I've probably read too much about each place but I'm having trouble deciding whether to go to Puglia or Sicily next May. I've been to Italy several times but not to either place. The most important aspects of where we go are the food, beautiful natural scenery and attractive towns. Can you help me decide?

Good mornng, my choice would be SICILY
with its history and definately its own charactoer along with a crusine that in itself is exceptional and varied. Sicilian landscape varies from coastal waters to sun baked hills.
Rugged coasts and sandy beaches, all
with a volcano thrown in to climb. The only mistake one can make is to now allow enough time to properly see the island, would suggest a min of 7 days,
using Palermo, Agrigento, Siracusa and
Taormina as bases... Richard of LaGrange Park, IL..

You can't go wrong with either. Attractive towns? Hmmm. I don't think that's a stand out in Sicily, although the views from Taormina are spectacular.

Puglia has more "variety". The trulli are fun in Alberbello. The caves of Matera are amazing. My favorite town and hotel/restaurant are at the grotto in charming little Polignano di Mare. Leece is a good sized city with some fascinating "pink" architecture. The ramparts along the sea at Gallipoli are "gritty" and scenic at the same time.

Buongiorno, I am in the same situation but decided on Sicily because I am hoping it is Italy 50 years ago.

There appears to be alot more trip reports as well to use for hotel and restaurant recommendations.

We are going the last two weeks in April when the first week we are there will be Easter week. Hoping it won't be too croweded.

Whatever you choose it can only be good. It's Italy!

Gail

I have done both and loved them. It really depends on your time. You can see Puglia in 5 days if you try, but it really takes 2 weeks to see Sicily. I have trip reports on both at slowtrav.com if you are interested.

Thanks everyone. I did read Jim Zurer's trip report about Sicily on Slowtrav but will look for Bob's. We will be spending just under 2 weeks so we'll probably go to Sicily. The good news is I plan on going to Italy many more times so I don't feel like I have to "see everything" when we go.

Patrick, Matera is in Basilicata, not in Puglia. It is one of the two provincial capitals in the Basilicata region.

I've never been to Puglia, but would love to go. If you've never been to either, and you have an interest in history and complex mixutrures of cultures, Sicily would be an excellent choice. It is a large island, and the largest region in Italy, and the scenery, culture, history, and food are quite varied. If food is a special interest, I think you will love Sicily, where the very good and sometimes unusual food reflects the history of Sicily, with flavors and ingredients that came from the many historic cultural influences, and from both indigenous plants and plants that were brought by various foreign people who occupied Sicily over the centuries. the sceneray is also very varied from green mountains to dry plains and plateaus and from very dry to lush. There are some beautiful parts of cities and appealing little towns, but in general, Sicily isn't known for especially attractive towns.

If you like trip reports, you might look for reports by someone who posts as AP with numbers after those initials, and also one by RAR.

Thanks again