Although Matera is in the Basilicata region (not in Apulia), you simply can't miss this stop. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage site mainly for its historic "sassi" districts, where people used to live in cave houses. You'll be surprised at how vast this area is! If you have the time and inclination, be sure to take an evening stroll through the old town; the atmosphere is unforgettable.

You can start your tour of Matera in the main square, where there is also a beautiful view of the Duomo. If you are traveling with a stroller, stick to the ring road around Matera, which cars drive on - otherwise you will encounter stairs everywhere. Via del Corso - Via Bruno Buozzi - Via Madonna delle Virtú - Via d'Addozio - Via Santa Cesarea. Note that Via Fiorentini is beautiful, full of shops and restaurants, but it is a dead end with stairs at the end.

The straight path Via Duomo without stairs also leads to the cathedral; from Piazza del Duomo, you can once again enjoy the beautiful view and visit the cathedral.

Via del Corso will take you to Piazzetta Pascoli, which offers a beautiful view of Matera from the opposite side. Stop there for a cappuccino at Lanfrancchi Caffee, which has a small balcony with a luxurious view that you'll have all to yourself.

Come down the hill to the Sassi district - a district with rock houses, sounds a bit like Hobbiton, doesn't it? A few decades ago, a place where the poorest of the poor lived, today caves converted into restaurants, accommodation, shops. In Matera you will also find several typical "casa cava", cave houses that are furnished in their original form (you can go there for a fee).

In the Sassi district, there are also two rock churches (you can buy a discounted ticket). We visited one of them, Santa Maria de Idris, and I can definitely recommend it. The church has a truly unique atmosphere, with reconstructed medieval frescoes on the walls, and the whole place breathes Christianity in its pure, simple form.

If you're tired of the stone streets and stairs, you can head out into nature.

BUT! Entrance to Parco della Murgia Materana costs EUR 15, and they won't let you in with sneakers; you must have hiking boots. You'll need a carrier for children. On the second hill, you can visit other caves that used to serve as churches or dwellings and take a walk in the park.

• You can find the route map here.

From Via Madonna delle Virtú to Via d'Addozio, return to the main square. In the square, visit the underground water cistern to learn about the ancient water supply system of the city.

The main bus station in Bari is right next to the train station; go through the underpass, and you're on the main pedestrian zone. If you have luggage, you can store it at the station. You can find everything about transport in Apulia here. 

A beautiful, wide pedestrian zone that leads you straight from Bari Centrale train station to the old town. You will find luxury shops, restaurants, and even a playground.

The old town is a magical network of streets where you'll come across balconies with laundry hanging out to dry and occasionally a Vespa jumping out from around the corner. The Lungomare coastal promenade runs along the sea, along the old city walls, and is great for walks with a stroller. Around Piazza Mercantile there are many interesting restaurants, you can even find pizza for 6 euros!

If you need to carry a stroller for a longer time, I recommend a walk around the sea to Pane e pomodoro beach. There are two sandy beaches in Bari, but this one is public and free. Along the way, you'll find several playgrounds, and there were quite a few attractions for children directly in the beach area.

Near Pane e Pomodoro beach is the Bari Parco Sud train stop, from where you can take a train to Monopoli. If you have luggage stored at Bari Centrale, return to the station on foot or by public transport.

Polignano is one train stop from Monopoli, and you can easily reach the center on foot. You can find out how to get to Polignano here. The pedestrian zone starts at Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Take a walk through the historical center (centro storico), enjoy the narrow streets and terraces with views of the sea or the iconic bay. 

We stopped here for a fancy coffee, so I can recommend it!

Once you've had your fill of the old streets, head down to the bay. It's quite busy there, though, and not great for lounging on the big rocks. You won't be able to get all the way down with a stroller; you'll have to carry it down a few steps.

This bay is more secluded, with smaller pebbles and some sand in places. The water is crystal clear. You'll have to carry the stroller down the stairs. There is also a pier for excursion boats that will show you the caves and Polignano from the sea, so you can book a place if you are interested.

Fancy a longer walk or need to push a stroller for a while? In Polignano, there's a pleasant wide sidewalk along the coast that's great for strollers (via Lungomare Grotta Ardito and Cristoforo Colombo). You can walk to the next bay, Cala Sala - also a very nice place to swim, but you have to take the stairs to get there.

Enjoy an evening stroll through the historical center of Monopoli - visit the cathedral and have some typical orrecchiette. 

This town is like something out of a fairy tale. The historical center is made up of white houses with conical slate roofs, called trulli. When you head from the bus stop to the center, you'll have a quieter part of town without shops on your right, and shops and restaurants on your left. A tour of the town will take you 2-3 hours, so you can easily take the bus back to Monopoli and enjoy the afternoon on the beach. You can find out how to get to Alberobello here.

Want to see one of the houses furnished in its original style? Head to the Trullo Sovrano museum; as one of the few trulli, this house has two floors. In the museum, you will see the original furnishings, and the lady will also explain why the houses in this part of Apulia were built this way, and she will show you the ingenious water harvesting system.

Enjoy the beaches in Monopoli in the afternoon. It's up to you how long you want to go for a walk. There is a pleasant cycle path along the coast, which is great for riding with a stroller. You can stay close to the center and relax on the beaches of Lido Bianco or Porto Rosso (both accessible by stroller). If you can manage a longer walk, go to the municipal swimming pool (piscina communale), opposite it there is a path to the beautiful bay Copacabana (but you have to carry the stroller down or leave it at the top).

If you don't have a stroller, go back to the city along the path that leads along the cliffs on the seashore.