We are going to Italy next month for a few weeks. We have been in Italy various time over the years. However we have never been in Puglia. This is the plan:

Lecce = 5 nights
??? = 5 nights
Rome = 5 nights

The ??? represents the original plan of 3 nights in Venice and 2 nights in Florence. I now feel this doesn't make sense. Plus I am iffy about Venice.

Then I thought this:

Lecce = 6 nights
Florence = 4 nights
Rome = 5 nights

This would entail about a 8+ hour train from Brindisi to Florence or take a one stop flight. This would be the big travel time. (The train trip from Florence to Rome is fast.)

At this point, I am unsure what really makes sense. In the past, Fodorites have been very helpful. Since we are getting down to the wire, I would appreciate any and all of your suggestions.

Thank you very much.

You don't sound very jazzed about Florence, and I think I would rather spend that transit time somewhere between Lecce and Rome. There are so many options! What are you looking to get out of the trip? Do you prefer driving or public transit? You could stop somewhere in northern Puglia or Basilicata, or you could visit Naples and the Amalfi coast. I am sure others could name a dozen other options, so tell us more about what you want.

You say you've been to Italy a few times but don't mention where. That might be helpful for us to know.

Thank you very much for your responses.

Jean -
We have been here.
Rome and Florence - Separately various times. Good.
Venice and Pompei - Once-separately. Distant, tourist blur.
Lucca and Sienna- Once-me. LIked Lucca better.
Amalfi Coast - Once-he. Good.
Alba, Cinque Terra & Milan - We- many tourists in Peidmonte & CT. 2012.
Sicily - Once-me. Good. Lifetime ago.

Yorkshire -
You pose an excellent question. What are we trying to get out of the trip? We both need an big break. I love big cities with cultural stuff and cafe scenes. My husband does also but appreciates the outdoors more than me. I picked Puglia because we had been hearing wonderful things about it. Rome was a no brainer. The third part of the trip has been tricky. It probably makes so much sense to stay south of Rome until we do that leg of the trip. The Almafi coast or up to northern Puglia both sound very good.

My husband will drive in Italy but he's not crazy about it. We plan to pick up a car in Lecce. We prefer not to drive much in the cities. Trains are fine.

What do you think? I'm listening and thinking...

What about Abruzzo, Le Marche or the area north of Rome like Casperia?

We have spent many weeks in Le Marche. You can see our pics here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...57634528008046

You will love Lecce. Definitely a place to sit and sip coffee. Lecce is a nice base for exploring the Salento, so I think somewhere in northern Puglia near the Itria valley night be nice, lots of cute little towns, pretty agricultural areas. If you plan on having a car, it would make sense to keep it and drop before Rome. We are not drivers (live near DC and commute by bike), and we visited Basilicata and Puglia by car the last two years--if we enjoy it, anyone will.
I really want to suggest Matera, and while I could happily spend 4 nights even on a third visit, it might seem like more than enough to others.
For a city lover, Naples all day long! You could drop the car and boat around the bay.

Meant to say Le Marche is off the main tourist track and really uncrowded.

We always stay here http://www.latavolamarche.com

I think yorkshire's suggestions make a lot of sense, why not Basilicata or Naples? Or roadtrip through Basilicata on the way to Naples? I spent almost a week in Naples this June and loved it, but it is busy/hectic/a little grimey so definitely not for everyone.

I like jamikins' suggestions very much too. We drove everywhere (a bit of Umbria, southern Le Marche, Abruzzo) on our recent trip and enjoyed the driving. Got rid of the car at Naples airport before heading into the city. We also stayed in Ravello, which was stunningly beautiful. Good hiking there, too.

Oh yeah, Le Marche & Abruzzo are off the tourist trail. Some parts way, way off.

Thank you all.

We are going to extend 4 or 5 more nights in Puglia and Basilcata. What would be a good additional base aside after Lecce? We will definitely go to Matera. But I am thinking 4 nights would be too much.

Yorkshire
We live in NYC. So I appreciated the driving comment. Do you have a Puglia trip report posted?

Finally I am thinking about possibly tagging on another night in Rome. This would allow us to do a day trip to Florence. The train is only 90 minutes. What do you think?

A reply in this thread is the closest I have done to a trip report--for the last two years!
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-in-puglia.cfm

Four nights might seem a lot to you for Matera, but three nights would be very easy to fill.

My additional thought is Capri. Capri Town is touristy, but once you're away from there, the island has many charms.

Why not tack on a daytrip to Florence? It's easy, and if you plan your sightseeing (day of the week, careful of closing times, tickets) I think it would be a wonderful day.

Also you mentioned the long drive from Puglia (I think) to Florence, but you could get to Florence by fast train from a number of places.

We spent 3 nights in Matera and very much enjoyed it. Our TR is here http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...a-short-tr.cfm
I would pick another base north of Lecce in Puglia and explore from there. I don't think the exact location is critical. There are lots of nice towns Ostuni, Martina Franco, & further north, Poligano Mare to name just a few. Since you'll be in Lecce it might be nice to stya outside a town. Lots of lovely places to stay in the countryside and driving is very easy. Good roads and little traffic.

Thank so much for all the great help.

So here is the latest plan for 15 nights:

Brindisi - Flight arrival. Take the train to Lecce.

Lecce - 5 nights - Pick up a car. (Apartment recommendation -bilboburgler, confirmed. Tried Yorkshire's but it was booked.)
Matera - 2 nights - Car (Fra I Sassi Residence B&B - confirmed)
Peschici - 2 nights - Car (Locanda della Castellana - waiting for confirmation)
Bari - Drop off the car. Take the Bari to Rome train.
Rome - 6 nights - (VRBO Trastevere apartment - waiting for confirmation.)

Thoughts?

Are you planning on visiting the smaller towns in the salento?

Jubilada - I was thinking Otranto. Where do you recommend in Salento that we can do a day trip from Lecce? We are totally open. Thanks very much.