Puglia Base for Exploring Locally
 

I am doing research for a family member's honeymoon and they have expressed interest in Puglia. Seeing the cities and towns, enjoying the local cuisine and taking in some of the area's beaches. I am wondering what a good base is to do all this without having to drive too far or long distances. They are competent drivers but don't want to tackle the longer and more difficult pathways by car. I was thinking Ostuni, or Lecce, or Monopoli? Is Otranto too small? The coast in the extreme southeast near Otranto as well as on the Ionian side of the heal near Gallipoli seem like the best beaches overall in the area.