Just spent a week in Apulia at the Sierra Silvana Hotel: my 5th Just You holiday. Brilliant group of people, tour manager Jan and coach driver. Hotel buildings/rooms great, but location in the middle of nowhere. Only great member of staff was Marco in the bar. Breakfast make the most of it as dinners were dreadful. I lost 4 lbs in weight during my week there!! General area/excursions forgettable. There are better places to go.[/size][/font]
Wow! I'm not trying to start an argument here, but I disagree with many of your comments! I was there in July this year, having had such a terrific time on this holiday in 2011.
I thought the evening meals were really filling and with the three options for each course, there was always something I fancied. I must have put on half a stone while I was there (ok, that's exaggeration!). Staff were friendly and helpful, but Marco was so overworked that he didn't really shine during my visit.
The village in which the hotel is set is small, but the little bar in the mini supermarket served wonderful espresso at 80 cents a shot, while the bars on the promenade are lively and entertaining. The village church is architecturally significant, with impressive art work.
I loved the area: Lecce has such a mad take on Baroque architecture and an amazing Roman amphitheatre, Ostuni is strikingly beautiful, with some great places to eat, Matera's World Heritage Site (and the Carlo Levi mural in the main Art Gallery) is unique, the Trullis in Arbellobello weren't too shabby, and the Adriatic sea is amazing.
I fully attend to go on this holiday a third time!