We are renting a car for three weeks. First week in Puglia, next two weeks in Sicily.

When we leave Puglia, we will drive from Marina San Gregorio to Cefalu. MSG is on the tippy west point of the stiletto of the heel. We have one or two nights to stay enroute to Cefalu, since it is a ten hour drive. Questions:
1. The google driving route takes us through Brindisi, which is on the eastern side of Puglia. If I "change route" and hug the western coast it is only about 15 minutes longer according to maps. Would that be scenic, and perhaps easier navigation since we won't be passing through large towns like Lecce and Brindisi?
2. We need to stop enroute, for one or two nights. We are wondering about Cosenza vs Tropea, both on the western side of Cosenza area. Both about halfway, but Tropea is waterside, Cosenza inland, with Tropea requiring about 45 minutes more driving. Anyone have experience/preferences/ or suggestions on small town to stay? We enjoy wandering and do love the waterfront. Tropea was apparently voted "most beautiful village in Italy" in 2021! But if Cosenza has that clifftop charm, we're good with that also! We will have a car so parking must be available. Specific vacation rental or hotel recs would be most appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

The motorway via Lecce and Brindisi bypasses these citiesand Taranto: you will see nothing of them.
The Western itinerary bypasses Gallipoli (a historic city that you will certainly have visited before), Nardo (SP 112), Manduria (SP 142, SS7te), San Giorgio and Taranto.
The SS106 along the Ionion Sea bypasses almost all beach resorts.
Cosenza is a typical Calabrian city with some 70.000 inhabitants - not really touristy - along the motorway A2.
Tropea is a small medieval town and a famous beach resort with stunning views over the Thyrrenian Sea.

Didnt drive, went by train all the way along the Ionian Sea. A whole week. So didnt go to Cosenza but Tropea was one of the highlights of the trip. It too hangs on the cliff edge with a nice beach and views of Stromboli across the water.

Thanks to both of you! Tropea it is then!
Neckervd, I guess I'm looking at the map wrong. It looks like google brings you right into the heart of Brindisi via SS613 to SS7 at a roundabout. I read somewhere that google maps messes up in this area...

Another option, we took a 55 min flight on Volotea from Bari to Palermo.
They also flew into Catania.

Great idea, but I don't think we can fit the rental car on the plane (we got a great deal for a 3 week rental so we're stuck driving back to Rome...)

Google maps show it correctly: SS 613/SS13 is in reality a 4 lanes motorway passing West of Brindisi.
For Taranto, you will have to leave it at the exit "Brindiis Centro" and will reach the 4 lane motorway SS 7 after 400 metres.
The motorway goes through some suburbs of Brindisi, but with no connection with the urban road network (except the exits La Rosa,
Centro, Casale and Airport).
Similar situation at Lecce.

Gotcha. Thank you for the clarification!