Arrival – Bari Airport is a smaller airport just outside the seaside resort of Bari. You can find the car rental service right in the arrivals hall (AVIS). Beware of limited mileage rentals – you will drive approximately 650 km. Consider getting full car insurance, traffic tends to be quite heavy, and the streets narrow. If possible, choose to arrive as early in the morning or early afternoon as possible!

As soon as you pick up the car, head for the first stop of the day, which is the Grotte di Castellana caves (route). Take the slightly longer route that follows the coast for a bit, and you can make a small stop by the sea. The Grotte di Castellana caves are very nice, and you can choose from two tours: the longer one is 3km and takes up to 2 hours, the shorter one is 1km long and takes up to 1 hour. They open at 9am. Unless you come here in high season, there is no need to buy tickets online in advance.

You can have lunch at one of the restaurants before entering the cave, but honestly none of them really appealed to us, so we drove into town, where there was a better selection of restaurants. The route is here.

After lunch you'll have just a short 20-minute drive to the town of Alberobello (you can easily park here). A town that is famous for its architecture. In the centre you will find the peculiar Trulli buildings; circular white houses with stone roofs. Interestingly, the houses were built without the use of mortar. There are about 1,500 of them in the city. You can even look inside some of these houses. In Alberobello you can just wander the streets and discover all the hidden alleys and corners on your own. Or go to the info centre for a map and more information. From the recommended parking it's only a 3-minute walk to the info centre (route).

In the late afternoon or evening, cross to Lecce (route). The journey will take 1.5-2 hours. There is a wide range of accommodation in Lecce, look for one with parking available. We opted for accommodation in Nidi di Feo, which was a great choice. The only drawback is the distance from the historic centre; it’s about 20 minutes on foot. But the accommodation rents bikes for free! Parking is free right on the street, and there was always room. The rooms are comfortably equipped, large and you can even access Netflix on the TV. The breakfasts were great. So, if you don't mind a longer distance to the centre, you might give it a try! If you don't want to walk too far, then choose accommodation in the centre, for example the Signuria Dimora Esclusiva. Contact them in advance and they will be happy to help you sort out the parking in a nearby car park. 

In the evening take your first walk around Lecce, walk to Piazza Sant'Oronzo where you will find lots of restaurants. If you're not too hungry and a simple meal is enough, opt for BonaSciana Caffè & Cucina. Directions from your accommodation are here. If you don't feel like walking, borrow a bike at the accommodation. We tried to take a taxi, but for some reason it didn't work out.

Alternatives: during the crossing you can also stop in the old and beautiful clifftop town of Polignano a Mare and admire the Lama Monachile Beach. A nice stop is also at the Parco Archeologico di Egnazia and the Parco rupestre Lama d'Antico. You can stop for a walk or a swim at the Riserva Naturale Torre Guaceto. Enjoy a great dinner at the 400 Gradi Lecce restaurant.