Puglia Road Trip

Molfetta, Alberobello, Matera

Always wanted to travel south and experience rural Italy so this was an opportunity to visit a less tourist area, live in a Trullo house and sleep in a cave !

We took this road trip after spending some days with La Famiglia up in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. After a long but easy drive down south we first arrived in Molfetta and first impressions were of a very relaxed little town by the sea.

We checked into B&B MoMa http://www.molfettamare.com/b-b/ whose location was fantastic, right in the old town and a stones throw from the sea. The room was bright and airy and the sun terrace on the top floor was a plus. Breakfast was served down in the “cellar” and was a typical Italian brekky. Just outside the B&B is a lovely chilled bar which serves drinks and snacks and in the afternoon enjoys shade from the sun.

When we first got to Molfetta, it was very quiet and did not resemble a tourist town at all. Most restaurants and bars were closed and we were hoping that at least some would open in the evening. We did not need to worry as Molfetta comes alive in the evening with numerous bars and restaurants and lots of locals having their evening walk. We ate in 2 different places while we were there, La Chiazzod https://www.lachiazzod.it/ was great for antipasti, sharing plates and wine and in Sapemore we enjoyed local fish dishes and great hospitality. https://www.facebook.com/SapemoreMolfetta/

A short drive then took us to Alberobello and our Trullo house for the next few days. We pulled up to Trulli Pietra Viva https://www.booking.com/Share-6tve84 where Stella and her father met us with open arms and gave us a tour of the accommodation. Lou was in her element staying in a Trullo house, so cute and cosy ! Alberobello centre was under a 10 minute drive and I recommend parking in the first designated car park as you drive in (one price of 6 Euro for one hour or all day) and then a 5 minute walk into the centre.

We had an afternoon drink (as you do) in the Trulli e Puglia wine bar https://restaurantguru.com/Trulli-e-Puglia-Wine-Bar-Alberobello whilst people watching and tasting some local cheese, meat and wine!

A restaurant recommended by our hosts was Il Pinnacolo http://ilpinnacolo.it/en/ where we ate in the garden of the restaurant and enjoyed a lovely dinner. A great atmosphere and attentive staff made our last night in Alberobello a special one.

Final short drive took us to Matera (where part of James Bond “No Time To Die” was filmed), driving through a very baron landscape and then making our way up to the old town. Parking is a nightmare there but luckily we found a spot about a 10 minute walk from our accommodation. Speaking of which, I never thought I would be sleeping in a cave but it was defo an experience, did not feel enclosed and was lovely and cool providing a rest from the southern Italian heat.

Matera is an amazing place, one of the oldest habitable towns in the world, with lots to see and experience, from the underground cisterns to the cave dwellings in the surrounding rock faces.

We found a cool bar with a terrace to enjoy the afternoon refreshment at Terrazza Cavaliere https://restaurantguru.com/Terrazza-Cavaliere-Matera but be warned a cover charge of 3 to 4 euros each is charged just for the privilege of sitting on the terrace. Dinner was fabulous in Ristorante Nadi https://www.ristorantenadi.com/index-en.asp with some great menu choices….try the Italian sausage…ooh err missus !!