| TOUR OF
PUGLIA
DATES 2009:
Apr 21 - 30
Oct 5 - 14
PRICE:
Eur 1550 (reserving before Jan 31)
Eur 1700 (after Jan 31)
Max 12 participants
DEPOSIT:
Eur 500
INCLUDES:
9 Nights in
double room w/bath in Masseria or 3 stars Hotel
9 breakfast and dinners
all the van transfers
Single suppl.: Eur 250
Support:
cycling
guide and support van
Bike cases have to be stored at left luggage
Bikes for rent :
Eur
150
In Puglia we can
organize custom tours, guided or self guided for groups of at least 6
participants
ASSOCIAZIONE ABCYCLE
38, Via Brecciano
65013 Città S.Angelo (PE)
Abruzzo, Italia
tel/fax: Italia 085 969410
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On
arrival day our van we’ll pick you up at Bari airport.
In less than one hour we’ll be in our first Masseria just out
of Fasano and a couple of kms from the beaches. Typical of Puglia,
the Masserie are traditional
farmers mansions transformed into prestigious lodging.
In this Masseria we will stay for
3 consecutive nights and again on the 6th night. We will
assemble our bikes and have a sumptuous welcome dinner.
Our first ride is entirely set in the Valle d'Itria.
After
an early climb to the Selva di Fasano we
get to Alberobello.
Along your way you may have
already noticed the Trulli, the odd shaped dry stone dwellings
scattered everywhere that give a fairy tale look to the valley. The old
town of Alberobello is still made of perfectly preserved Trulli
and we can ride our bikes in this fantastic setting. We leave town on a
narrow backroad lined by dry stone walls. This rolling road takes us to Martina
Franca.
We cross the town center with its outstanding baroque
buildings. We take a little time sitting at a café savoring the local
delicacies and the remarkable surroundings. The road home it’s mostly
descent so plenty of time for a restoring swim in the calm waters of the
Adriatic.
Next day is a one way ride
to Matera. We cross the undulated plains of the inland, a vast
landscape of wheat fields and a couple of notable villages: Noci
and Gioia del Colle. Then we cross the border of Puglia getting
into the region of Basilicata. The only real challenge of the day is the final
climb to Matera. Here we visit I Sassi, the fantastic ancient
town built on rocks that has been set to Mel Gibson’s
“Passion”. After eating lunch in one of the traditional
trattoria in the ancient town we drive back to Fasano and the beach.
With the 3rd stage we leave Fasano and head south. We start
climbing in the shade of pine trees to the old village of Cisternino.
The rest of the
stage is pretty easy: winding backroads among olive trees, a few historical towns like Ceglie,
Francavilla Fontana and Oria with its remarkable Norman
castle and the long
plains of Puglia’s best wine country. And, yes, we stop for a wine
taste at a local cantina. Arrival is in Lecce, magnificent and solar exhibition of
baroque marvels. We take our time for an eye-filling stroll downtown
with stops in the cafes and a little shopping.
We
drive by van the short distance to our next Masseria just outside of Otranto.
This ancient portal town, superb in his castle, churches, towered walls
and stone paved alley is Italy's easternmost site. Walking in the old
town is like opening a book on Middle Age troubled times.
Next day we ride the
entire coastline of the Salento. Pretty rugged at first with the
cliffs of Porto Badisco, the exotic thermal town of Santa
Cesarea and the beach resorts of Castro and Tricase.
We reach land’s end at Leuca. Here we double the cape
entering the Ionian coast. With the deep blue always at our left
we are dazzled by the special brightness of the light. The second part
of the ride is pretty flat so we soon get to the Ionian pearl of Gallipoli.
The old, fortified port is encircled by the sea. Here we have lunch and
a stroll in the old seaport. Then we drive by van back to Otranto on a faster
route.
The 5th stage takes us back north to Fasano. We ride across the old pine
forests of the flat Adriatic coast touching quiet beach resorts: Torre
dell'Orso, San Foca, San Cataldo. Then we turn inland and cross other
two notable towns: Mesagne and San Vito dei Normanni.
Another few miles and, surging on a low hill above a sea of olive trees, we catch sight
of the white washed walls of the lovely Ostuni, la Città Bianca.
We visit the old town,
savoring gelato and adding pics to an already rich
photo album. For the night stay we are back to the Masseria in Fasano.
The 6th stage is pretty challenging. We move North along the coast. Along the way we see the
roman ruins of Egnatzia, the coastal towns of Monopoli and
Polignano then we turn inland. On the road side patricians villas
and rich agricultural land. We cross towns rich in history and art: Conversano,
Turi, Acquaviva delle Fonti, Cassano, Altamura.
Here we start climbing the Murge, the typical bare hills of
Puglia. Not higher than 600 mts but enough for our view to embrace a
vast horizon. At a distance the amazing octagonal shape of Castel del
Monte starts to materialize. The most ambitious among the countless
castles built by the Norman Emperor Federico II in the 13th
century. Our ride ends at the door of the castle. It’s been a tough
day so the visit is postponed for tomorrow. For now we head to our Masseria
for a well deserved dinner.
Today is rest day. After a visit to the amazing Castel
del Monte*we drive by van to Mattinata. Along the way we stop for a
walk along Trani's spectacular seafront dominated by the 12th
century majestic Cathedral. Towering
above the blue sea it’s one of Italy’s most visited monuments. We
get to Mattinata in time for a restoring swim and then we stroll thru
town tasting the local delicatessen.
The final stage is entirely set in the Natural Park of the Gargano
promontory. The Gargano is the
only mountainous part of Puglia so you are finally up for a climbing
day. From Mattinata we start circling the promontory riding up and
down its wild cliffs. The road is a roller coaster and every bend gives
a new
photo opt. We reach the old seaport of Vieste where we take a
little time for refreshment. Then we turn inland and start climbing in the scented
woods of the Foresta Umbra. It’s by far the longest climb on
our trip (15k) but never too steep. After a first summit at 800 mts the
road goes on twisting in the woods mostly downhill. As we exit the
forests we catch sight of the stone built village, pierced on an high
rock, of Monte
Sant’Angelo, famous for his sanctuary built by the Templars
in the 8th century and one of the most important shrine of
Christianity. The 6 kms climb to Monte S.Angelo is the last effort of
our tour. You’ll be rewarded by the exceptional landscape that
embraces all the Gulf of Manfredonia and
a great part of Puglia. The following 15 kms winding descent take us
directly to the beach of Mattinata for a last tonic swim.
Before
dinner we pack our bikes and the next morning we drive by van to
Bari
airport (2 hrs
drive).
*entrance
to museums or wherever else a ticket is required it is not included in
the tour price
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