From sea to sea: a journey across Southern Italy

To fully appreciate the beauty and architectural uniqueness of Ostuni, it's worth taking a step back to take in the view. From Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, the city reveals its dazzling white walls. From its promontory, at an altitude of 715 feet, Ostuni overlooks plains covered with olive trees, vineyards and fig trees, just a few miles from the coast of the Adriatic Sea. The city's whitewashed houses and religious buildings draw the eye–the landscape seems entirely focused on the city.

A backdrop to cinematic works by Italian director Pasolini as well as James Bond, the streets and cave dwellings sassi of Matera form an astonishing film set. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, the sassi and its churches carved into the rock form an architectural ensemble comprising more than a thousand dwellings, all harmoniously integrated into this limestone landscape. Monasteries, individual houses and small shops coexist with caves and towering rocks. Abandoned in the 1950s, the city of Matera has since reinvented itself and is undoubtedly worth a trip in itself.

Though the traditional expression is 'See Naples and die,' a more accurate version might perhaps be 'See the Bay of Naples and die,' as the city boasts what is arguably one of the world's most beautiful coves. Reaching higher ground is a chance to gaze upon its teeming streets, the Mediterranean's changing colors at dawn and dusk, and the silhouette of the towering–yet ever-threatening–Mount Vesuvius. Castel Sant'Elmo is one of the best vantage points for admiring this ancient city.

Just behind Piazza del Duomo, La Pescheria market is a true institution. Every morning (except Sundays), city folk gather at stalls run by fishmongers and local fishing families to admire the extravagant displays of swordfish, tuna, shrimp and octopus, and to enjoy some spirited verbal exchanges. A lively atmosphere that’s pure Sicily.

The island of Salina is the greenest of the Aeolian Islands and it used to be known as the garden of the archipelago famous for its wild capers and liquor-like wine, Malvasia. The sweet, amber coloured wine, made from malvasia grapes and red grapes from Corinth, is appreciated particularly as an aperitif, with cheese or desert. It can be tasted in the cellars of the vineyards of Malfa.