Cycling vacation Puglia through the Salento

Day 1: Arrival in Matera

You will arrive at Bari airport where a transfer will take you to your hotel in Matera. You will meet our partner nearby for the briefing of the trip and to pick up your bikes and GPS navigators.

Day 2: From Matera to Putignano and Castellana (60/70 km)

After leaving the Matera countryside, your first stop will be in Gioia del Colle, a town famous for its "mozzarella Fior di latte" and burrata. After a short break, you start cycling again and arrive in Putignano, after about 23 km. Putignano has become famous over the years for its picturesque carnival. Here you will explore the beautiful historic center. In the evening you will spend the night in your hotel to which your luggage has been brought.

Day 3: Monopoli, Polignano a mare and Castellana Grotto (61km)

Today's bike tour will take you to several towns southeast of Bari. In Polignano a Mare you will taste the typical octopus sandwich, In Monopoli you will swim in the clear blue sea and in Castellana Grotte you will visit amazing caves. These caves are known for their breathtaking formations of stalactites and stalagmites, as well as the beautiful underground landscapes.

Day 4: From Putignano to Alberobello, Locorotondo and Martina Franca (35 km/41 km/45 km)

Today you continue into the region that listens to the name Valle D'Itria. We first pass by Noci, probably the least known and least touristy town of the Valle d'Itria, but definitely worth a visit. Gentle hills take you to Alberobello with its typical "Trulli" houses and Locorotondo with characteristic houses with pointed roofs, called "cummerse. Also a visit to Martina Franca cannot be missed, an elegant old town with beautiful baroque architecture.

Day 5: From Alberobello or Locorotondo to Manduria (70/60 km)

As you cross the border between Valle d'Itria and Salento, you'll notice the landscape around you change throughout the day. You will ride a short stretch on the "Aqueduct Cycleway," pass the town of Ceglie Messapica known for its bread, visit the Basilica Minore of the Holy Rosary and the Palace of Argentina in Ceglie Messapica and discover the town of witches, Oria.

Day 6: Around Manduria (45 km)

This ride takes you further to the long coastline lined by the dunes of Torre Colimena, where you will visit the Salina dei Monaci and possibly do some bird watching. Cycling north along the coast, you will reach San Pietro in Bevagna, where you can swim on a crystal clear sandy beach in the emerald green waters of the Ionian Sea. From San Pietro in Bevagna, head to Manduria where you will visit an ancient archaeological site from the Messapica era and the Primitivo Museum.

Day 7: From Manduria to Lecce (60 km)

On this day you will drive to the baroque city par excellence, Lecce. The route goes mainly through the area of Salice Salentino, whose vineyards produce a DOCG wine that is very popular worldwide. You will pass through some small villages where, all year round, the squares are filled with inhabitants, hats pulled down against the sun, discussing politics and agriculture, and it seems as if time has stood still there.

Day 8: From Lecce to Otranto (58 km)

Today is a flat route with many interesting and cultural sights. First you visit Acaya - a fortified town with a huge castle - then you descend to "le Cesine" - a WWF protected area with many species of migratory birds. From there you will drive towards the coast, passing the ruins of Roca Vecchia - an ancient Bronze Age city - and the Alimini Lakes. A few more kilometers and you'll arrive in Otranto, where narrow streets can be found around every corner.

Day 9: Surroundings of Otranto (29 km)

Time to explore the surroundings of Otranto. Driving along the small river "Idro" , which gave the name to the town, you will arrive in Casamassela, where old looms are still used in "Le Costantine" foundation. After a guided tour you will head for Giurdignano, where you will traverse a Bronze Age megalithic park with huge stones. In the late morning you will enjoy local specialties in a real family bakery. Optionally, you can go horseback riding in the morning or the afternoon.

Day 10: Otranto - Leuca coast (52 km)

Today you cycle along the wildest coastal strip of Salento. You'll visit the Palacia Lighthouse and a small red lake located in a disused bauxite quarry. Then you continue along the coast. You can visit the Zinzilusa Cave, which descends almost 200 meters deep into the earth. After crossing the bridge over the "ciolo, you will reach Santa Maria di Leuca where you will visit the sanctuary.

Day 11: From Leuca to Gallipoli (61 km)

Today you will discover the cape of Leuca, the southern part of Puglia. After an amazing defense tower located in the center of a small village - it's time to visit an enigmatic tomb made by large stones. Finally, you will visit Leuca piccola, an important pilgrimage site that still possesses a large underground structure. Through olive groves and dry stone walls you reach Ugento, where you can visit the archaeological museum. In the afternoon you again reach the Ionian coast as far as St. Andrew's Island and the natural park "Punta Pizzo''. In Gallipoli you can enjoy an aperitif on a terrace overlooking the sea.

Day 12: Surroundings of Gallipoli (60 km)

This day is dedicated to discovering the interior of Gallipoli. The first stop is Galatone, where you will find typical examples of Baroque architecture. The next stop is in the town of Galatina, where we definitely recommend a visit to the "Santa Caterina d'Alessandria Basilica". On the way back, you'll pass Mariangela and Antonio's cheese farm. You will drive through Alezio, where you can visit the Messapian Civilization Museum and learn more about the people who lived here before the Greek and Roman conquests. It is also possible here to take a cooking class or a sailing trip.

Day 13: Return to Lecce (52 km)

Today is the last day of your trip. You'll pass many 19th-century fortified farmhouses and villas on the way back to Lecce. You'll stop in Nardò to visit the decadent baroque-style historic center. Then you stop in Copertino to explore the impressive Norman castle. A few kilometers before Lecce you will make a final stop at an artisanal traditional pottery, with the Martina brothers, skilled custodians of this ancient art. In the late afternoon you will arrive in Lecce and hand over your bikes.

Day 14: Return home

An airport transfer picks you up at the hotel and you return home after an active cycling vacation in Puglia.