I am a senior from the US who usually travel independently. For Puglia, I will be joining a guided group tour, plus some time on my own. Yes, "The Times They Are a-Changin'" haha

In May I will arrive at Bari, in time for the St Nicholas festival on my own. Followed by the tour covering Lecce, Monopoli, Otrano, Matera, Galatina, Ostuni, Locorotondo, Alberobello, Polignano a Mare, Trani.

After the tour ends in Trani, I have four nights on my own without a car, before a late morning flight out of Bari. Having seen enough buildings by then, I would like to visit some place with easy nature or village walks (not hike or bike). Some options I am considering:

- stay at Trani and take day trips (where?)
- Gravina in Puglia (Altamura, Irsina)
- Martina Franca (Cisternino)
- return to a place I really like during the tour

Gravina and Martina Franca may be more of the same of what I have seen during the tour?

From the last night's stay, I need to be able to catch my late morning flight out of Bari the next day.

Comments and suggestions? Thanks in advance.

I think I would return to Matera and visit on my own.
Possible half-day trip to Tursi from Matera.
Or to Craco.

I suppose you will have visited the famous Castellana Caves with your group.
Buit what about medieval Castel del Monte castle?
Or go up to Termoli, visit the medieval city, the castle and the famous Trabucchi.
Termolil is the starting point of the ferries to the tiny Tremiti Islands.

Depending on how much time your tour gives you in Lecce, you might want to see more of it.

I might look out a masseria with a cooking course. One of the cultural high points of Italy is the kitchen. A masseria is a different sort of place to stay in.

Or yoga, art etc etc
The train is pretty good for getting around. Bus is number 2.

That's a possibility. But the tour includes two nights (almost two full days) in Matera already.

Yes, the tour includes the Caves.
Castel del Monte castle is a day trip possibility if I spend more time at Trani.
From the description, it sound like Vieste instead of Tremiti? Would love to go to Gargano. But not practical without a car.

The tour includes three nights at Lecce, but only one full day in the city. It's definitely a return possibility. Based on Trainline, I can depart from Lecce in the morning and catch my flight at Bari.

From the pictures, masserias (with swimming pools) are too upscale (not cost) for me. I would prefer a down to earth farm stay instead.

Yes, Trainline has been very helpful.

The term masseria is bandied about a lot. I think it actually refers to an old farm complex in Puglia. Some do have pools and total luxury, but not all of them...

I think I'd still return to Matera and take a tour to Craco, but Castel del Monte also excellent idea..... f
Vieste is glorious but un less you find a bus from Bari, you would need a car to get there. You can do ok with no car while there, however, and if you happened to want to visit a rural masserie to eat, you could take taxi RT. But that's kind of an outlier given the limited time and transport.

Would you ever consider renting a car? If so, that would offer other ideas..

Masserie prices vary a lot

Perhaps, but to be honest, I wouldn't do that -- trains in Italy are sometimes hit by strikes. I'd want to be in the location of my flight the night before.

"Would love to go to Gargano. But not practical without a car"
Sure?
May be you will check the timetables:
file:///D:/Downloads/ORARI%20BUS%20TPL.pdf
file:///D:/Downloads/ORARI%20TRENI%20FOGGIA-PESCHICI.pdf
https://sitasudtrasporti.it/puglia/orari/
In addition, there are ferries from Termoli to Tremiti and from Tremiti to Peschici and Vieste

There you go!!!

Gargano!!!

you might find rome2rio is a good planning tool

Yes, good idea. I thought you were gagged, Bilbo!


Ok..after much discussion, we have decided that you will spend the extra time in the Gargano. Take a good look at Vieste. Tremiti if weather permits, for a day trip.

Thanks. It brought back memory of a train in Sicily replaced by a bus. After more research, I agree that I should stay at Bari (or Trani) the night before the flight.

That leaves two or three nights elsewhere. I'll decide during the tour at Lecce and Matera to see if either is worth returning to. I may also find guided excursions there. But not much hope for "easy nature or village walks".

Thanks to everyone's suggestions.

Both Lecce and Matera are definitely worth returning to. We wish we’d had at least a week in Matera and another 4 days in Lecce. Two beautiful cities very different but both offer so much. If you stay in Matera you don’t even need to stay in Bari because there’s a bus that goes to the airport. It takes an hour. It costs €6 or so.