kawh

definitely 2 nights Matera. it takes a while to get there and you will want to tour the lower town... it's fascinating. i also love swimming in the sea... but matera will be worth being landlocked!

Catme94

I am finally trying to firm up our September 2018 Italy trip. Thank you for all of your earlier suggestions - I have incorporated many of them.

I am in need of some itinerary help after Matera and before Monopoli. I haven’t found that special hotel or place to stay yet. Is Gallipoli worth a 1 night stay and does 3 nights in Otranto make sense? We usually like to be in a town for restaurant choices (don’t have to drive) and evening drinks/passeggiata but I am wondering if we should stay at a masseria or town away from water. I am looking at Don Totu - Dimora Storica perhaps… We could do 2 nights Don Totu then 2 nights Otranto – or skip Salento altogether. Suggestions?

Trip dates August 30 – Sept 24th

Positano (7 nights Buca di Baco)
- Fly into Naples and transfer to Positano

Santa Maria di Castellabate (3 nights Residenza d'Epoca 1861)
- Ferry to Salerno, pick up rental car and drive to SMC

Matera (1 night Basiliani Hotel)
- Leave SMC early and drive to Matera (3 hours – suggested route? Padula?)
- Recommended guide for Matera please? Have emailed Nadia but no response

Four nights?:
Gallipoli (1 night in old town)
Otranto (3 nights)
Ostuni (1 night if make Otranto 2 nights?)

Monopoli (7 nights Hello Apulia apartment rental)
- Visit Polignano, Cisterno, Ostuni, Locorotondo, Martina Franca, Trani

Rome (3 nights Hotel Santa Maria Trastevere)

Also, would love some restaurant recommendations in each place and your favourite must see/do ideas please.

Olive farm, wine and/or buffalo mozzarella tour perhaps?

Should we try to see Padula on way to Matera?

Thanks!

rosetravels

If you like to hike you might try the trail above Positano, Il Sentiero degli Dei, as it is stunning and fun. We had lunch at Nocelle on the hike and it was so lovely.

The ferry to Salerno is great, and an easy walk to the car rentals. Yes to stopping near Paestum at Vennulo, the buffalo mozzarella place. We visited Padula and it was interesting but I wouldn't go far out of my way for it. Are you thinking of that as a day trip? Another option is to visit Pisciotta and have lunch at Angiolina. It's very good. At Palinuro you can get on a small boat that takes you to a gorgeous grotto. The beach there is nice.

I do think if you can borrow a night from Monopoli or Positano and add it to Matera you will be glad you did, especially as you're arriving there after a drive. The food in Matera is really good (the bread is delicious). The passeggiata in the upper town is fun and we loved having a glass of wine and a snack and watching all the people. I wouldn't recommend Nadia but we may have hired her on an off day.

So you're going straight to Positano after you arrive? We fly in from Vancouver (so far!) and I so much prefer to stop for a night and rest after we finally land. I do love Naples. It's an easy cab ride to the center from the airport and you can check in and have the great pizza!