Crossing Italy’s Boot: Matera, Alberobello & Lecce in One Day

After a restful day yesterday, we were up early and ready for a packed itinerary — today we crossed Italy from coast to coast, journeying through some of the country’s most breathtaking and historic destinations. From ancient cave cities to fairytale towns and Baroque beauty, this was a travel day to remember.

Stop 1: Matera — Ancient Wonder & Film Star

Our first stop was Matera, a city like no other. Known as one of the oldest continuously inhabited places on Earth, Matera is famous for its Sassi, ancient cave dwellings carved directly into the limestone rock. Walking through the winding stone paths and peeking into the caves feels like stepping into another time entirely. We enjoyed a visit to the cave dwelling museum and wander the streets soaking up the atmosphere.

It’s no wonder Matera has become a favourite filming location. Fans of cinema might recognise it from The Passion of the Christ and the opening scenes of James Bond: No Time to Die — yes, that iconic Aston Martin chase was shot right here.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, Matera is haunting, beautiful, and absolutely worth a visit. We parked Gandalf at the motorhome parking area 20 mins walk out of town.

Stop 2: Alberobello — Fairytale Charm in the Heart of Puglia

From Matera, Basilicata, we crossed into Puglia, and the scenery quickly transformed. Rolling fields, centuries-old olive trees, dry stone walls, and occasional glimpses of traditional trulli homes lined the road — a sign we were nearing Alberobello.

If Matera felt like stepping back in time, Alberobello felt like walking into a storybook. The town is famous for its trulli — whitewashed stone houses topped with conical roofs. These whimsical structures are unique to the region and have earned Alberobello a well-deserved place on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

We explored the charming lanes, took way too many photos, and rounded off the visit with a cold craft beer brewed right in town. A perfect little pause before the final leg of the day. We parked Gandalf in the official motorhome parking area 5 mins from the Trulli houses. It cost €10 for up to 6hours (annoying as we were only there 1 hour), but was it also a very nice looking Sosta. With an extra day to play with, we’d have stayed there for sure.

Stop 3: Lecce — Sunset Rides & Southern Beauty

Our last destination of the day was Lecce, where we’re spending the night just outside the city on a peaceful farm stop — surrounded by olive trees, fig jam, and total tranquility.

On the drive in, signs for Greece had me momentarily tempted to skip Lecce and hop on a ferry to Corfu — but that adventure will have to wait! 😜

Instead, we unloaded the bikes and cycled the 6km into the city just as the sun was dipping behind the horizon — and wow, what a way to arrive. Lecce is often called the “Florence of the South,” and the nickname is well earned. The Baroque architecture here is intricate and stunning, and we found ourselves constantly stopping to admire it.

We also stumbled upon a fun full-circle moment — the endpoint of the Via Appia, the ancient Roman road we started cycling on last year… all the way back in Rome. Pretty surreal to reach the other end on this trip!

After exploring, we wrapped up the day with a couple of glasses of locally produced wine (delicious, by the way), then cycled back to our farm base just before nightfall.

Three stops, two UNESCO sites, one incredible day.

Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Northbound — slowly

Today marked the beginning of our reluctant journey north. But we weren’t quite ready to say goodbye to Puglia or the coast, so we only crept a couple of hours up the road to a seaside campsite between Trani and Bisceglie for one last hit of Adriatic sea air.

After a food restock, we rolled into our campsite (early, for once!) and enjoyed a long, lazy lunch of mozzarella, tomatoes, and prosciutto — our go-to combo lately. Then we hopped on the bikes again to ride the gorgeous coastal path that links Trani and Bisceglie, hugging the sea nearly the whole way.

Both towns charmed us — picture-perfect harbours, characterful narrow streets, fishermen selling their catch straight from their boats, impressive cathedrals, and that slow southern pace we’ve come to love.

We finished with a glass of local Puglian wine overlooking Trani’s harbour, soaking up the last rays of sun and a final taste of the south.

Tomorrow, the real miles north begin. But tonight? Pure contentment and this sunset from the campsite!