Among sassi, caves and trulli

A quick tour between Puglia and Basilicata, the only downside being the great heat of this torrid summer. Basilicata surprises us distinctly; there's a great desire for modernity. Flight: Ryanair from Bologna to Bari, € 120,00 for 2, perfectly on time Car rental: online via Rentalcars (Budget company) for a week for a Panda € 190,00 Hotel: via Booking.com at Matera Villa Rossana (€ 57,00 with breakfast), a B&B just outside the city, very comfortable and well kept. In Massafra (not far from Taranto) B&B Nacorè (€ 125,00) for 2 nights, a 5-star B&B, beautiful. In Alberobello, 2 nights in a Trullo (Trullo Aurelia) with a Boscolo package received as a gift; here too a fabulous stay (p.s.: Boscolo packages are always too expensive; booking on your own certainly saves money). Having landed in Bari early, the first stop was Altamura, then on towards Matera.

Not to be missed is the guided tour of the Sassi, perhaps at a less hot time of day (we did it at 14.30!!!) and a stroll in the centre, very lively in the evening; all over Matera you eat very well and at reasonable prices (worth mentioning is the Terrazzino, with a view of the Sasso Barisano). Then a course towards the sea at Metaponto (a quick stop at the Tavole Palatine, again because of the great heat). The evening in Taranto, on the other hand, is one to forget: a debilitating humid heat and great chaos in the city. The Aragonese Castle is worth a visit, though. On Sunday we didn't have the courage to venture towards the sea, considering it crowded, so we drove down to Lecce, visited many years ago, in an August that compared with this July was very cool. A fascinating and well-restored city.

On Monday, a visit to Ostuni, a white jewel………whereas the sea at Torre Canne disappoints us. In the evening we arrive in Alberobello, a special atmosphere and a light evening breeze that softens the red-hot air; dining outdoors among the trulli is very evocative. On Tuesday, the sea at Torre d'Egnazia, a lovely spot….also very beautiful is Locorotondo, on the way back towards Alberobello. The last day…..in the cool of the Castellana Caves, evocative….the visit is well organised, with few people per guide. Polignano a Mare is beautiful as scenery but disappoints us in terms of tourist organisation (we're in July and at lunchtime almost everything is closed); a bit of a sense of abandonment in Mola di Bari and Torre a Mare….before taking the plane, a quick tour of the centre of Bari, total chaos, abandoned restorations and neglect.