Lecce and Monopoli in Apulia, Any tips?

happyandcontented

As per the title, does anyone have any tips for the Lecce or Monopoli area of Italy? Places to visit, restaurants, day trips.

benjus

You don't say when you're travelling so I've included some summer-only things.

Monopoli:

We enjoyed our meal at Il Porto di Don Peppe a lot - although this was several years ago.

Just up the coast at Polignano a Mare is the Grotta Palazzese - a restaurant in a sea cave. I haven't been there but it's on my list for the next visit.

Lecce:

The city is very interesting to wander around and take in all the Baroque architecture, although it's not very big so it won't take all that long. Can't remember any stand-out places to eat. In the nearby area you've got Otranto which is very pretty. Also some good places on the coast - the Grotta della Poesia (natural swimming pool with a channel to swim out to sea) and the beach at Alimini.

happyandcontented

Thanks, we are going at Easter. I have booked 3 nights in Monopoli and 4 in Lecce. I am wondering if I have chosen the right places though, but as they are cancellable I can still change the bookings.

Any thoughts on that?

richardw

Are you flying to Brindisi or Bari?
Will you have a car?

benjus

happyandcontented wrote: »

Thanks, we are going at Easter. I have booked 3 nights in Monopoli and 4 in Lecce. I am wondering if I have chosen the right places though, but as they are cancellable I can still change the bookings.

Any thoughts on that?

Sounds like a decent trip if you'll have a car to explore - both places are decent bases to explore the surrounding areas and there's lots to see around both. Without a car you might find yourself getting a bit bored as you'll see everything there is to see in both towns quite quickly.

happyandcontented

richardw wrote: »

Are you flying to Brindisi or Bari?
Will you have a car?

Yes, we will have a car. We are flying with Ryanair into Bari. Lots of scare stories about hire car theft on the Puglia TA forum though.

richardw

Only book a car with a major such as Avis, Budget, Hertz, National. Avoid others which tend to have their names stickered on their cars, which is a bit of a 'possibly tourist valuables inside' advert.
4 nights in Lecce is a bit too much and you are a bit too south from the best sights.
Research Easter celebrations in the region.
Consider visiting Matera, Alberobello, Ostuni.

happyandcontented

richardw wrote: »

Only book a car with a major such as Avis, Budget, Hertz, National. Avoid others which tend to have their names stickered on their cars, which is a bit of a 'possibly tourist valuables inside' advert.
4 nights in Lecce is a bit too much and you are a bit too south from the best sights.
Research Easter celebrations in the region.
Consider visiting Matera, Alberobello, Ostuni.

Our idea is to visit the three places you mention from our first stop in Monopoli, and then do Lecce, Gallipoli and around that area from the base in Lecce. I had a Great Uncle who died in WW1 aged 18 from wounds sustained at Gallipoli so it seems fitting to visit the area for the Centenary.

Which sites would you class the "the best?"

richardw

happyandcontented wrote: »

...I had a Great Uncle who died in WW1 aged 18 from wounds sustained at Gallipoli so it seems fitting to visit the area for the Centenary...

Is that Gallipoli in Turkey or Italy?

happyandcontented

richardw wrote: »

Is that Gallipoli in Turkey or Italy?

:eek:Turkey, apparently! Shameful ignorance of history on my part. It was only when I saw the name Gallipoli that my Great Uncle came to mind and I remembered his sister (my Grandmother) telling me the stories about him dying of wounds in a hospital in the UK after being shipped home.

I just made the connection with the name when looking at the area and did no further research.