Southern Italy by Bicycle
Puglia, an emerging destination in southern Italy, is now being touted as the next Tuscany.
Southern Italy’s Puglia Bicycle Tour is an ancient world its hills and small coastal towns are steeped in history.
Located on the eastern coast this a place deep in the heartland of Greek mythology.
Puglia does have a distinctly Greek feel, but its ruins also feature Gothic and Byzantine architecture, among others. What better way to explore this mysterious region of olive groves and emerald waters than by bicycle?
Here one of a review of Southern Italy’s Puglia Bicycle Tour
“The guides were superlative, giving us the history as well as shepherding us from experience to experience. Alberbello and Matera were high points of the tour, as well as the spontaneous lunch we had on the beach. It was a culinary highlight, as arranged by the guide.”
Wayne – Calgary, Alberta
We love venturing off the beaten path to discover ancient footpaths and isolated villages.
Seeing the Italy Hannibal knew, and tasting truly authentic food.
This is Puglia, and it awaits modern-day adventurers. Cycle past castles both small and grand, and old stone trulli dwellings.
You’ll swim in the Adriatic and Ionian seas and view the Strait of Otranto.
You’ll sleep in ancient Masseria
Fortified country homes renovated into elegant inns and explore cities with histories that stretch back thousands of years. With all that surrounds you, you might even feel that you’re in some bewitching fairy tale.
Italy’s Puglia Bicycle Tour is the best cycling way for discover the Salento land
Day by Day
Day One — City tour of Alberobello
We’ll meet you early morning at the Brindisi Airport and shuttle you to our first city tour in Alberobello. Those who have arrived the day before will be met at your accommodations near Brindisi. Alberobello is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and home of the famous trulli. Unique to Puglia, these circular stone homes are topped with conical roofs of gray limestone, and Alberobello alone has 1,500 of them! After a refreshing lunch, we’ll van a few more kilometers to arrive at our peaceful rural inn. Once you’re settled in to your rooms you’ll have your bicycle adjusted and we’re off on our first ride. You’ll appreciate their hospitality as we wind along its back roads and take in the view of the sea before retiring back to the inn. Once back at your inn we’ll partake in a tasting of local olive oils before tucking into a catered dinner.
Distance 25 km altitude 410 mt
Day Two — loop Ostuni
After a hearty breakfast, you will head out on a loop ride through the towns of Cisternino and Ostuni. After the initial uphill (better to get it over with early in the day!), you’ll meet astonishing views of the surrounding countryside and Adriatic as you cycle along the scenic ridge road to Ostuni. Known as The White City, Ostuni is built on the remains of a prehistoric town destroyed during the final throes of the Second Punic War. Its labyrinthine alleyways and cobblestone streets are ideal for exploring on foot or bike. A stop here is not complete without a visit to the Spanish-influenced, 15th-century cathedral, built under the auspices of the Sforzas, an aristocratic Milanese Renaissance family. Then it’s back to our inn to prepare for another prodigious dinner.
Distance 53 km altitude 580 mt
Day Three — Ride to Otranto
After a van shuttle, you’ll begin your travels through the Salento Peninsula. Today’s breathtaking scenery is characteristically Mediterranean, and not surprisingly, there’s a distinctly Greek atmosphere. Just some of the gems you’ll spot on today’s smooth ride: white sand beaches, the Alimini Lake Oasis, dozens of small, ancestral olive groves and vineyards. You’ll have lunch at a funky seaside trattoria before continuing onward to Otranto, a thriving port town and jewel of the Adriatic. Experience the elegant ambience and breezy night life of Otranto’s well-preserved historic center. Take your pick from one of the many trattorias for dinner and explore the town at your own pace. Don’t miss the Byzantine frescoes and the Castello Aragonese.
Distance 60 km altitude 410 mt
Day Four — Ride to Santa Maria di Leuca
Awe-inspiring coastal vistas, hidden grottos, undulating cliffs — just a small part of what our ride has in store for us today. You’ll cycle along the spectacular high coastal road down to the southernmost point of Puglia, Santa Maria de Leuca — home of the famous lighthouse — where you’ll see the Strait of Otranto. This marks the point where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas meet. En route, you’ll pass Grotta Zinzulusa, a fantastic seaside cavern lined with stalactites and stalagmites, and if the tide is right, you’ll be able to tour it. You’ll savour your lunch among the cliffs with stunning views over the Adriatic, then cycle onwards just past Santa Maria Leuca, your home for the evening.
Distance 59 km altitude 775 mt
Day Five – Ride to Gallipoli
Today you leave the Adriatic behind and explore Puglia’s Ionian coast. You’ll encounter flat countryside and a lush panorama as you journey along the western tip of Italy’s heel. Perhaps we’ll stop for a swim with the Naiads in the sparkling sea; if we do, keep your eyes peeled for fossils. With luck, the winds will be in our favour and you’ll end your day with an afternoon ride along Gallipoli Bay.
Distance 48 km altitude 150 mt
Day Six — Van shuttle to Lecce (plus city tour)
The end point of the Appian Way is the refined city of Lecce — the Florence of the South — where cyclists outnumber cars and Vespas. According to local legend, Lecce was founded during the Trojan War, and it’s now the region’s economic and agricultural center, dealing in olive oils, wines and ceramics. As for its own natural resources, they export Lecce stone, a malleable limestone perfect for sculpture and carving, as well as formidable opera singers and footballers. A guided tour of this small city with its particular brand of Baroque architecture, barocco leccese, will wrap up another amazing day. But not before enjoying our final farewell dinner together in one of our favourite restaurants of the area.
Day Seven — Farewell
After our last breakfast together the tour will end with a transfer to the Brindisi Airport, sad that our adventure is ending but glad to have made new friends.
PRICE & INCLUDED
Price
€ 3050 per person based on double occupancy
€ 450 single supplement
Included
7 nights’ accommodation
6 dinners, 7 breakfasts
Van support, guides, snacks and refreshments
Not Included
Airfare to Italy, lunches,alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages, gratuities, travel insurance, laundry expenses and items of a personal nature.
Bike rental tour
Road carbon bicycle € 280
E-bike € 280
Trip Details
Type
Guided bike tour
Level
Cycling along the sea
Rolling hills
Best time
April
October
Go Private
Custom groups anytime
Accommodation
Hotel 4 starts and Masseria
Begin
Brindisi
End
Lecce
Availability
June 13 – 19
September 12 – 18
Oct 02 – 08
October 10 – 16
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