Italy with Strangers
Ever since I was young, I always dreamed of going to Italy. Unfortunately, I was broke for most of my twenties, and then once I had enough money to travel, I never had the right travel partner - my past boyfriend didn’t have the budget, friends didn’t have the same interest or timing was off, and family wasn’t really available to go on an international trip. Last year, I decided to stop waiting for the perfect circumstances and would force it to happen - and I did that by signing up for a group trip.
After some careful research, I landed on a company that looked like it would check off all the boxes: Within my budget, similar-aged people, activities I’d be interested in, and (I’ll admit it) their branding resonated with me. I had a day and a half on my own in Rome before taking off for Puglia and the Amalfi Coast with a group of people I’d never met before, and who I’d be spending the next ten days with. I was a little nervous, but mostly exhilarated thinking about the adventure ahead of me.
Everyone in our group met in Lecce, located in the southeastern tip of Italy. This historic town is known for Baroque-era churches, maze of narrow limestone streets and buildings, and is the capital of Southern Italian cooking, which, let’s be honest, is what I cared the most about. Within about twenty minutes of talking to my roommate, Maria, who I’d be living with for the remainder of the trip, I felt at ease. We got along great and shared the same dry sense of humor - so even if we disliked everyone else in the group, at least we had each other. One thing I recommend getting if you visit Lecce is a Caffe Leccese, which is a traditional iced drink made with espresso and sweet almond milk - so simple, but so, so good.
text here….
Luckily, everyone in the group was great - we all had similar mindsets, in that we wanted to travel and have a good time, and since everything was already planned for us, there wasn’t really anything to fight over. While we were in Lecce, we took a day trip to Otranto, located on the coast and nestled against bright, turquoise water. We visited a beach, strolled around the town, visited a church (more on that later), and dined on an amazing lunch with fritto misto, seafood pasta, and lots of wine.
After a few days in Lecce, we headed toward Matera, first stopping in Alberobello. This picturesque town and UNESCO World Heritage site is famous for its trullo-style buildings. Constructed with limestone and a conical roof, these dwellings were designed so that they could easily be dismantled and fool the authorities out of paying taxes. Although they were meant to be taken apart quickly and easily, these trulli have been around since the late 1700’s.
One of the most stunning places we visited was also one I’d never heard of before: Matera. This small city is in the Basilicata region and was once referred to as the shame of Italy and a national disgrace. Just 70 years ago, people were living in grottoes carved out of the limestone caves that dated back to the prehistoric era. Disease was rampant, the mortality rate was high, and dwellings had no running water or electricity. After World War II, the government poured money into the area and eventually revived the city, which was named 2019’s European Capital of Culture. Of course there are great bars and restaurants (I had an amazing panini with fresh mozzarella and prosciutto for just $5), but the scenery is what really makes Matera so incredible. Looking out onto the buildings, it doesn’t even feel like it’s real it’s just so beautiful.
Puglia Guide
Lecce is beautiful - once you’re inside the walls of the city. Outside the city, lacks charm and history. If you’re a history buff with an appreciation for architecture and religion, you’ll love seeing the Baroque buildings and walking through the labyrinth of limestone streets.
Otranto is a coastal town that is home to one of the scariest churches in the world, but also has some great restaurants, cute shops, and beautiful scenery. But let’s be honest, just about everywhere in Puglia is beautiful… This is a nice spot to check out, but the town is small, so I wouldn’t spend more than a day here.
We only had a couple hours in Alberobello, and I wish we’d had more. This town was so gorgeous with the trulli buildings, and I’d love to come back and spend more time here.
Matera isn’t exactly in Puglia (it was on the way between Puglia and Amalfi), but it’s absolutely worth a visit for the history and scenery. Just beware - cars aren’t able to drive inside the city, so you’ll have to drag your suitcase down a few blocks (and likely some stairs) to get to your hotel. When we arrived, it was raining and we got lost - so it was a bit chaotic navigating wet, winding cobblestone paths and stairways with all of our luggage.
A Breakdown of the Amalfi Coast
Sorrento: I had no expectations for this spot, but it was actually one of my favorites, and I was glad we stayed here. This city is on the Bay of Naples with a view of Mount Vesuvius, and while it’s full of tourists, it’s less overpriced and vanilla than some of the other cities on the Amalfi Coast.
Amalfi: This town is tiny but pretty. The shops all sell pretty much the same thing (mainly limoncello), and there are plenty of restaurants. There’s a beach, but it’s pretty small. All in all, it was nice, but not overly memorable.
Positano: Stunning, but not for more than a couple days. Every shop sells the same stuff here too (with the addition of white sundresses), and there are great places to eat and drink, but you should prepare to put a dent into that credit card. However, if you’re looking for that perfect photo or for more beach options, this is the place to be.
Ravello: With views down the coastline, Ravello has incredible scenery. That being said, it’s on top of a hill, so if you’re wanting to be near the water, you might just want to stop here for the day, rather than stay here.
Capri: My absolute favorite. We took a private boat around the island, had a three course pasta lunch, drank Aperol spritzes by a pool, and strolled along beautiful streets and walkways. This island was also expensive, but I don’t think I’ve ever smiled so much in one day as I did when I was on Capri.
Why Group Travel Might Be The Right Choice
You don’t have to worry about any of the logistics. Once you meet up with your group, 95% of the trip is taken care of, aside from a few meals. That means you don’t have to research restaurants, hotels, bars, activities, or transportation - it’s all done for you. When you consider all the time you’ll save for not having to look up all the things to do and places to see, that in itself just about makes it worthwhile.
You’ll visit places and participate in experiences you wouldn’t be able to enjoy otherwise. Prior to my trip, I’d heard of the Amalfi Coast, but had no idea where the Puglia region was or knew about any of the towns we visited. So many of the activities we did simply couldn’t have happened if it wasn’t coordinated for a group - including a private boat tour of Capri, joining in on the traditional dance of Lecce, or having a private meal at an organic vineyard. When you book a trip through a tour group, you also get more of a local’s guide to the area and while you’ll see popular tourist destinations, you’ll also have access to hidden gems you likely wouldn’t know about otherwise.
You might arrive solo, but you’ll leave with friends. After our first trip to Italy, I became close with two of the girls on the trip, and we ended up booking another trip together to go to Greece. Not only that, my roommate, Maria, ended up dating one of the guys on the trip and moved to New York for him. And beyond that, now I have a group of people I’ve stayed in touch with from all over the world.
It’ll likely save you money. Don’t get me wrong, some group trips can be really expensive - but others are pretty affordable. When you consider all the activities, transportation, and meals that are provided - along with the hotel stays - it’s likely much cheaper than if you planned a similar trip on your own.
