Episode #262: Road tripping Puglia and Basilicata

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Summary

In this episode, we meet Cassandra Tresl, originally from Seattle, who along with her husband Alex and daughter Emmy, has made Abruzzo, Italy her home. They love to go on extended road trips exploring other parts of Italy. Cassie’s philosophy of traveling with her daughter highlights the adaptability and enriching experiences of travel for young children. They have explored Puglia and Basilicata a few times now and Cassie shares how you can enjoy authentic experiences, away from the usual tourist crowds, discovering lesser-known destinations and embracing the charm of slow, immersive travel.

What you’ll learn in this episode

• Cassie and her husband Alex, originally from Seattle, headed to Europe in 2019 and have now settled in Abruzzo, Italy after embracing the challenge of the €1 home initiative
• Having welcomed their daughter, Emmy, Cassie shares the benefits of providing children with exposure to different cultures and languages
• Exploration of Puglia and Basilicata – although Puglia has grown in popularity, it is still way less crowded than historically popular places like the Amalfi Coast
• The Salento Peninsula is a particular favorite – with locations like Gallipoli, Ostuni, and Otranto
• Driving in Puglia is a pretty straightforward, easy experience
• Having a kitchen and washing machine is preferred when traveling with a child 
• Accommodation addresses and parking spots can be an issue in 
• Basilicata has a lot of what are known as ‘ghost towns’ to explore – which have a fascinating historical appeal
• Matera’s has a unique charm and historical importance
• Road trip travel tips include the importance of buffer time in travel planning, and choosing slow and immersive experiences

Timeline Overview

• 09:32 Finding tranquility in Southern Italy
• 15:11 Exploring inland Puglia gems
• 25:03 Navigating Basilicata and its travel challenges
• 26:36 The joy of road trip delays
• 30:48 Exploring Basilicata’s Ghost Towns
• 32:38 Matera – Italy’s unique historical gem
• 36:15 Experiencing contrasts in travel

About our guest – Cassie Tresl from Adventures of Ace

Cassie, along with her husband Alex and Emmy make up ACE – a family who believes that travel isn’t just for solo adventurers or couples. Cassie and Alex, both from Seattle, USA, embarked on their big adventure in 2019 moving to Europe, starting off in the Czech Republic which would be their home base for the next couple of years. They were lucky enough to stay with family when they weren’t traveling which meant they weren’t spending money on rent. The next move was to buy a car and begin traveling throughout Europe, experiencing as much as possible.
In December of 2020, life threw them a new adventure when they welcomed their daughter Emmy into the world. Cassie and Alex knew their hunger for travel would not stop, but it would be a little different. Their little family of three (plus furry companion) has continued to travel, with road trips being their weapon of choice. Whether they are on the road for two days or two months, they don’t plan on stopping any time soon.
They currently reside in a small town in Abruzzo, Italy, and as well as being eager to take the opportunity for Emmy to learn Italian at a young age, they are exploring their current home country on family road trips – discovering hidden gems and making unforgettable memories, all on a budget.

Follow Cassie here

• Website
• Instagram
• YouTube

Italian places, foods and concepts mentioned

Places

• Polignano a Mare – beautiful old town with dramatic cliffside – wonderful in the summertime but very quiet offseason
• Alberobello – a town known as the city of Trulli
• Salento peninsula – the very bottom of Puglia – the heal in the boot of Italy
• Gallipoli – town is located by the Ionian Sea, on the west coast of the Salento Peninsula
• Ostuni – another gorgeous town in Puglia, so famous for its white-washed houses that it is known as the white city – la Città Bianca
• Otranto – a coastal and harbor town south of Lecce
• Bari – capital city of Puglia
• Brindisi – on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Historically, this Puglian city played an important role in trade and culture
• Monopoli – a coastal town in Puglia, home to the Baroque Monopoli Cathedral
• Altamura – a town in Puglia on the Murge plateau
• Basilicata – a small region in Southern Italy best known for Matera, the cave city with only 54 people per square kilometer
• Potenza – city in Bascilicata
• Cappadocia – ancient city in Turkey, which has similarities to Matera

Food / Drink

• Pane di Altamura – a leavened bread of ancient origins made from durum wheat semolina in Altamura, Puglia
• Focaccia Barese – the traditional Puglian bread, dating back to Roman times

Words / Concepts

• House Hunter International – US TV show where people look to find property to buy or rent all over the world
• Easy Park – parking app that can be used all over Italy (and in many places around the world)

Related content on Untold Italy

Podcasts

• Ep 233 – A Taste of Puglia – Local Dishes and Flavors to Try
• Ep 229 – How Puglia is redefining its wine culture
• Ep 224 – Brilliant Bari
• Ep 194 – Lovely Lecce – Italy’s southern beauty
• Ep 141 – How to spend 2 to 3 days in Matera
• Ep 135 – Ancient connections along Puglia’s pilgrim trails
• Ep 097 – Magical Matera – the cave city
• Ep 080 – Picturesque towns of Puglia
• Ep 047 – Basilicata – Ancient southern region of tradition and history
• Ep 046 – Foodie adventures in Puglia

 

• Ep 174 – Wheels and Wanderlust: Exploring Italy by Campervan
• Ep 171 – How to use a home exchange to explore Italy
• Ep 011 – Getting around Italy by train, car, bus, plane and more

Articles

• Renting a Car in Italy – Top Things to Know
• A Traveler’s Guide to Driving in Italy
• Transportation in Italy
• Best Travel Apps for Italy
• What documents do you need for your trip to Italy?
• Best Italy itinerary ideas to copy for your trip to Bella Italia
• Common Italy Travel Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
• How much does a trip to Italy cost?

• Puglia travel guide
• Things to do in Puglia 
• Puglia towns 
• Best places to stay in Puglia 
• Best Agriturismo in Puglia 
• Things to do in Bari 
• Things to do in Lecce
• Puglia food guide

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