Apulia by bike

Day 1Arrival in Matera

Individual arrival in Matera. Famous for its Sassi and breathtaking scenery, Matera, located on the border of Basilicata and Puglia, is not only breathtaking, it’s also fascinating. Its history dates back over 30,000 years. There are several cave churches open to the public, a reproduction of a typical troglodyte house that can be visited, and caves that have been converted into hotels and restaurants. The Sassi districts are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (If you’re arriving late in the evening, we suggest you extend your stay in this wonderful and unique city). Overnight in Matera

Day 2Matera – Alberobello | 76 km

Bike handover and introductory briefing. Today, you’ll cross the southern part of the Murgia to reach one of Italy’s most unusual towns, Alberobello, universally known as the capital of Trulli, those small dry-stone buildings with conical roofs. There are some 1,500 trulli scattered around the Monti and Aia Piccola districts, both designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1996. Overnight in Alberobello.

Day 3Alberobello – Ostuni | 52 km

Today, you’ll cross the hills overlooking the Itria Valley. Nature lovers will not be disappointed: with its endless stretches of olive groves, the Itria Valley is made up of red earth, green groves and vineyards, white trullos under a serene blue sky – in short, a wonderful chromatic effect that repeats itself many times over. Before reaching your final destination, we suggest you stop first in Locorotondo for a typically Italian aperitif tasting the white wine produced in this region, then in Martina Franca, for a short visit to its wonderfully intact historic center, its beautiful square and its amazing Palazzi, and finally in Cisternino for a lunch break, perhaps in one of its typical butcher’s shops, where you can choose the meat you want to eat and where they cook it for you. Finally, you’ll cycle to Ostuni, the white city, whose arches and whitewashed houses shine like a pearly white diadem, stretching over three hills with the magnificent jewel that is the cathedral as its sparkling centerpiece. Overnight in Ostuni.

Day 4Train from Ostuni to Lecce – Cycling to Gallipoli | 60 km

This morning you cycle down to Ostuni train station where you catch the train to Lecce, taking your bike with you. Please note that bicycles travel FREE of charge on regional trains only (please check train timetables). Train time: 55mn, ticket price: 7.90€/person.

From Lecce Train station you quickly leave town on a narrow country lane. Crossing the Salento region in a south west direction you reach the Golf of Taranto. You’re in Baroque country, as you’ll see when you visit Galatina and Galatone and their beautiful churches. Overnight in Gallipoli.

Day 5Gallipoli – Santa Maria di Leuca | 70 km

After Gallipoli, you’ll cycle along the Ionian coast to Torre San Giovanni. Here, the crystal-clear sea will tempt you… but it’s time to get back on your bike! A short detour inland will take you to the small towns of Ugento and Specchia. Continue on for another 35 km to Santa Maria di Leuca, where the Ionian and Adriatic Seas meet. This is the southernmost point of the Salento, striking the visitor’s eye with its colors and unreal silence. Overnight in Santa Maria di Leuca.

Day 6Santa Maria di Leuca – Otranto | 60 km

Today, you’ll start driving north along the magnificent Adriatic coast. After passing through the marinas of Tricase Porto and Castro Marina, you’ll finally arrive at one of Salento’s most beautiful towns: Otranto. If you wish, you can enjoy a delicious seafood dinner, stroll through the historic center and perhaps buy a few souvenirs in the small local stores. Overnight in Otranto.

Day 7Otranto – Lecce | 59 km

In the morning, we recommend taking time out to visit the town of Otranto and its astonishing cathedral, where the bones of 813 martyrs are displayed in a glass case behind the altar. Less macabre, the cathedral’s other curiosity is its medieval mosaic floor, which rivals Ravenna’s famous paleo-Christian mosaics in its richness and historical significance. Skirting the Alimini lakes, you finally reach the seaside village of Torre dell’Orso: don’t miss the opportunity to bathe in the suggestive Grotta della Poesia. Before arriving in Lecce, you’ll come across Acaya, a perfect stop for an authentic Italian espresso or a sunset drink in front of the castle. Overnight in Lecce.

Day 8Departure during the day