Calabria/Basilicata/Puglia or back to Tuscany?
 

My wife and I are going to Italy for two weeks in May. We are experienced independent travelers and are trying to decide whether to head south or north when we leave the Rome airport in our rental car.

We wing it for the most part and don't mind moving around. We have traveled this way for years all over Europe and it works well for us. We have seen just about all of Italy
except for Calabria, Basilicata & Puglia.

We would appreciate any input from those who have traveled in that area. I have read most of the travel books on the area but there really isn't lot of info as this area isn't on the heavily traveled tourist circuit. I'd like to hear from someone who has been there and done that.

We like visiting small towns and just general sight seeing. My wife can't do alot of walking at this time so we are skipping the bigger cities.

Are the coastal villages worth the drive and is there much to see inland besides Matea and the Trullis? The alternative would be to spend a few days in the Amalfi area and then go to Tuscany.

Hi Kettamic, my friend and I are planning the same trip this fall. We are also independent travelers. I really didn't know much about the area but saw some information on some blogs like www.bleedingespresso.com. It is the blog of an expat but she mentions somewhere on the blog about the areas of Calabria to visit. That is where I got some information. She also has some links of bloggers who live in Calabria or Puglia and they also have some ideas as to what to visit on their sites. Also, there is a site called www.stayandvisit.com which is a tour company but we don't do the tours but when they outline the tour it gives you an idea of what to see. That area is not a touristy area so there are many places that you won't find a big crowd of tourists. I also found a book on Amazon for $11.00 called Calabria and it's a wonderful book for informing on what to see, etc. Also, prices at many small hotels are very affordable.
Have a great trip.

I will say it simply: I visited Puglia for the first time last fall.

I am headed back this week. For us it is the ideal combination of easy driving, digestible sightseeing, beautiful scenery, fantastic food, few tourists, lovely people, accommodations that offer good value in various price categories.


Our first trip (only 7 days) was split like this:

Otranto area--2 nights
Lecce--1 night
Trulli zone--1 night
Fasano/Savelletri--3 nights (it was not necessary to split the last 4 nights into two hotel stays)



This trip will be:

Andria area--2 nights
Matera--2 nights
Fasano/Savelletri--3 nights


Perhaps you can find some additional information in my report from last September; you can find it by clicking on my name and looking at my trip reports.




I've been reading up on parts of Calabria, and the Maratea area for another trip--I've done a bit of reading and am willing to share ideas!

Forgot to say, I would recommend this book, about the author's travels in Calabria.

http://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Figs-Ot.../dp/0865476276

Thanks mcrankin & ekscrunchy for your replies. I will check out the web sites and the trip report that you have provided.

You are welcome!

Also see these reports; you will find a few more with a search here.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...18-23-2010.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...and-puglia.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...and-nights.cfm


This is the one I wrote after my week-long trip last fall:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ern-puglia.cfm

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Since I posted those reports, I've made two more trips to southern Italy, one to Basilicata and Puglia (9/12) and the other a driving trip from Calabria to the Amalfi Coast, with stops in Maratea and the Cilento (9/11).

I am more than pleased to share my experience, althogh I have not gotten around to writing trip reports.