Southern Italy Help - Part 2
 

Hi, I have decided to start a new topic regarding travelling in Italy this July.

So far, this is my Itinerary for 4 weeks in Italy:

Arrive in Rome, and fly to Catania
3 nights - Taormina (no hotel booked yet)
3 nights - Ortigia (booked Alla Giudecca)
Fly to Naples
5 nights - Positano (booked Hotel Reginella)
Hire car and drive to Puglia
7 nights near Alberobello (B&B booked)
6 nights - Nothing Booked (Might stay 3 nights somewhere else in Puglia, but not sure where)
4 nights - Rome (no hotel booked yet)

I would love some advice on good accommodation in Taormina and Rome. I would like to stay in a nice masseria in Puglia, but I can't decide on where to stay. The ones I like are too expensive, such as Borgo Ignazia and Masseria Maizza.
Would love to know if anyone else has stayed at Alla Giudecca in Ortigia, as I have read some bad reviews about it.
Would love some good hotel recommendations and Itinerary ideas.

Thanks so much

In Rome we stayed at the Hotel Fortyseven. We were able to walk everywhere. About 15 minutes to most sights and neighborhoods. Good breakfast and wonderful hotel staff. It is a little on the high side.

I'm heading to Sicily for the 5th time in September, and booked the Hotel Condor in Taormina. I have a room with a balcony and sea view for about $85 a night. It gets great reviews and is on Booking.com and Hotels.com.

In Siracusa, I booked the Domus Mariae Albergo - also a room with balcony and sea view. It also gets great reviews and is on both sites. Of course, I haven't stayed at either place yet, but I feel good about the prospects.

The hotel you booked in Siracusa seems to get good reviews.

In Puglia, I loved the Gargano Peninsula, which is in the northern part of the province. I think it's worth a visit for a few days. When you're in Puglia, plan on a visit to Matera, which is well worth seeing. A lot of people do day trips but I spent two nights there and was not bored.
I wrote a trip report on Puglia, which has a lot of information. Check it out.

Sicily - Puglia, bookmarking

Sassafrass, Sicily-Puglia is my heritage. :-)

For the 6 nights you have nothing booked, considered exploring Basilicata and/or Abruzzo on your way back to Rome. The high mountains of Abruzzo might be a nice escape from heat.

I didn't enjoy the Gargano Peninsula at all, and think maybe after Taormina & Positano you might consider something other than coastal cliff resort towns.

On your way down to Puglia, consider stopping by Paestum.

I also recommend roadtripping through Abruzzo. Il Gran Sasso is worth at least few days. You may not want to head that far north, though. We were doing the opposite, driving down from southern Le Marche to Naples.

I stayed at Hotel Nerva in Rome last summer and it is an excellent small hotel.

Hi, thanks for the tips. Leely2 we are considering going to Abruzzo, we have been trying to book masserias in Puglia and most that we like are all booked out.
We've decided now to go straight to Ortigia when we arrive in Sicily. We have booked 3 nights and now not sure if we will go to Taormina. Because I'm going to Positano, I'm not sure if I want to go to Taormina. I have been once before (20 years ago).
We may stay 6 nights in Ortigia, or go somewhere else for 3 nights.

4 weeks in Italy but only 6 days in Sicily?

If you've been to Sicily before it would make sense just to return to a couple of favorite places.


"I didn't enjoy the Gargano Peninsula at all, and think maybe after Taormina & Positano you might consider something other than coastal cliff resort towns."

Massimop, can you expand a little on why you didn't like Gargano? I thought it I ever made it to Puglia, I would also try to carve out a few days to go up to Gargano. Looks beautiful with the cliffs and the blue green water.

If you get half a chance, visit Matera. We spent a couple of nights there, at La Dolce Vita B&B. Our room was partly in a cave!

It's quite a slog to get to the most-often photographed coastal scenery of the Gargano Peninsula, which turns out to be picturesque in only a few limited places. Many of the seaside towns are focused on cheap holiday tourism, with plenty of dispiriting modern infrastructure. Unfortunately I didn't Mont Sant'Angelo, which is an attraction for many people. Some people are enthusiastic about walking in the old forest on the island, but once you are in it, you feel like you could be walking in a forest anywhere, with very limited sightlines. Because so few foreign tourists go to the peninsula you do have the fun off being off the beaten truck, and there is of course good seafood and the very nice Pugliesi people. But that experience can be just as easily gotten in most of coastal Puglia that is much easier to reach.

Hi Scrb11, I have been to Sicily before. Maybe next time I go I will spend more time in Sicily. I also have 2 children, so I don't want to move around too much as it can be tiring with children.
Peter_S_Aus, yes I have been to Matera for a day trip. I did love it, and might go back for another day trip. I had lunch at le botteghe and loved that restaurant. We stumbled across it and had no idea if it would be good. I would go back to have lunch there.