A place I have not seen, but would like to go and all your comments will be helpful.

I am thinking of Puglia for a trip next year, so want to bookmark this very helpful thread! Hope all of you with trips planned have a wonderful time!

Florida1, I hope to write a helpful trip report . I always enjoy hearing about your travels.

I am so looking forward to all the new Puglia reports that will be coming soon. They are incredibly helpful.

Slippery stone steps - reminds me of the Old City in Jerusalem - so well worn that they shine. Shiny stone steps = slippery = scary!

Here's where I am:

Depart NY 5/20

4 nights Rome
4 nights Ostuni area (maybe a trulli; not sure where)
4 nights Lecce (masseria; not sure where)
2 nights Matera - Corte San Pietro (thanks jangita) Nadia is available for a tour.
3 nights Andria - Lama di Luna
1 night near FCO

I welcome more suggestions, especially special experiences and food.

(Altamura for bread!)

Should be a great trip!

You're welcome, centralparkgirl.
I forgot to put Altamura for bread into my list ;)

Jangita - what else is on your list?

My husband and I have been to Italy a bunch (but never to Puglia) and my planning has gotten pretty low key. So, I don't have much of a list. We mostly like to wander around town, have coffee in a bar, do our grocery shopping and pretend we're a bit local. This is the plan for our week in Lecce, especially. But we will be getting a car half way through and I want to go to Gallipoli and Martina Franca, for sure.

I have Fred Plotkin's book but it really is getting old (written in the mid 90's) so I've just been surfing around looking for ideas and bookmarking. I look at Chowhound pretty regularly for restaurant ideas, too.

There's supposed to be some special bread in Matera, too. look at www.paneepace.it.

Just because my planning is low key doesn't mean we're not totally excited. We are!!

I was briefly in Puglia when I was twenty…..a very different experience. Looking forward to this trip and I hope you'll report back after your trip!

Enjoy Lucca - we loved renting bikes and riding a top the wall.

Centralparkgirl - Where are you staying in Ostuni? Thanks.

saulmax - we are staying in Masseria Cervarolo about 9 km sw of Ostuni which seems very centrally located to explore the area. And instead of Lecce, I'm considering a small town which also looks very centrally located for day trips in the heel called Maglie. I'm considering a B and B there called Corte Dei Granai, but they haven't responded to my inquiries yet. They have parking behind their building and the town itself sounds lovely. Maglie looks equidistant to a lot of the towns we would like to visit including Lecce.

CPG -

Thank very much.

We will stay in Lecce (5 nights) , Matera (2 nights) and Polignano a Mare (2 nights). Then we'll be in Rome for a while.

I am finally sitting down studying all the trip reports and making notes. We are leaving tomorrow. Please send me any restaurant list that you may have put together. That would help.

SM

@saulmax
Have a good trip. We are leaving Thursday. I have a restaurant reservation at Angelo Sabatelli in Monopoli, for our 40th anniversary.

Have a great time

I just came across this wonderful site which explains Puglian food specialties, as well as many other aspects of puglia in great detai.
Bridgepugliausa.it

MC - Thank you very much. We are an older couple who will be celebrating our anniversary in Rome. I am check your restaurant in Monopoli. Wishing you another 40!

Jubilada - On the BPSUSA website now. Thank you so much.

Jubilada - great site. Thanks for posting!

Safe travels, everyone. Please report back when you're home!