Andiamo!
All good things take time.
Getting to Puglia, in particular…
Passports
You'll need an up-to-date passport to join us in Italy! Passports have to be valid for at least six months beyond the date that you'll exit your home country.
Entry
From 2026, non-EU citizens will need to fill out an online form called ETIAS. This isn’t a visa - just a travel authorisation that gives you the green light to enter the EU. At the airport, you may also have your photo and fingerprints taken under the new Entry/Exit System (EES).
Travel by plane
There are two major airports that service Puglia: BARI and BRINDISI.
Both are international airports that connect to a variety of major cities. Our Masseria is equidistant between both airports - each a 45 minute drive.
Airports: Bari (BRI) or Brindisi (BDS)
The airport codes above are linked to flight maps so you can see all direct options.
If you’re coming from outside of Europe, we highly recommend booking a roundtrip flight to a major European city (like Rome) and separately booking your leg to Puglia. Pricing is usually much cheaper that way - although you may have to pay extra to check a bag on the second leg!
Travel by train
Italy offers excellent high-speed trains. They are very comfortable and a wonderful option to travel across the country.
You can hop on the train from Rome to Bari Centrale Station. The trip takes just over four hours.
Italo offers a direct high speed train from Rome to Bari that is around four hours. Tickets start at €30 per person, one-way.
Trenitalia also offers high speed trains from Rome or Naples, but with a connection.
From Bari, you can rent a car, hire a taxi, or take a local train to Fasano, a 10 minute drive to Masseria San Francesco!
Some rail tips. . .
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Trains are booked by the station name rather than the city name: Rome = Roma Termini, Naples = Napoli Centrale, Bari = Bari Centrale.
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Train tickets can be booked in advance directly on the train websites.
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As these are "pre-booked" tickets for specific dates and times, you don't need to validate your tickets in the machines upon boarding at Italian train stations.
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There is a dedicated space between train carts to place your luggage, but it fills up quickly. We recommend arriving at the station 30-minutes in advance to guarantee space for luggage.
RENT A CAR
We recommend renting a car to truly get the most out of what Puglia has to offer.
We highly encourage you to make a booking ahead of time. Be sure you bring the same credit card you booked your reservation with. If you’re not able to drive stick, specify that you want an automatic transmission when making your reservation!
If you’re flying, Bari and Brindisi Airports have a wide selection of rental companies.
If you’re taking the train, Hertz is close to the main train station, Bari Centrale.
If you want to drive in style, check out Pugliaautoclassica.com.
Some companies may require an International Driving Permit (IDP) for non-EU residents.
•Here is a helpful YouTube video about car rentals abroad.
Some driving tips. . .
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Highways are in good condition and easy to drive.
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It can feel like Italian are very aggressive drivers, especially in the left lane of the highway. Just move over and keep smiling.
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Never pass on the right.
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Tolls take credit cards, but have some cash in case.
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Gas stations can be full service. Just pull up, roll down the window and say “Ciao! faimmi pieno, per favore!” It just means, “Fill me up please!”
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Use Google Maps on your phone instead of your car GPS system. Google Maps works very well in Italy and will help you navigate even the small roads.
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When parking, aim to get as close as possible to your destination without driving into the old town (which is usually restricted).
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Outside the old town, you will find car parks or street parking. Type "parking" or "parcheggio" into Google Maps to pre-identify some car parks before leaving for your destination.
HIRE A CAR SERVICE
There is no Uber or Lyft in Puglia!
Some hotels can coordinate transportation to/from the airport or train station.
There are usually taxis available at both airports. You can also call one in advance in case of a late night arrival time, or preference in booking ahead of time:
Bari: +39 080 534 33 33
Brindisi: +39 083 159 79 01
Private Transfers
If you require private transfers from/to the airport or between your accommodation and the Masseria, we have been recommended:
Autoservizi Ferrara in Fasano: Autonoleggioferrara@libero.it | +39 080 4413140
Local Taxis
Below are the numbers of some local taxi drivers:
Massimo +39 320 112 5822
Fabio +39 320 070 3113
Donato +39 347 668 4821
Alberto +39 340 779 2458
Marco (Fanelli Taxi) +39 389 125 7826
Angelo (Semerano Taxi) +39 330 964 927
Giovanni (Colucci Taxi) +39 330 326 269
Angelo (Zito Taxi) +39 337 937 020
Pacifico Taxi +39 338 946 5188
Puglia NCC +39 339 752 0845
Gianni Pinto +39 347 685 8440
Radio Taxi +39 333 741 6999
Giuseppe Corbascio +39 333 741 6999
Autoservizi Ferrara +39 330 935 815
Scaligeri NCC +39 379 158 0858
Giuseppe, Fremar NCC +39 348 790 8138
Francesco, Fremar NCC +39 327 008 9620
BIKES
Lots of hotels provide bikes if you want to ride to the sea amongst the olive trees!