Lecce: Good for me based on my interests?
 

i will be going to Puglia for 7 days in June before visiting family for a week in Calabria. I'm thinking that I would have 2 bases. I am definitely a beach person, but at the same time would like to take in historical sites. It would also be nice to be able to walk to dinner at night. Is Lecce a good base for 4 nights in June? It appears on a map that it's not too far from the coast? we will have a rental car.

Yes, as a centro base for Puglia it is hard to beat. Day trip north to Martina Franca and Alberobello and south to the coast. Have fun--you will like Puglia.

So, it is central enough to stay the whole 7-8 nights or should I move to a more Northern part of puglia for 3 nights?

Sorry, I did not see that you had 7 days. Given that time I would have 2 bases---Lecce and perhaps Martina Franca or Ostuni. We also enjoyed the caves at Castellana.

How far north are you thinking of going? The Gargano Peninsula is gorgeous. We split our time first in Monopoli, from which we visited Bari, Alberobello, Lecce, Ostuni, Otranto and Gallipoli. Then we moved to Mattinata on the Gargano to explore Castel del Monte, Vieste, San Giovanni Rotondo and Monte San Angelo.

I am with Grinisa-the Gargano Peninsula (the "spur" on the "boot of Italy) is very interesting and quite untouristy-esp in June which is before the Italian families come out to play. You will find a side-trip to the Tremiti Islands rewarding, in addition to the sites that Grinisa mentioned. Yes, definitely time and destinations enough for two bases.

I agree that two bases are better than one. We also stayed a couple nights in Matera, but we loved our 4 nights in Lecce, going off to the coast in another direction each day and returning to this pretty city each night, and then 3 nights at our favorite Italian hotel of all times:

This hotel and "cave restaurant" is in Polignano di Mare, one of the most charming coastal towns ever, and made a perfect base for Ostuni, Alberobella, and Brindisi, and Bari.

http://www.grottapalazzese.it/intro.html