina Franca or Francavilla Fontana. Also, we went the end of September and most restaurants on the main square had already shut up for the winter. Here if you want to compare:
slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com
slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com
From either you could spend a day or half day in Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Alberobello, Cisternino, Lorocorotondo, Martina franca, Lecce
Alto Salento in October: Ceglie Messapica and Carovigno
A blog about travel, vacations and holidays in Italy and Spain with advice, tips and trip reports
slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com
Puglia- Brindisi in November - Ostuni
A blog about travel, vacations and holidays in Italy and Spain with advice, tips and trip reports
slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com
Valerie
100+ Posts
It depends on what your must-see list is. If most of the places are in the Salento (more south) then Otranto, Lecce or Galatina would be good. If they're more north - the towns of the Valle d'Itria and the pretty coastal towns like Polignano, Trani, Monopoli, etc, then Ostuni or Carovigno. Chooseing between those two - I love Ostuni and its vibe, but it is spread across two hills and the main part of town can be steep, with lots of lanes that are stair-stepped, while Carovigno is more level, in case you need easier walking.
Ian Sutton
1000+ Posts
In that case I'd probably leave out Lecce and a trip over into Basilicata for Matera.
However it opens up places like Castel del Monte, Gargano peninsula and Trani, plus further south to places like Martina Franca, Locorotondo etc. If trying to fit most of those in, I'd probably drop Gargano due to the detour, but if wanting to hit just the north of Puglia, it would give lovely variety.
However it opens up places like Castel del Monte, Gargano peninsula and Trani, plus further south to places like Martina Franca, Locorotondo etc. If trying to fit most of those in, I'd probably drop Gargano due to the detour, but if wanting to hit just the north of Puglia, it would give lovely variety.
Kass Local
New Member
Definitely recommend two bases in Puglia (one in the North one in the South) to be able to see it well. We did Monopoli & Lecce as bases
Alpinista
500+ Posts
And cherubs in the churches — countless cherubs smiling down on you. We stayed at Risorgimento hotel and there was a restaurant right out the door (name long forgotten) that had almost entirely Italian clientele and a very nice local menu.