Originally Posted by
AAMillionaire
Thanks for the info.
Would you mind sharing any other information, like the names of the places where you stayed, how you got around, or any other tips you might have? (I noticed in another thread that you have friends in the area. Did they take you around?)
Do you think I could base myself in Lecce (or somewhere else) and do day trips to places like Gallipoli, Otranto and Santa Maria di Lueca?
Do you think it's necessary for me to rent a car for all or part of my trip?
Thanks to you and everyone for the help.
(I will skip Brindisi and reduce the time in Bari to maybe one full day and part of another on my way to the airport.)
You can easily base yourself in Lecce and explore the southern part of Puglia via day trips with a car. We spent a week in Lecce taking a language class 7 or so years ago. Lecce is both a good base for exploring Puglia as well as an interesting destination in its own right. With the ruins (relatively recently discovered) in the center of town and some wonderful architecture in the center city there is a lot to see without leaving town.
We did spend a long weekend (3-4 days) in Galatina at Hotel Residence Palazzo Baldi which was both beautiful and well priced. We were there in early December and I wouldn't call Galatina a destination town but it is authentic and we quite enjoyed a weekend there.