Discover the south east end of Italy. On this bicycle-tour you will not only experience the unique countryside between the Adriatic and the Ionic Seas, but also the friendliness and hospitality of the southern Italians. The countryside is rich in culture. The Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Habsburger and the Bourbons have all left their mark in the region. Easy touring, apart from a few slight ascents and descents along the route, most of this tour is along flat, tarred roads. As you are travelling out of the main season, most of the roads are mainly free of traffic.
Day 1: Arrival in Alberobello
Individual arrival at the hotel in Alberobello. This small town in the province of Bari is famous for Trulli stone constructions. The Trulli of Alberobello are part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites list since 1996.
Day 2: Alberobello > Ostuni, ~35 km, longer variant over Martina Franca ~45 km
Enjoy a tour through the Valle d‘Itria, one of the prettiest cultural landscapes of the south, with a stop in the famous vineyards in Locorotondo to taste some of the local wine. The next stop is Ostuni, the “white town” offering breath-taking views of the sea.
Day 3: Ostuni > Manduria/Avetrana, ~60 km
From Ostuni you continue through olive groves, wine-growing areas and fruit crops to Avetrana, a historic small town on the Via Appia. This ancient Roman road led once from Rome via Taranto and Oria to Brindisi. Today there are preserved only some parts of the ancient cobbled paths as Via Appia Antica.
Day 4: Manduria/Avetrana > Gallipoli, ~60 km
You leave Avetrana to reach the sea in the shortest possible time. After a short ride to “Torre Colimena” you continue along the coastal highway with its numerous defence towers to Porto Cesareo. Along the Ionic coast you carry on to Gallipoli. This Greek "Kale Polis“ (beautiful town) awaits you on the Ionic Sea. OldGallipoli is situated at the end of what seems to be an impregnable rocky island that stretches far out into the sea. There is a fantastic view both from the north and the south. The town itself has many churches, lanes and interesting museums. Watch the fishermen at work. The town was the largest exporter of lamp oil made from olives in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Day 5: Gallipoli > Santa Maria di Leuca/surroundings, ~50 km
Today you reach the southernmost point of Salento and at the same time the watershed to the Ionic Sea at Santa Maria di Leuca. The town is well known for its church and pilgrimages. At the turn of the century, many opulent villas were built and their fantastic and sometimes absurd forms are now an absolute architectural highlight. The people who lived here were eccentric people who loved the peace and quiet and wanted to enjoy the sea and the town.
Day 6: Santa Maria di Leuca/surroundings > Otranto, ~52 km
The tour takes you along the south coast of the Adriatic Sea, and up to the Messapian town of Otranto, one of the nuggets in the charming landscape. The old part of the town is surrounded by a mighty wall and contains the impressive Habsburger Castle. On the way to Otranto, you have the chance to visit the famous Grotta Zinzulusa, the only coastal “grotta” open to the public. The Santa Cesarea Thermal Spa is well known for its hydrotherapeutic cures and radioactive mud therapy, and is well worth a visit.
Day 7: Otranto > Lecce, ~50 km
Carry on along the coast through innumerable olive orchards to Lecce. If you want to stop on the way, the best place is at Torre dell’Orso beach, which is surrounded by limestone cliffs. Lecce, the capital of Salento, is a town with lots of appeal mainly due to its buildings and churches. The cities of Naples and Lecce are the Baroque metropolises of the south. There are over 30 churches and innumerable palaces. Don`t forget to visit the amphitheater and the Roman theatre, both built under the emperor Augustus.
Day 8: Individual departure or extension of your stay
