Italy: Basilicata & Puglia Bike

You will be collected in Bari and transferred about 60 minutes to Matera where you’ll spend the following two nights in the UNESCO recognized Sassi district; one of the oldest inhabited human settlements in the world.. D (Meal inclusions provided for guided trips. Self-guided trips include breakfasts)
L’Hotel in Pietra, Matera

Today you will ride along the wonderful deserted road around San Giuliano Lake, a peaceful natural oasis and the destination of many African migratory birds. If you take some time for bird watching, you’ll spot grey herons, cormorants, storks and fish hawks. Continue back to Matera to spend some time exploring the unique Sassi district. Matera has been the filming location for a number of well-known films, including Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. BL
Same lodging

Ride to Pezze di Greco, through Gioia del Colle, Noci, and Albarobello. This is the fertile valley of Itria, and is famous for its 1500 Trulli – pretty circular stone houses and barns originally used as field shelters but now adapted to beautiful houses, shops, restaurants, and lodging! BLD
Masseria San Martino, or Masseria Monte Napoleone, Pezze di Greco

A day filled with delights! Your first destination is the sunny seaside town of Polignano a Mare, where you will immediately understand why it has been inhabited since early Greek fishermen pulled their boats ashore in tiny coves between the limestone cliffs. From there, you will ride to the caves at Castellana Grotte, Putignano, and Albarobello. Try keeping count of the trulli you pass! The day’s short option requires a 15-minute train ride, with your bike. BD

Today you will ride south, stopping to enjoy the view from the ancient white town of Ostuni to the azure Adriatic Sea it overlooks. Today’s shorter options include a train ride. You will finish near Lecce, the cultural capital of Puglia, whose baroque architecture and warm sandstone buildings appear golden in the afternoon sun. BD
Masseria Giampaolo, Lecce

Ride through San Foca to Otranto on the Adriatic coast, whose castle was the setting for a book by Horace Walpole, The Castle of Otranto. It is considered the first gothic novel, and inspired Shelley’s more famous Frankenstein. Today’s fishermen and surfers create a much more pleasant setting for your next two nights’ stay! BL
Masseria Panareo, Otranto.

Ride the fantastic coast between Otranto and Marina di Leuca, overlooking the Adriatic Sea. This remote promontory is where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas meet – the true heel of Italy’s boot, where serpentine clifftop roads lead to pretty seaports and astounding views. The destination is Santa Maria di Leuca, an archeological treasure, and Italy’s most important lighthouse at its port, Marina di Leuca. There are a profusion of options for lunch before riding or transferring back to Otranto. BD
Same lodging

Following your breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the train station, Lecce, or the Bari airport. B