Matera and the tour of Puglia by road bike

Matera - Alberobello route

75km, +620/-610

Take the essentials for the day with you and get on the saddle: you will find your luggage directly in Alberobello.
From Matera's cave dwellings, the descent quickly catapults you into the agricultural scenery that frames it. And watch out for the lesser kestrel: it is not uncommon to see it observing the immense cultivated fields and then gliding over its prey. From the border with Puglia, the landscape becomes greener and greener, and after a while you enter Gioia del Colle, famous for its mozzarella, a little less for its excellent Primitivo, and for being the birthplace of Sylvester Stallone's grandparents!
A few busy roads alternating with quiet secondary roads lead to the surroundings of Putignano, whose Carnival has more than 600 editions, and which you can visit ... facing the climb. From here the typical ups and downs of the Land of the Trulli will entertain you before your entry into the fairytale Alberobello.
Tasting and overnight stay among the trulli.

The Ionian coast of Puglia by bike

70km, +380/-440

Today start your tour of Salento by road bike and the sea will be your inseparable travel companion.
From Manduria pedal south towards the Ionian coast and the most beautiful sandy beaches of Puglia. Take a small detour to the Saltworks of Torre Colimena to see, with a little luck, the pink flamingos at rest during their migration. Quadrangular coastal towers make the landscape postcard-perfect, and often have small towns around them, such as the tourist Porto Cesareo. You will lose sight of the sea along Porto Selvaggio and the Palude del Capitano, a portion of coast about 8km long that preserves unique landscapes and archaeological discoveries, protected from building speculation thanks in particular to the commitment of the politician Renata Fonte, paid for with her own life.
Take a dip in the splendid Santa Maria al Bagno and look for your restaurant for a well-deserved "spaghetti with mussels with sea view".
Overnight in Gallipoli.

From Gallipoli to Santa Cesarea Terme via Leuca

90km, +820/-820

Today there is a few more kilometers for you and your racing bikes, but you will ride the most beautiful coastline in southern Puglia ... it will be pure joy!
The route begins flat after Gallipoli, so you will "fly" in a short time towards the finis terrae of this corner of the world, the Cape of Leuca, land of legends and blessings. You will pass from Punta Ristola to Punta Meliso, born from the compassion of the Goddess Minerva towards two young lovers swallowed by the waves because of a jealous siren, and from the Sanctuary, called by Christians the Door to Heaven. If you want to explore the coast and the sea caves of Leuca more closely, a short boat trip is ideal, if the sea permits.
And from here, the last and exciting stretch of the Otranto-Leuca coastline will inebriate you with wonder at every up and down, skimming over breathtaking bays and enchanting villages, such as Castro, recounted by Virgil as the port where Aeneas landed during his escape from Troy. As evidence of this, there is the recent discovery of the trunk of an ancient sculpture dedicated to the goddess Minerva.
Overnight in Santa Cesarea Terme.

Lecce

This beautiful "baroque living room", which is the historic center of Lecce, deserves your attention, and if you don't know which way to go, here are our tips for visiting Lecce on your own.

Tour programme variations
Due to organizational reasons, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during the holiday.
Along the way you may find temporary deviations (for example road works) which cannot be foreseen; in this case each biker can decide autonomously how to deal with these stretches.