THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR IDEAS AND HELP,NOW IS IT FEASABLE TO FLY TO ROME THEN DRIVE TO PUGLIA? WE CAN FLY JET2 LOW COST TO ROME THUS LEAVING MORE MONEY FOR ESSENTIALS LIKE FOOD AND WINE, WE ARE TAKING A 2 WEEK TRIP SO A COUPLE DAYS DRIVING EITHER END WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM...CHEERS

Depending on exactly where your going, your drive would take you about 2.5 hours by Autostrada.

Go to www.mappy.com to see specifics.

you might train it to say Lecce and then hire a car

hi, john,

you could actually do something that lots of posters find themselves dissuading ops from doing as day-trips from Rome, and visit pompeii en route.

you could drive there the first day, stay overnight nearby, then spend half a day there before driving on. you'd be in puglia easily for supper.

regards, ann

We have a vacation home on the Campaia/Basilicata/Puglia border and almost ALWAYS fly into Rome (cheaper flights, cheaper cars, avoiding Naples, excuse to go to Rome on one end of our trip, etc.!) It is an easy 3 1/2 hour drive for us. (BUT...don't know where in Puglia you're going) I find the directions on viamichelin.com are usualy spot on with drive times if you want to check it out. The roads in the South are very good and very well marked, etc. have a good trip!
Nicole

Additional to "CasaDel's..." advice, that drive is also very interesting with vast differences in terrain.

I did just that - i.e. flew into Rome, rented a car and drove to Puglia where I spent 11 days about 2 months ago. I have posted my trip report in this forum called "My Party in Puglia". Check it out and I will be happy to answer any other specifics you may have.

ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU ALL, WHATEVER DID WE DO BEFORE WE FOUND THIS SITE !! IM BUSY READING ALL THE REPORTS TO DECIDE JUST WHERE TO VISIT THEN OF COURSE MY BELOVED SAYS WHY DONT WE GO TO TUSCANY!!! THIS I DONT NEED.. TOO MANY PLACES TO VISIT AND NOT ENOUGH TIME ,MAYBE ILL LIVE TO BE 150 STILL WOULDNT GET TO SEE IT ALL.. IF ANYBODY HAS ANY PLANS TO VISIT ENGLAND AND PLAN TO SEE YORKSHIRE[ GODS OWN COUNTRY] I WILL BE HAPPY TO ASSIST THEIR PLANNING ..ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU JC AND T

Hi John,
Just returned from a vacation in Puglia with my family. We went to the Salento peninsula (the heel of the boot). I have travelled quite a bit in Puglia, but Salento is my favorite part (Lecce, Otranto, Gallipoli, Santa Marina de Leuca, the beautiful coastlines). This is the farthest point south from Rome and it takes 6 1/2 hours by car from Rome. I second the suggestion to use the Michelin site. Excellent driving directions/toll information, etc. Alternatively, you can take the Eurostar train from Rome to Lecce and then rent a car (www.ferroviedellostato.it ) Best of luck - you will love Puglia!