FrancesBrighton

My daughter and I love Italy; the beauty, the people, the food and the wine.
We have stayed in Rome, Naples and Tuscany.
We are intending to fly into Bari at the beginning of October for four nights and we wondering where best to stay? Perhaps 2 or 3 different towns.
We would be travelling by train.
I like the look of Polignano a Mare.
Any suggestions or information would be very much appreciated.
Many thanks.

chucktown_dobbs

Frances, I replied to your comment on my trip report of Puglia. You may find it helpful.

Robbie

bilboburgler

do you want the beach or places up on the Murge? We liked the Murge last time we were there but it can seem desolate, windy and dusty. I would look at Ostuni as a somewhere on the border between the sea and the land

FrancesBrighton

Thanks Robbie - I have replied on your trip report.

Thank you so much biboburgler for your kind reply.
I am very ignorant and don't even know what the Murge is?
I was thinking of Ostuni though, so thank you for that recommendation.

bilboburgler

The geography of the lower end of Puglia works like this.

The coastal zone is varies from 1 to 5 miles deep (more so right at the heel) between these zones is a plateau called the Murge which is where the inhabitants ran when invaders came. So along the top edge of the Murge are a line of towns, fortified farmhouses and castles. Within the Murge are the odd volcanic "stack" on top of which will be a fortified town.

This is less interesting for the car driver but for walkers or bike riders the hills are important

kja

You might want to look at Lecce, too.

FrancesBrighton

Thank you again bilboburgler and thanks too kja

Ferkin

Airport bus to Bari train station, then train to Martina Franca stay in an apartment hotel in centro storico .Easy train rides to Alberobello and other local towns, then train to Lecce lovely run with stop in Ostuni on the way. Back to Polignano for a night then back to Bari and the bus again. You'll love it !
Regards Mike
http://hereinpuglia.wordpress.com/

MoPet

We've decided to base in Ostuni for 4 nights during an upcoming trip. Hopefully, this location will allow us to take in the surrounding areas as day trips before we move on to Matera. Polignano a Mare was another option we considered. Would love to hear more about your Naples experience.

FrancesBrighton

Thanks Mike. That sounds splendid. I will have a look at doing just that. I am a bit concerned because my daughter's Italian is very limited and mine non-existent. She is beautiful though which usually gets us through. I am enjoying your blog now.

MoPet - thank you! I hope you do a trip report.
I loved Naples. I am 55 and my daughter is 26. We walked everywhere with no problems, even late evening. We stayed in a lovely hotel with a great view of Vesuvius called M Gallery Palazzo Caracciolo but I wouldn't recommend the restaurant there. We ate at little local restaurants which were great. We didn't go anywhere fancy. The bus tours are good (if you like that sort of thing, we do) especially the one that goes along the beautiful coast.

tdk320n

TTT