Trip ideas · Bari, Valle d'Itria, Salento and Matera
Bari, Valle d'Itria, Salento and Matera: a One-Week Road Trip in Italy
Best in July and August, also good in June
From Naples and back: seven nights, 937 km, the longest day about 3 h 15 at the wheel. Driving costs €100–€180 + 1 toll not priced.
Festival della Valle d'Itria (52nd edition), opera in Martina Franca's Palazzo Ducale and cloisters: 14 July – 2 August 2026 (listing starts 10 July); 2027 dates not published yet. Watch for: Lecce ZTL: the Comune's page for transit and parking permits in the historic-centre ZTL.
Use this route in my plan Your checklist for Italy: vignettes, zones, kit and dates.
Day by day
Kilometres and hours are motorway estimates between the cities named, without stops or traffic. Where you sleep in a smaller place nearby, the real place and its distance are given.
Day 1
Naples → Bari 274 km · about 2 h 55 driving
Puglia's capital; first night after the A16 across the Apennines. Source
Day 2
Bari → Martina Franca 99 km · about 1 h 50 driving
Valle d'Itria town that hosts the Festival della Valle d'Itria in July. Source
Day 3
A day out from Martina Franca No long drive
Day 4
Martina Franca → Lecce 133 km · about 1 h 55 driving
Salento's main city; base for the Notte della Taranta festival towns in August. Source
Day 5
A day out from Lecce No long drive
Day 6
Lecce → Matera 156 km · about 2 h 20 driving
City of the Sassi cave districts, on the way back west. Source
Day 7
Matera → Naples 275 km · about 3 h 15 driving
Last night back in Naples.
Day 8
Return the car in Naples No long drive
Why go in July and August
- Festival della Valle d'Itria (52nd edition), opera in Martina Franca's Palazzo Ducale and cloisters: 14 July – 2 August 2026 (listing starts 10 July); 2027 dates not published yet. Source
- La Notte della Taranta: touring festival through 20 Salento towns, ending with the Concertone in Melpignano: 30 July – 22 August 2026 (Concertone Saturday 22 August); 2027 dates not published yet. Source
What to watch for
- Lecce ZTL: the Comune's page for transit and parking permits in the historic-centre ZTL (all year). Source
- Notte della Taranta Concertone night in Melpignano (Salento) – large event (22 August 2026). Source
- Matera ZTL in the Sassi: camera gates active 10:00–24:00 in summer (1 July – 15 September). Source
What the week costs to drive
| Item | Cost | Worked out from |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel for 937 km | €101–€176 | Each country's average petrol and diesel price (week of 28 September 2026), 5 to 8 litres per 100 km. Fuel prices |
| Driving the week | €100–€180 + 1 toll not priced | Rounded to €10 |
Not included: A16 Napoli–Canosa + A14 Canosa–Bari (Autostrade per l'Italia) (operator); hotels, food and parking. For your own car and exact days, use the trip cost calculator.
The rules on this route
Use this route in my plan to get every vignette, zone, kit rule and deadline for these countries in one checklist, with dates. The speed limits and sign words pages can then show only these countries.
Next on the road
Sources
- Festival della Valle d'Itria (52nd edition), opera in Martina Franca's Palazzo Ducale and cloisters
- La Notte della Taranta: touring festival through 20 Salento towns, ending with the Concertone in Melpignano
- Lecce ZTL: the Comune's page for transit and parking permits in the historic-centre ZTL
- Matera ZTL in the Sassi: camera gates active 10:00–24:00 in summer
- A16 Napoli–Canosa + A14 Canosa–Bari (Autostrade per l'Italia)
- Puglia's capital; first night after the A16 across the Apennines.
- Salento's main city; base for the Notte della Taranta festival towns in August.
- City of the Sassi cave districts, on the way back west.
Dates and prices as published when checked. Events move: check the organiser's page before you book.