14 Days in Italy Itinerary: Puglia, Rome + the Island of Ponza
TWO-WEEK ITALY ITINERARY
DAY ONE: Locorotondo + Lecce
DAY TWO: Otranto
DAY THREE: Otranto
DAY FOUR: Otranto
DAY FIVE: Monopoli
DAY SIX: Monopoli
DAY SEVEN: Polignano e Mare
DAY EIGHT: Rome
DAY NINE: Rome
DAY TEN: Rome
DAY ELEVEN: Island of Ponza
DAY TWELVE: Island of Ponza
DAY THIRTEEN: Island of Ponza
DAY FOURTEEN: Rome
PLANNING A TRIP TO ITALY?
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DAY ONE: LOCOROTONDO + LECCE
Logistics: Fly into Bari Airport (easy flights from Rome) and pick up rental car. We used Dollar and would highly recommend. Drive to Locorotondo, Palermo (1 hour drive) for the afternoon and then head to (Lecce (1 hr 15 min drive). Check with your cell provider, we had wifi for $10/day and used Google Maps to drive around Puglia.
Accommodations: Nuvole Barocche B&B (1 night)
Must do: Take the afternoon to explore Locorotondo, a gorgeous whitewashed town atop a hill. In the evening, explore the historical heart of Lecce - so many alleys to get lost in. Make sure to see the Cattedrale Santa Maria Assunta and surrounding plaza at night!
Must eat: Pasticciotto, Italian pastry filled with custard. Recommended restaurants in Lecce:
DAY TWO: OTRANTO
Logistics: Drive to Otranto (30 min drive)
Accommodations: Masseria Muntibianchi Agriresort (3 nights - this place is insanity, you won’t want to leave)
Must Do: Relax by the pool and order copious amounts of fresh fish and cocktails at the poolside bar
Must Eat: Local Salento olive oil + Cerignola green olives. Recommended restaurant:
DAYS THREE + FOUR: OTRANTO
Must do: Day Trips
Otranto Beaches + swimming hole hop from Torre d’Orso Beach to Grotta della Poesia
Day trip along the Adriatic Sea from Otranto to Santa Maria di Leuca (approx 2.5 hours round trip). Recommended pit stops in order down the coast:
Santa Cesarea Terme, a charming seaside town
Spiaggia Porto Miggiano for a dip
Castro Marina for sunbathing with the locals
Grotto Zinzulusa for a locals-only dip
Piscina Naturale di Marina Serra
Leuca (Santa Maria de Finibus Terrae for views)
Pescoluse, often call the “Maldives of Puglia”
Must eat: Terra degli Ulivi Restaurant - magical candlelit restaurant in an olive grove on property at the hotel
READ MORE ABOUT TRAVEL TO PUGLIA
DAY FIVE: MONOPOLI
Logistics: Drive to Monopoli (1.5 hour drive)
Accommodations: Airbnb - Casa Graziella (3 nights)
Must do: Rent a bike + explore Monopoli
Must eat: Aperol Spritz - you’re in Italy after all!
DAY SIX: MONOPOLI
Must do: Post up at a beach club with swimming access. Here are some of best clubs and beaches in Monopoli:
Cala Cerasa (recommended by our Airbnb hosts and we loved it)
Purple Beach
Lido Bambu
Must eat: Caffe in ghiaccio (also known as caffe leccese) is a drink unique to Puglia that consists of espresso, almond milk and ice. We were warned if we tried ordering this anywhere else in Italy people would look at us like we were crazy. They were right. Pronounced “cafe in yacho”
DAY SEVEN: POLIGNANO E MARE
Logistics: Head in to Polignano e Mare by taxi or by train (just watch what time the trains stop running as it’s around 10pm some nights)
Must do: Explore Polignano e Mare (bring your swimsuit)
Must eat: Gelato - another Italian classic, peeps
DAY 8: BARI TO ROME
Logistics: Drive from Monopoli to Bari Airport (40 minutes from Monopoli). Return rental car and catch a quick one-hour flight to Rome
Accommodations: We love Trastevere : Art Music Night life Airbnb as it is chic and centrally located (3 nights)
Must do: Spend the afternoon and evening getting to know Trastevere; the “Brooklyn” of Rome if you will.
Must eat: You must eat in Trastevere! These are some of the best restaurants in Trastevere:
La Botticella
Dar Poeta (delightful pizza)
Terrazza Parraiso for cocktails
We have an amazing list of restaurants in Trastevere, put together by a local. Contact us here for the full list!
DAY NINE: ROME
Logistics: Walking on foot
Must do: Hit the Coliseum early before the sun gets to baking (skip a tour unless it includes the underground gladiator stalls of the arena) and then take the afternoon to wander and get acquainted with the city and its hidden alleyways and piazzas. You’ll probably end up passing by the Pantheon (go inside + read up on its history plz), Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps as you go, all worth a visit.
Must eat: Fresh, airy and herby focaccia, per favore. You absolutely must go to Antico Forno Roscioli, which we decided to try after we saw dozens of people milling around with insane looking bready delights.
DAY TEN: ROME
Must do: If you love art history and you have a lot of patience, go to the Sistine Chapel. If you’re impatient and can’t stand a Disneyland-esque line, just explore Vatican City and St. Peter’s Basilica. Then head to Galleria Borghese + Gardens and opt for a guided museum tour to soak in all the Bernini and Caravaggio you can handle.
Must eat: La Taverna Dei Fori Imperiali was recommended by an Italian friend, he said the food is amazing!!! (three exclamation points)
DAY ELEVEN: PONZA
Logistics: Hop on ItaliaRail from Roma Termini Station to the coastal town of Formia or Anzio (the towns are close so pick whatever works with your schedule/the hydrofoil schedule). The train trip will take you about 2.5 hours. Then take the hydrofoil from Formia to Ponza or Anzio to Forma, which will each take about one hour and twenty minutes.
Accommodations: Hotel Chiaia di Luna (3 nights)
Must do: Relax by the pool and unwind from the hustle bustle of Rome
Must eat: Ristorante Eea for seafood (reservations required)
DAY TWELVE: PONZA
Logistics: On foot; the hotel is a 10-minute walk from the port and it’s local restaurant and shops
Must do: Rent a boat and head out on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Option 1: Explore the grottos (and more calm waters) on the eastern side of the island. Option 2: Make the more adventurous trek (on more angry waters) to Palmarola
Must eat: La Pazzaria for a fresh margherita pie
Read More About Ponza
Rome to Ponza: Visiting an Ancient Island in the Tyrrhenian Sea
DAY THIRTEEN: PONZA
Must do: Rent a Vespa and scoot around the island to see the epic vistas from every corner of the island and jump in the natural swimming pools like the locals do
Must eat: Il Pescatore for more amazing seafood (reservations required)
DAY FOURTEEN: ROME
Logistics: Hydrofoil from Ponza to Formia and then ItaliaRail train from Formia to Rome
Accommodations: Nobildonne Relais (1 night) – trust me, you won’t regret it
Must do: Shop (window or otherwise) all of the luxury boutiques near the Spanish Steps and soak in one last Italian sunset
Must eat: Creamy, cheesy, yolky al dente carbonara of dreams at Poldo e Gianna Osteria (you won’t want to share and you’ll thank me later)
