Itinerary help needed: 10-11 days in Calabria, Siciily, and (maybe) Puglia
Jan 20th, 2017, 05:30 AM
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Itinerary help needed: 10-11 days in Calabria, Siciily, and (maybe) Puglia
We are planning a 10-11 day visit to the bottom of Italy's boot in early September. Flying into and out of Rome, but driving directly south on arrival. (Not visiting Rome, which we've been to many times before). Our starting thought is to begin in Calabria, take the ferry to Sicily, and then perhaps have a brief visit to Puglia. We are looking for suggestions of very comfortable hotels, memorable restaurants, and enjoyable places to visit along the way. And, of course, how much time to spend in each area.
Jan 20th, 2017, 07:49 AM
#2
Well Sicily needs at least 7 days if you want to see the basic Greek/Roman bits with a hint of Baroque plus a touch of the Etnas.
You've not mentioned Basilicata which probably requires 4 days while Puglia (on the coast and up in the hills) needs another 10 days.
If it were me I might fly directly to Sicily and hire the car there and just there.
You've not mentioned Basilicata which probably requires 4 days while Puglia (on the coast and up in the hills) needs another 10 days.
If it were me I might fly directly to Sicily and hire the car there and just there.
Jan 20th, 2017, 08:26 AM
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We weren't impressed with Calabria. Were you thinking beaches, mountains?? Museums??
It's quite a drive between the three areas you've mentioned. If you want to see 'highlights' of Calabria, then choose either eastern half of Sicily or Puglia, not both.
No use giving you recos for hotels, restaurants, until you have an itinerary better laid out.
It's quite a drive between the three areas you've mentioned. If you want to see 'highlights' of Calabria, then choose either eastern half of Sicily or Puglia, not both.
No use giving you recos for hotels, restaurants, until you have an itinerary better laid out.
Jan 20th, 2017, 09:00 AM
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IMO, Sicily easily merits 2 to 3 weeks. (I don’t think it’s possible to see more than a few highlights of Sicily in a week to 10 days.) And Puglia could easily take all of your time. I’d recommend spending some time with some good guidebooks and decide on (a) eastern Sicily, (b) western Sicily, (c) Matera & Puglia, or (d) other.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Jan 20th, 2017, 09:50 AM
#7
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It'll probably be Eastern Sicily and Puglia. We have no need to check off every box. Flying to Sicily is not an option. For us, one flight from NY + a rental car is far preferable to two flights + layover in-between. After dozens of trips to the continent, we're much happier selecting a reasonable number of venues without concern about having missed something.
Jan 20th, 2017, 10:15 AM
#8
This might help
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...cioccolato.cfm
I got married in Puglia, so if you want any specific views I'll try and offer ideas. Lecce (Puglia) has better Baroque than Noto (Sicily) if that helps.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...cioccolato.cfm
I got married in Puglia, so if you want any specific views I'll try and offer ideas. Lecce (Puglia) has better Baroque than Noto (Sicily) if that helps.
Jan 20th, 2017, 02:12 PM
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Agree with Bilbo about Lecce vs Noto. And Lecce has a much nicer feel to it. A really lively town.
If you are driving from Puglia to Sicily I would highly recommend making an overnight stop in Matera. Another nice stop might be Maratea. It's a beautiful little mountain side town, and the coastal drive around that area is gorgeous, not quite Amalfi, but very nice, with little traffic.
We did an overnight in Tropea, which was not as nice as the pictures I had seen. I'd give it a pass.
If you are driving from Puglia to Sicily I would highly recommend making an overnight stop in Matera. Another nice stop might be Maratea. It's a beautiful little mountain side town, and the coastal drive around that area is gorgeous, not quite Amalfi, but very nice, with little traffic.
We did an overnight in Tropea, which was not as nice as the pictures I had seen. I'd give it a pass.
Jan 20th, 2017, 02:33 PM
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Before you decide not to take a third flight, have a look at your mileage between destinations.
You might want to drive to Puglia, including Matera, then over to the coast at Maratea, drive down the coast a ways to maybe Paola, then get back on A3 and head to Sicily. It's a pretty drive through the mountains.
From Catania, it's easy to drop the car and fly back to Rome, one hour flight, and cheap. Alitalia. That will save a long boring drive back to Rome, 750 kms
Any way you can fly into/out of Naples?
You might want to drive to Puglia, including Matera, then over to the coast at Maratea, drive down the coast a ways to maybe Paola, then get back on A3 and head to Sicily. It's a pretty drive through the mountains.
From Catania, it's easy to drop the car and fly back to Rome, one hour flight, and cheap. Alitalia. That will save a long boring drive back to Rome, 750 kms
Any way you can fly into/out of Naples?
Jan 20th, 2017, 02:39 PM
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I've made a few visits to the areas you mention. I would encourage a visit to Castrovillari, to Locanda d'Alia, and to Bernalda, with some excellent places to eat. Both are imperative for a person interested in local food.
I've written reports here on two of my three visits to Puglia and both are heavily focused on food.
By all means visit Matera.
If you cannot find my reports, just holler and I will link them.
I've written reports here on two of my three visits to Puglia and both are heavily focused on food.
By all means visit Matera.
If you cannot find my reports, just holler and I will link them.
Jan 22nd, 2017, 06:30 AM
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Erica
Your trip report is superb and largely in line with our approach to these kinds of trips. So I'm now thinking of a total of 11 days, including two in Rome for my significant other. That would probably mean basing in Matera, Lecce, and a venue up north yet to be determined. Since we'll be using Rome as our gateway, we have to work in the to/from Puglia travel.
Now it's a matter of putting all the pieces together. Your suggestions?
Your trip report is superb and largely in line with our approach to these kinds of trips. So I'm now thinking of a total of 11 days, including two in Rome for my significant other. That would probably mean basing in Matera, Lecce, and a venue up north yet to be determined. Since we'll be using Rome as our gateway, we have to work in the to/from Puglia travel.
Now it's a matter of putting all the pieces together. Your suggestions?
Jan 22nd, 2017, 07:03 AM
#13
I understand you like to drive, but have you considered taking a train? There are various routes but one goes via Foggia (very interesting place) and of course you can get up and walk about etc.
Jan 22nd, 2017, 09:36 AM
#16
we spent 10 days recently in the east of Sicily and found the driving quite hard work, so you might like to factor this into your thinking. [not everyone here had the same experience but it's worth considering in case you had the same problem].
We loved Sicily though, and would love to go back.
We loved Sicily though, and would love to go back.
Jan 22nd, 2017, 10:03 AM
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Thanks for the train suggestion. We were concerned that it might take too long, but it turns out that there are several trains each day making the run under 3 hours. That works for us. Which means Foggia would be our gateway on the Puglia side. That takes care of the driving/parking problem in Rome and the so-so drive across the country.
Jan 26th, 2017, 01:04 PM
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ekscrunchy
I greatly appreciate your suggestions. As we continue our planning, it looks like we'll have eight days in Puglia, arriving and departing by train from Foggia. So I'm thinking of splitting the available time between a base in the northern part and a base in the south. At the moment, we're thinking of Lama di Luna and Masseria Torre Maizza. I am hoping that within an hour or so of each, we'll be able to visit worthwhile restaurants and notable food venues as well as other venues of note. At best, this is an educated guess, though I'm suspecting that reservations should be made sooner than later. Your thoughts?
I greatly appreciate your suggestions. As we continue our planning, it looks like we'll have eight days in Puglia, arriving and departing by train from Foggia. So I'm thinking of splitting the available time between a base in the northern part and a base in the south. At the moment, we're thinking of Lama di Luna and Masseria Torre Maizza. I am hoping that within an hour or so of each, we'll be able to visit worthwhile restaurants and notable food venues as well as other venues of note. At best, this is an educated guess, though I'm suspecting that reservations should be made sooner than later. Your thoughts?
