Cycling trips in Puglia southern Italy

Self guided:
These itineraries are built with the experienced traveler in mind. Detailed route notes, exceptional lodging and fabulous restaurant suggestions along with available airport transfers and luggage shuttles offer easy logistics and accentuate the fun. We give you the freedom to choose as little or as much service as you would like with these adventures. We have time tested itineraries we are confident show you the real Puglia, and at the same time we are happy to design a journey completely based upon your preferences. No other company in Southern Italy offers as much freedom for the self driven traveler.

Guided:
Our local guides are natives of Puglia and have a deeper insight into the region than even the best foreign guides could offer. Our guided trips provide a full time guide, all lodging, most meals, extensive directions, and exceptionally fitted bikes. In addition to the sample itineraries listed we can build a guided itinerary to suit your needs and number in your party. This kind of flexibility has been virtually unheard of till now.
 

7:30am Breakfast available at Il Frantoio – fresh fruit, yogurt, homemade jams, cakes & biscuits, DOP cheeses & meats. Everything is made in house!

9:00am Enjoy a walk through the agricultural land belonging to Il Frantoio. The walk will be guided by Abele, the gardener, who will enlighten us about the wild flowers & plants of the region. As we walk through the orchards of olive, carob & oak we will make our way to the summit of the nearby San Biagio hill where we will visit one of the many medieval churches built right into the rock.

12:00pm Cooking class with Il Frantoio’s owner & stupendous chef, Rosalba. She & her team of 6 chefs will teach us about the traditional recipes of the area that have been passed from one generation to the next.

1:30pm Lunch…enjoy the fruits of Rosalba & her team’s efforts!

5:00pm Transfer to the Santoro Winery for a tour and tasting of these organic wines grown in the countryside of the Valle d’Itria.

6:45pm From Santoro Winery transfer a short distance to the small town of Martina Franca, best known for its stunning baroque architecture. You will have some free time to wander the historic center, enjoy a drink sitting in the piazza, or do some shopping.

8:00pm Dinner in Martina Franca (we will provide a list of recommended typical restaurants as well as a map to help you locate them amongst the narrow streets).

7:30am Breakfast available at Il Frantoio

9:00am Transfer to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Alberobello, famous for its over 1500 “trulli”.

9:30am Guided visit of the historic center of Alberobello

10:30am Meet by the bike staging area. Today’s ride winds through the spectacular countryside of the Valle d’Itria through San Marco, Locorotondo & Cisternino.

11:30am Arrive in San Marco for a mozzarella making demonstration and tasting of some of the best-known & delicious cheeses in the region.

2:30pm Guided visit of Locorotondo. From here you will be transferred back to Il Frantoio.

4:30pm Free time at Il Frantoio to relax…for those who desire, maybe a relaxing massage treatment.

8:30pm The ringing of the dinner bell calls everyone to take their seat at the dinner table. The warm atmosphere of the dining room and the fragrant smells from the kitchen signal the start of this unimaginable feast!

7:30am Breakfast available at Il Frantoio

10:00am Transfer to the Bari Airport. (Transfer to Brindisi Airport available upon request).
 

Southern Visions offers intimate active and cultural travel experiences through the beautiful region of Puglia in southern Italy. This region, comprising the heel of Italy’s boot, is a cultural gem. As a relatively undiscovered area it provides travelers with an exceptionally authentic view into the southern Mediterranean way of life. Southern Visions offers you the opportunity to traverse this wonderful region by bicycle through endless olive groves and past the conical-shaped trulli houses and exquisite masserie (farmhouses) that make up the unique architectural style of this region. On a Southern Visions vacation you will visit Puglia’s most characteristic villages and towns, taste the region’s delectable wines, sample the wonderful array of olive oils and indulge in the most exquisite fresh foods available. And all of this is experienced by bicycle, the most relaxing and inspiring way to travel through this area and its endless miles of backcountry roads. Bicycle touring offers the ultimate in freedom and independence so you can stop on your schedule and soak up the atmosphere, enjoy the warm Pugliese sunshine, take photos or speak to the locals. At Southern Visions we take care of all your vacation details so you are free to enjoy your holiday. You can be assured that we have made all the arrangements; airport pickup and drop off, luggage transfers, accommodation and interesting activities intended to show you the most unique elements of Puglia’s culture. Biking itinerary 7 days, 6 nights

Plan for a morning arrival in Lecce.
This town, more than any other in Puglia, has retained its historic and cultural identity. Its “Leccese baroque” historic centre stands above all others in its beauty.

This lively and inviting town is the perfect place to start a wonderful cycling journey. After meeting the group, your leaders fit everyone to their bikes and conduct a brief demonstration of bicycling techniques and safety. Just outside of Lecce is the starting point for today’s route on the Salentine Peninsula. To warm up our muscles we will pedal south along the rugged coastline where the crystal-clear, azure waters will invite us to stop for a swim at one of the numerous white sand beaches lining the coast.

We will stop for lunch in Acaya before heading to Otranto, our final destination, which has long been the tourism gem of the Salento. We will have a chance to visit the beautiful Aragonese castle that once protected the town and learn about the town’s turbulent history at the famous cathedral before heading to one of the best local restaurants for dinner. Tonight, we will enjoy Otranto’s famous fresh seafood for dinner.

Today is a ride never to be forgotten. We pedal the beautiful, scenic coastline between Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca, situated at the very heel of Italy’s boot.

From the famous thermal town of Santa Cesarea Terme, to the coastal villages of Castro and Tricase Porto, you can feel the eastern influence. Today’s southern course brings some ups and downs, but the panorama of the Adriatic Sea kissing small fishing villages, sparkling beaches and green patches of pine dotting dotting an imposing rugged landscape make this a remarkable day of riding.

Just make sure to replenish your energy with a meal somewhere along the way as you will be given a number of recommended restaurants from which to choose.

We have also arranged an optional wine tasting today which requires an extra 10 kilometer detour but is definitely worth the effort!

If you’re up for the challenge you can also make it to a century ride today by spinning your way back to Otranto. Or, if you just want to relax after a stupendous ride, you can enjoy the scenic shuttle ride home. This evening, we will enjoy our dinner at the hotel.

Today we’ll have a transfer from the deep south of the Salento to the central part of Puglia. It’s a different world here. Our destination today is the fascinating Masseria Il Frantoio, a B&B working as a farm located on the outskirts of Ostuni.

Just after getting on our bikes we will spin along flat country roads heading to the coastal village of Torre Canne, a coastal resort town where you can dip your toes into the Adriatic. There is time to indulge in a gelato before heading to a peaceful masseria nearby where we’re treated to an olive oil tasting followed by a catered picnic.

The afternoon ride will take us up onto the Murgia to the small attractive town of Cisternino, a good place to stop for a drink and a walk along the promenade which offers superb views of the Itria Valley. After our short break we will continue along the beautiful ridge road that leads into Ostuni.

Known as the “White City”, Ostuni invites exploration with its cobblestone streets and sun-splashed, whitewashed houses. From here it’s just a short distance (mostly downhill) to our hotel, Il Frantoio. Of course, you can always hop in the van and head back to the hotel for some downtime! Tonight dinner feast is an incredible 9-10 course meal made with all-organic, home grown ingredients.

A leisurely spin from Ostuni to Martina Franca takes us through the scenic Valle d’Itria and past beautiful masserie (farmhouses).

Martina Franca’s elegant baroque architecture and quaint shops make it one of Puglia’s most interesting destinations. Enjoy the commanding views from this scenic hilltop town. This is perfect spot for lunch! From here we will cycle through the countryside a short distance to Locorotondo, a picturesque hilltop town named aptly for its curious circular shape.

Later this evening, we learn about the art of making mozzarella… a great way to prepare your taste buds for the dinner feast!

Well rested and energized, we start today’s ride with a pedal through the countryside to immerse ourselves in the “land of the trulli and caves”.

Rolling hillsides dotted with whitewashed trulli and colorful wildflowers make spinning through the countryside’s extensive network of stonewall-lined roads a delightful way to spend a day.

In the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alberobello we are treated to a walking tour with a local friend who delivers a lesson about this land of trulli, round stone buildings constructed without mortar and topped with conical gray slate roofs (Alberobello boasts a total of 1,500!).

After lunch it’s a beautiful ride to Conversano and the Corte Altavilla, our home for tonight! This stunning hotel sits right in the heart of the historical centre of town and offers an intimate experience with the village all around.

This afternoon you are free to explore Conversano’s historic center and its Aragonese castle at your leisure. You’re on your own for dinner and welcome to explore the variety of dining options in Conversano.

Fuel up at breakfast for your last full day of biking! This morning’s ride starts with gently rolling hills, giving way to relaxing downhill sections on the way to Monopoli where we will see its superb historic centre before heading to Polignano a Mare, an ancient village of Greek origin.

Strung with narrow winding streets and graced with incredible views, the town may be best known for the natural caves (grotte) bored into its calcareous coastline by the constant scouring of wind and waves. Continue along the coast to the fishing community of San Vito. Consider parking your bike and having a look around—you’ll definitely want to keep your camera handy.

Pause at San Vito’s cobalt shoreline to take in the sea air and perhaps dip your feet in the cool waters. From San Vito a gentle climb up to Conversano will build your appetite for a gelato. This evening you will try your hands at making orecchiette, a Pugliese pasta specialty! We celebrate the end of the trip with a farewell dinner at Corte Altavilla’s restaurant.

This morning a Southern Visions shuttle is available to the Bari train station and airport. The shuttle stops at the train station around noon, where you can catch an afternoon train to Rome, Milan or Florence or other Italian cities. The shuttle continues to the airport, arriving around 12:30 p.m. Please schedule your flight out of Bari for after 2 p.m.

Unquestionably the finest and lightest road bikes available for use in Southern Italy. These singularly designed bikes were built and equipped according to our very versatile trip specifications. We are confident you will be thrilled with our equipment!

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