Southern Italy Bike Tour – Puglia

TOUR AT A GLANCE – Puglia & Basilicata Bike

Duration: 7 days/6 nights
Departures:  Sept 25, 2010. Private departures also possible.
Departing from: Bari-Palace Hotel at 9:00 a.m. on Day 2 (Sunday)
Tour finishes: Monopoli train station on Friday morning, Day 7
Price: €1,800 per person based on double occupancy and minimum 6 people (€2,000 for 4). Single supplement €180.
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Come explore the rich history and beautiful scenery of Southern Italy on our Puglia and Basilicata bike tour. The “heel” of the Italian boot, Puglia has been home to ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Saracens and the royal Spanish court of the 1600’s. Today it is asserting itself as home to some of Italy’s best food, most innovative wines, and most interesting landscapes. We visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Matera, a dramatic city carved into the cliffs and gorges that cut through the town. The landscape and architecture is completely different from that of northern Italy. Vast olive groves stretch to the Mediterranean, white-washed baroque villages perch on hillsides overlooking the sea. Traditional ”Trulli,” houses dot the landscape, their charming forms make for a fairytale landscape.

The biking is more moderate than our Tuscany bike tour, however there are plenty of optional extension rides for those who want something a bit more strenuous!  The hotels have been chosen to enable you to experience Puglia’s countryside, seaside and village life. Our first night is in Bari, the capital of Puglia where you will have time to explore the city’s beautiful medieval center as well as the broad 19th century boulevards lined with majestic date palms. Our next two nights are at a wonderful boutique hotel in a converted 16th century convent in the charming baroque village of Conversano.  Then we spend two nights in a 4-star hotel in the heart of Matera – the rooms are beautifully restored village dwellings.  Our final night is at a four-star hotel located right on the sandy beach in the village of Capitolo. (Luggage is transferred by van. 1 night Bari, 2 nights Conversano, 2 nights Matera, 1 night Capitolo.)

Day 1 – Saturday: Transfer to the Bari Palace Hotel. Formerly the domain of smugglers and brigands, Bari’s quaint and atmospheric historic center has been revitalized during the past ten years. Cafés, wine bars, and trattorias are found around every corner of the labyrinthine medieval streets, all of which eventually lead to the remarkable Romanesque architecture of the 12th-century Basilica di San Nicola. Depending on your arrival time, you may have time for sightseeing or just relaxing after your journey. Dine independently tonight in one of the many local restaurants. All meals and transfer to Bari on your own. Hotel included.

Day 2 – Sunday: Meet your guide(s) in the hotel lobby this morning for introductions before transferring by van to the village of Conversano for our first ride. Upon arrival, our guides conduct a safety talk and oversee the bike fitting before we set out on our warm-up ride amongst the ancient olive groves and whitewashed “trulli” houses that fill the Pugliese countryside. After returning from our ride this afternoon, we’ll enjoy an aperitivo in town while your guide conducts a more formal orientation and description of what to expect during the week ahead. Dinner tonight in a colorful local pizzeria. Overnight at the beautifully restored Corte Altavilla. (Mileage: 55 km/35 mi) Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.

Day 3 - Monday: Today begins with a gentle ride to the stunning cliffside town of Polignano a Mare. Here, the vertical cliffs surmounted by 16th-century palazzi plunge dramatically into the Adriatic. Our afternoon ride takes us back up to Conversano past whitewashed “masseria,” the imposing fortified manor houses that are the legacy of dangerous medieval times when corsairs raided the Pugliese coast. You have free time this afternoon to wander through Conversano’s maze of alleyways and cobbled streets and shop or simply enjoy a chilled glass of wine in the piazza. (Mileage: 50 km/30 mi).  Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.

Day 4 – Tuesday: After breakfast we ride to the village of Alberobello, recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage status and famous for its trulli houses (almost 1500 of them!), the squat stone buildings with conical roofs for which Puglia is renowned. We have lunch in town and then take time to explore the streets and architecture of this amazing town. We then leave our bicycles and transfer by van to Matera. (Mileage: 30 km/19 mi). Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.

Day 5 – Wednesday: Another UNESCO World Heritage site, Matera is one of the most visually stunning towns in Italy.  Its inhabitants carved their homes, shops and churches right into the caves and gorges that slice through the town. Many of the caves were still inhabited in the 1950s!  We have a guided visit of the town this morning, then offer an optional bike ride around the Parco delle Chiese to the west of town (Mileage: 30 km). Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.

Day 6 – Thursday: We transfer this morning from Matera to Locorotondo for cappuccino, then ride to Ostuni, the “white town” sitting on a promontory overlooking the sea. After lunch we ride down to the sea and our next hotel, a 4-star located right on the beach. Have a swim or just relax before our final night’s special dinner. We first tour a traditional olive mill, then dine at a centuries’ old masseria with our host, Ettore. (Mileage: 58 km/37 mi). Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.

Day 7 – Friday: Transfer to Monopoli train station for 6:13 a.m. train to Rome (arr. 11:00) or 12:38 train (arr. Rome at 18:00).  Transfers to the Bari airport can also be arranged for an additional cost. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.

The biking in Puglia is rather flat but can also be hilly.  We normally ride between 40 – 65 km a day, with optional extensions as well as van support, which allows you to relax off the bike for a while. We have designed the trip so that there is always some free time in the late afternoon so you can relax, read, or explore the towns we stay in. Breakfast is included every day, and dinners reflect the excellent traditional food of the region.

Useful Links -
Puglia tourism: general introductory site on the region of “Apulia,” including links to weather forecast, train schedules, and local events
Trullo houses: short site on these traditional houses
Bari: basic information and history on the city by Wikipedia
Locorotondo wine: a short article on the local white wine
UNESCO World Heritage Site: check out all the wonderful places in Italy!

Comments – “Peter and I … had the most amazing and happy time with Luca and Claire. The knowledge that they shared with us was remarkable… They were the best people, making us laugh all the time, and helpful with any problems… I hope you realize what great people you have working for you… The accomodation, food, tour, people were fantastic.”   (Peter and Lyndal — May 17, 2008)

General Information

Qualifications: This trip is rated easy to moderate with some challenging optional rides. This trip is perfect for anyone who is physically fit and likes to cycle; the presence of a support van and relatively flat terrain means that cyclists of all abilities may join. The daily distances are between 50-60 kms (31-38 miles) a day, or 3-5 hours of riding more or less equally divided between morning and afternoon. Trip Cost Includes: All accommodations (1 night Bari, 2 nights in Conversano and Matera, and 1 night Capitolo in 4-star hotels); 6 breakfasts and 5 dinners, bilingual guide or guides; support vehicle; guided tours as noted in the itinerary; pick up from Bari, transfer to Monopoli train station at the end of the trip; and bikes (quality 27-speed hybrid-style touring bikes with map readers, front handlebar bags and rear racks). Getting there (this will redirect you to our “Getting to the Trip” page) Booking: e-mail us to receive a booking contract (or use the “Reservation” page). Insurance: We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance. We recommend “Travel Guard” to our American clients, just click on the logo below, while Canadian residents can click here.  Australian, New Zealander, and British travelers, please consult your insurance brokers. We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime!