This Off-the-Radar Road Trip Through Puglia and Basilicata Is Italy’s Best-Kept Secret

The Hidden Italian Road Trip Through Puglia and Basilicata You’ll Want to Keep Secret

From ancient ruins to cliffside towns and cinematic hotels, this southern Italy journey through Magna Graecia is a cultural time machine with a luxurious twist.

There’s something spellbinding about southern Italy, especially when you leave behind the well-trodden Amalfi Coast and head into the lesser-known regions of Puglia and Basilicata. Here, dramatic coastal towns, 2,500-year-old temples, and atmospheric villages come together in a road trip experience that’s as much about the past as it is about indulgent present-day escapes.

This journey traces the legacy of Magna Graecia, the ancient network of Greek colonies that thrived in what is now Italy’s southeastern tip. Along the way, travelers are rewarded with Greek temples, Roman roads, seaside ruins, and a few luxury hideaways that alone are worth the drive.

Start in Bari: Gateway to Ancient Italy

Nearest airport: Bari Karol Wojtyła International Airport
Recommended vehicle: Mid-size rental car (many roads are narrow and winding)
Best time to visit: April–June or September–October for ideal weather and fewer crowds

Begin your road trip in Bari, the capital of Puglia. From here, you’ll weave your way through centuries of history, cuisine, and coastal beauty—with a few world-class boutique stays along the route.

Stop 1: Cannae and Canusium – The Site of Hannibal’s Triumph

Drive from Bari: 1 hour (47 miles)

First up is Canne della Battaglia, the site of one of the most significant military defeats in Roman history. In 216 BCE, Hannibal of Carthage defeated a massive Roman force here in a single, brutal day. Today, the battle site is quiet—an expanse of olive groves—but visit the Antiquarium di Canne and nearby Canusium ruins to bring the past into focus.

Where to eat nearby:

• Veleno Osteria del Mare in Barletta for linguine with clams and local mussels soup

• Take a detour into Barletta’s old town to admire the Colossus of Barletta, a 16-foot-tall Roman statue

Stop 2: Bernalda – A Town Steeped in Family and Film

Drive to Bernalda: 2 hours (100 miles)

Nestled in Basilicata’s hill country, Bernalda is a postcard-perfect village with ancient Lucanian roots. Its most famous modern connection? Film director Francis Ford Coppola, who transformed his ancestral home into the boutique hotel Palazzo Margherita.

Where to Stay: Palazzo Margherita

This nine-suite villa is a masterclass in Italian craftsmanship and personal storytelling. Designed by Jacques Grange with touches from the Coppola family, each suite tells its own story—from Sofia Coppola’s frescoed fantasy to Francis’s Moroccan-inspired retreat. A marble counter bar, curated film library, and garden-to-table kitchen add to the cinematic atmosphere.

Don’t Miss:

• A pasta-making class in the villa’s custom-designed kitchen

• An evening aperitivo on the terrace with Coppola’s favorite Ciccio cocktail

• Strolling Corso Umberto I, where mythological names like Hermes Pizza Bar and Aphrodite Beauty Studio nod to the town’s Greek legacy

Stop 3: Metapontum and Herakleia – Magna Graecia’s Beating Heart

Drive from Bernalda: 15 minutes (10 miles)

Just outside Bernalda lie the Tavole Palatine, a stunning 6th-century BCE temple dedicated to Hera, and the broader Metaponto archaeological park, where Pythagoras himself once taught. Here, wander past Doric columns, Greek theater ruins, and the chora—a rare, intact example of ancient land division.

A short drive away is the Parco Archeologico di Herakleia, once a powerful Greek city. Nearby, the Museo Nazionale della Siritide presents artifacts dating from the Bronze Age to Roman times.

Stop 4: Savelletri – Seaside Ruins and Underwater Archaeology

Drive to Savelletri: 1.5 hours (69 miles)

Arriving on the Adriatic coast, you’ll find Savelletri, a quiet fishing town hiding a massive historical surprise: the ruins of Egnazia, a Messapian and later Roman city whose walls date to the 4th century BCE.

Must-See: Egnazia Archaeological Park

• Walk ancient Roman roads like the Via Traiana

• Explore warrior tombs, mosaics, and harbor remains

• Snorkel to see submerged Roman harbor structures just offshore

Dinner recommendation:

• Osteria del Porto, a tiny seaside gem known for raw fish platters and spaghetti ai ricci di mare (with sea urchin)

Stop 5: Masseria Torre Maizza – Olive Groves and Tranquility

Final stay: 10 minutes inland from Savelletri

Set within a 16th-century farmhouse, Masseria Torre Maizza blends rustic charm with modern luxury. This Rocco Forte property is all about laid-back indulgence: wisteria-covered terraces, a serene stone pool, and Pugliese cuisine sourced from local farms.

Room tip:

• Deluxe Rooms include private garden terraces

• Suites offer plunge pools and countryside views

Optional Add-Ons for History Lovers

• Buffalo mozzarella farms in the Valle d’Itria

• Ostuni, the whitewashed hilltop town nicknamed “La Città Bianca”

• The Colossus of Barletta and Norman fort in Barletta

• Taranto and its underwater Greek harbor ruins

The Takeaway

This road trip through Puglia and Basilicata feels like slipping through a wormhole into another world—where mythology is alive, ruins are untouched, and the modern day blends seamlessly with the ancient past. Whether you’re drawn by the archaeology, the quiet coastal towns, or the designer hotels with stories of their own, southern Italy delivers an experience few others can match.

Stay tuned to The Horizons Times for more immersive road trips and undiscovered European escapes.