ITA Airways offer a lot of flights to Bari and Brindisi connecting through Rome with a ~60min layover. It's not realistic. We did it, we got screwed. Look for a longer layover or book the round trip tickets individually; US <> Rome + Rome <> Bari/Brindisi.
Paying for a credit card is an insane concept for an Italian, so they don’t really have the high perk cards. As such, the basic lounges are not as busy and compared to the US, are way nicer. We can personally attest to those in Rome and Napoli.
...Know that Trenitalia can sometimes strike. The strikes are usually short, but keep an eye on things and maybe plan in some buffer time.
...Beware of speed cameras. You may not see the cops, but the cop cameras see you. Tickets are issued by mail.
Brindisi is a little closer to the wedding venue than Bari. 38min for Brindisi vs. 53 minutes for Bari.
This is Southern Italy. Not NYC or another major metro. Don’t expect to do anything quickly. Have a cafe and enjoy yourself.
It's a fertile farmland on a peninsula surrounded by the sea. Think fresh veg, breads, pastas, and seafood. Puglia is famous for olives & olive oil, focaccia, mozzarella & burrata, orecchiette pasta shape, ciceri e tria, uni.
Wine. Puglia is renowned for producing powerful red wines—specifically Primitivo di Manduria and Negroamaro. These full-bodied wines are characterized by ripe, dark fruit, high alcohol, and velvety tannins, often featuring notes of spice and herbs. Puglia also produces aromatic, fresh white wines like Verdeca & Minutolo as well as quality sparkling wines like Metodo Classico.
And if you're bringing hair dryers, etc. make sure they work with the voltages.
Generally, end of summer: warm days, cooler nights. Coastal breezes near the water. Consider a cardigan, shawl, or pashmina. Comfortable shoes. Linens are great for the heat. Wedding: semi-formal. Bring your whole self and as much color as you desire.
The wedding ceremony, parts of the apertivo, and the dinner are on grass.