Ciao amici.

If you put into Google maps driving Gallipoli to Matera, the route swings up to Bari on what I imagine are main roads. Although, there is E90 through Taranto. Has anyone driven on the secondary roads between these two points? The reason I ask is I have driven the secondary roads in Puglia and Basilicata (Gravina in Puglia to be exact) and experienced a massive tire blowout due to the giant potholes on the roads. I'm advising a friend who wants to circumnavigate the "stiletto" from Lecce, possibly Otranto and down to S.M. di Leuca, and suggesting they stay in or around Gallipoli. Their next base is going to be Matera. What is the best route to take from Gallipoli? Thank you.

Sorry, I have nothing to add to your question. But, I’m doing that same route in May and found the same routing with Google Maps. I’ll be going from Gallipoli to Taranto before going to Matera. So, I’m interested in your replies also.

The route Googlemaps advises sometimes changes according to the time of day. So when I tried now it gave me Gallipoli - Nardò - Brindisi - Taranto - Matera. The Bari route is 40 kilometers and 15 minutes longer. I wouldn't do that route also because the highway along the east coast of Puglia is the busiest and most stressful road in Puglia, and not immune to poor road surfaces. I've also driven the route through Manduria towards Taranto and I have no memory of it being bad.
Of all my driving in Puglia my only comment would be that about the east coast highway. I don't remember in particular poor road conditions but I live in Italy so maybe some were just average even if not excellent. Minor roads in Basilicata can be worse.

I appreciate the information about the coastal road. I have amended my original itinerary to exclude Gallipoli since my friend seems to be more interested in the coast north of Otranto. Because they don't want to "back track" I was going to suggest they take the coast road from Locorotondo to Otranto, or whichever beachside town they choose and base themselves there for four nights (bearing in mind that they would like to drive to Santa Maria di Leuca, just for the novelty of it. I figured that they could then spend two nights in Lecce (extremely worthwhile) to bring them a bit further north and inland. This way, they would be driving from Lecce, not Gallipoli, to get to Matera. Does this improve the driving experience?

I have driven on the coastal SS in Marche (San Benedetto del Tronto) trying to get back to Servigliano on a Sunday and the stress came from there being slow traffic and lights every 100 metres with a manual shift car. Is this the kind of stress you mean? So, what would be the loop you could recommend driving Locorotondo-Otranto (Baia di Turchi and surrounds) and then back to Lecce? Then from Lecce to Matera/Altamura, what would you recommend? Thanks again.

Hello Joan. That's all good. Even though I'm going to northern Italy in May, helping my friend plan Puglia in September is making me envious. I hope to get back to southern Italy (maybe not Puglia) at the end of 2026, God willing!

I am doing pretty much an all-city trip: Bologna-Rome-Ravenna-Torino-Milan essentially because my online Italian language and culture group is meeting in Torino 23-26 May. Next year, I may have an opportunity to visit the Benevento area and also Ischia with another group.

PS I'm originally from New Jersey.

Thanks, Redlandsneen! My last trip was to northern Italy about 1-1/2 years ago. I stayed in some of the locations on your itinerary: Bologna, Ravenna, and Milan, among others. I’d be happy to email you my itinerary if you’re interested, just send me a PM with your email.

I was born and raised in NJ (Exit 7 of the turnpike LOL!), spent 34 years in NYC!

Locorotondo – Fasano E55 coast road then straight down to Brindisi, then SS613 to Lecce. Google Maps then suggests SS16 south and then abrupt east turn to Otranto, but you could meander down through the countryside via Melendugno, and then the coast Torre dell’Orso (stop for the great views of the beach there?) and then onto Otranto.

The east coast highway is a ‘superstrada’ – so dual carriageway/divided highway – 2 lanes in both directions and entrance and exits like on a motorway/freeway. So not like in Le Marche (been there – I know what you mean) Usually the cars coming onto such a highway/Superstrada give way to cars already on the road, but not there – oncoming cars expect you to move left and get out of their way. You soon get the hang of it. I find it stressful because it’s quite a fast road, a lot of traffic, poor road surface in places (up to 2023), not a relaxing drive but it’s the quickest way to get where you’re going……

However I’ve read comments that the countryside in Puglia is monotonous so maybe you shouldn’t listen to me – I love meandering through Puglia on quiet secondary roads!

On the way back from Lecce back up to Brindisi then Mesagne, Francavilla Fontana (worth a stop) then Taranto and up to Matera. From Taranto the E90 along the coast is a good road and the drive from the coast to Matera is nice so I’d probably do that and avoid the Altamura option.

Hi Joan. I'm not going anywhere I haven't been before but I'd love to see what you got up to. My "to-do list" for Rome is never-ending, hence my third visit in two years. I watch a lot of Italian language videos and am constantly making note of things to do in Rome.