I am looking for some alternative stopovers between Pergola in Le Marche and Catanzaro in Calabria. Our previous stops have been Ascoli Piceno, Martina Franca (Alberobello, Ostuni) and Matera. These were wonderful experiences but I would like somewhere different this time!
Any suggestions Fodorites? With thanks, Ozlinz

Bernalda, Basilicata might be a good option. The town is not unique like Matera, but it has the feel of the Italy of decades ago. Food is wonderful in that area, and you can make side trips to the deserted town of Cracco, ruins of Metaponto, and other spots.

You could stay in Bernalda itself, or at an agriturismo nearby. Bernalda is the ancestral home of Director Francis Coppola. He has resorted an old mansion and turned it into a very upscale, and very expensive, hotel. But there are other good places to stay nearby.

I suppose you know Perugia and the other Umbrain gems asl well as the Gran Sasso mountain area around l'Aquila.
Gaeta, Caserta, the whole Gulf of Naples and Paestum/Castellabate would be more or less along your itinerary too.

How about the Sabine hills?

http://www.visitsabina.com/about-sabina-in-italy/

http://www.karenbrown.com/Trip_Plann..._Hills/109.php

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/fa...ine-hills.html

http://www.tuscanynow.com/about-the-...astelli-romani

Thank you for your suggestions! I will look in to all of these - it's so nice to be planning another trip to Italy!

The most direct route would be to take the SS3 (the ancient Via Flaminia) to the A1 (E 45) which would take you most of the way to Catanzaro. There are numerous nice stops along the way. Some of the most obvious stops would be Gubbio, Perugia, Todi, Terni, Tivoli, one of the Castelli Romani towns, Monte Cassino, or somewhere in the Naples area. South of there, I don't know the territory very well.

Slight deviations of your route could take you through or near many other places worth stopping. I'll leave out places in Le Marche on the theory that you'll have had a chance to visit them while you're in Pergola. You could pass near Assisi, or the nearby lovely little town of Spello. Spoleto wouldn't be far off your route.