Apulia (Puglia) rewards the traveler who lingers. Perched on the limestone Murgia plateau, Santeramo in Colle sits between Bari’s Adriatic breezes and the ravine-sculpted lands that run to Matera. This is the land of wheat, olives, and stone—of rustic grills, fresh cheeses, and slow evenings on piazzas.

Across the border in Basilicata, Matera’s Sassi cave districts form one of Europe’s most dramatic urban landscapes, a UNESCO World Heritage site with cave-church frescoes and golden tufa façades. Back on the coast, Bari’s old port and tangled lanes hum with life: focaccia barese still warm from the oven, markets stacked with purple sea urchins, and convivial trattorie serving orecchiette with cime di rapa.

Practical notes: fly from West Germany to Bari (2–2.5 hours), then ride a local train or rent a car. Expect superb value in food and wine, especially if you embrace “cucina povera” classics. Summer brings heat and festas; spring and fall are ideal for hiking the Alta Murgia and exploring trulli towns in the Valle d’Itria.

Santeramo in Colle

On the high Murgia of inland Apulia, Santeramo in Colle is a quiet, lived-in town with easy access to Altamura’s famed bread, the Alta Murgia National Park, and Matera’s Sassi. Evenings are for strolls and grilled meats; mornings belong to ovens and espresso bars.

• Top nearby sights: Alta Murgia trails and karst landscapes (including the vast Pulo of Altamura), Matera’s Sassi cave districts, and the stone-trimmed lanes of Alberobello and Locorotondo.
• What to eat: focaccia barese, Altamura DOP bread, burrata and stracciatella, bombette (stuffed pork rolls) from “fornello pronto” butchers, and seasonal wild greens.
• Good to know: regional trains and buses work, but a rental car saves time for day trips. Even in small towns, reserve dinners on weekends.

Where to stay (Santeramo in Colle): Browse stays on VRBO and hotels on Hotels.com. Look for stone-built apartments in the center or farm stays (masserie) on the Murgia.

How to get here: From West Germany, fly to Bari with Omio (flights in Europe)—2–2.5 hours, typically ~$80–$220 one way depending on airport and season. From Bari Airport, take the shuttle to Bari Centrale and the FAL line to Santeramo (about 1–1.25 hours, ~€5–€7) via Omio (trains) or ride a regional bus (~€5–€9) via Omio (buses). A compact car rental often runs ~€35–€60/day.

Optional add-ons if you route via Rome: Consider booking a quick orientation or food tour during a layover or extra night. Two memorable picks below:

Rome by Golf Cart Private Tour: Beyond the Landmarks

Winner 2025 Rome Twilight Trastevere Food Tour by Eating Europe

Bari

Bari, Puglia’s buzzing port capital, blends medieval lanes and seaside promenades with trattorie famed for seafood and orecchiette. It’s a perfect coastal base for Polignano a Mare and Monopoli, and a great place to savor focaccia barese straight from a blackened pan.

• Top sights: Basilica di San Nicola, Bari Vecchia lanes and city walls, the fish market on the old harbor, and the seafront Lungomare.
• Food highlights: focaccia at Panificio Fiore, octopus and crudo at old-port eateries, and panini di mare at Mastro Ciccio.
• Day trips: Polignano a Mare’s cliffs, Monopoli’s harbor and beaches, and coastal coves for summer swims.

Where to stay (Bari): See seafront hotels and Old Town apartments on VRBO and Hotels.com. Aim for Bari Vecchia/Old Town or near the Lungomare for easy walking.

How to get here from Santeramo: Morning FAL train from Santeramo to Bari Centrale takes ~1–1.25 hours (~€5–€7) via Omio (trains); bus options are similar (~€5–€9) via Omio (buses). Driving is ~50–60 minutes.

Optional add-ons if you finish via Rome: If your return flight routes through Rome and you add time there, consider a renowned Vatican or Colosseum experience:

Skip-the-Line Group Tour of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica

Rome: Colosseum Arena, Palatine & Forum - Gladiator's Stage Tour

Day 1 — Arrival from West Germany to Bari, onward to Santeramo in Colle

Morning: Fly from your West Germany airport (e.g., Düsseldorf, Cologne, Frankfurt) to Bari with Omio (flights). Typical nonstops/one-stops take ~2–2.5 hours, ~$80–$220 one way.

Afternoon: From Bari Airport, reach Santeramo by FAL regional train (~1–1.25 hours via Omio trains) or rent a car for the week (~€35–€60/day). Check in and take a gentle passeggiata past the Mother Church and town lanes.

Evening: Dinner near the Murgia: book a farmhouse menu at the historic olive estate Masseria Pilapalucci (about 35 minutes’ drive; refined terroir cuisine rooted in local grains and oil). Back in town, settle in with a nocino or espresso.

Day 2 — Alta Murgia + Altamura bread culture

Morning: Espresso and cornetto at a central bar, then drive to the Pulo di Altamura (a monumental karst sinkhole) for an easy ramble and photo stops. Keep an eye out for peregrine falcons and wild thyme along the trails.

Afternoon: Head into Altamura for lunch-on-the-go: line up at a historic bakery for Altamura DOP bread and focaccia, and sample local caciocavallo from a nearby caseificio. Visit Altamura’s Romanesque cathedral before returning to Santeramo.

Evening: Dinner at a braceria for grilled meats—try bombette (pork rolls with cheese and herbs) and local sausages, with Salentino reds by the carafe. Gelato nightcap on the main square.

Day 3 — Matera day trip: Sassi, cave churches, and sunset views

Morning: Reach Matera by car (30–35 minutes) or FAL train (~45–60 minutes; €3–€5). Begin in Sasso Caveoso with a guided wander through cave-houses and a rock-hewn church (look for medieval frescoes).

Afternoon: Lunch with a view at Il Terrazzino (classic pastas, crapiata legume soup, and baked caciocavallo). Visit Casa Noha’s multimedia intro to the Sassi, then cross to Belvedere di Murgia Timone for the iconic ravine panorama.

Evening: Dine at Trattoria del Caveoso (earthy Basilicata flavors) or splurge at Michelin-starred Dimora Ulmo for a contemporary tasting menu rooted in local ingredients. Return to Santeramo for overnight.

Day 4 — Alberobello and Locorotondo in the Valle d’Itria

Morning: Drive about 50–60 minutes to Alberobello’s Rione Monti to explore the UNESCO-listed trulli lanes. Visit a trullo-roof terrace for photos and learn how limestone “chiancarelle” are stacked without mortar.

Afternoon: Lunch at La Cantina in Alberobello (homey Pugliese fare; reserve). Continue 10 minutes to Locorotondo for whitewashed alleys, DOC white wines, and a lazy tasting flight at a local enoteca.

Evening: Back in Santeramo, keep it simple with focaccia barese, olives, and a crisp Locorotondo Bianco. Early night ahead of your move to Bari.

Day 5 — Transfer to Bari and explore Bari Vecchia

Morning: Travel to Bari: FAL train (~1–1.25 hours via Omio) or drive ~55 minutes. Check in near Bari Vecchia.

Afternoon: Walk the old town loop: Basilica di San Nicola, Castello Normanno-Svevo exteriors, and the sea walls. On “orecchiette street,” meet pasta-makers hand-rolling ear-shaped orecchiette on wooden boards.

Evening: Dinner picks: La Tana del Polpo (grilled octopus, seafood risotti) or Al Pescatore by the castello (catch of the day, crudo). For focaccia refills and an atmospheric bite, Panificio Fiore turns out textbook slices with tomatoes and olives.

Day 6 — Polignano a Mare and Monopoli seaside

Morning: Train from Bari Centrale to Polignano a Mare (30–35 minutes via Omio). Swim or cliff-watch at Lama Monachile and wander to terraces overlooking sea caves.

Afternoon: Lunch at Pescaria (famous for tuna tartare and fried shrimp panini) or, for a once-in-a-lifetime splurge, inquire about the cave restaurant Grotta Palazzese (book far ahead). Continue to Monopoli (5 minutes by train) for harbor strolls and Cala Porta Vecchia beach.

Evening: Back in Bari, aperitivo at a waterfront bar along the Lungomare, then a casual bite at Mastro Ciccio (seafood panini, fried anchovies, and parmigiana in a bun). Gelato at Martinucci to finish.

Day 7 — Markets, last tastes, and departure

Morning: Walk the fish market by the old harbor to watch bargaining over octopus and sea urchins. Brunch with a final focaccia and creamy burrata, then pack up.

Afternoon: Taxi or train to Bari Airport for your flight back to West Germany via Omio (flights). If you’re connecting via Rome and have time, consider squeezing in a world-class museum visit with a timed entry:

Skip the Line: Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel + Optional Basilica

Getting around & budget notes: Expect €5–€9 for regional train/bus hops, €20–€35 per person for trattoria dinners (more with seafood), and unbeatable value in local wines (DOC whites from Locorotondo and crisp rosatos). Summer crowds peak on the coast—book Polignano trains early in the day, and reserve dinners in Bari Vecchia.

Cafés and food stops you’ll love: In Matera: Il Terrazzino (views), Trattoria del Caveoso (Basilicata classics), and Dimora Ulmo (fine dining). In Bari: Panificio Fiore (iconic focaccia), Mastro Ciccio (fast, tasty), La Tana del Polpo / Al Pescatore (seafood), and Martinucci (desserts/gelato). Around Altamura: historic DOP bakeries for loaves with crackling crusts; ask for a warm heel (“coccia”).

In a week, you’ll taste the soul of southern Italy: stone towns and sea wind, cave churches and cliffside coves, focaccia crumbs and sunset glasses of locally grown white. Apulia rewards curiosity—follow your nose down a side street, and a memorable table is usually waiting.