The center of Puglia, enclosed in the Valle d’Itria and the Murgia dei Trulli is, along with the Terra delle Gravine and Matera in Basilicata, the perfect destination for your new Gravel bike adventure. You run across hills, forests, quiet trails, expanses of ancient olive trees, rocky canyons, bare hills, villages with fairy-tale feature. What you feel on your skin is the taste of an authentic experience, in close contact with nature and the truest places in the heel of Italy. An independent bike trip, but always with the vivid feeling of being welcome in this breathtaking land.
Itinerary
DAY 1: Manduria - No ride
Arrival in and check in at the hotel. Briefing and bike fitting with a member of our team, who welcome you and tell you in details about the trip ahead, follow.
DAY 2: Manduria – Grottaglie
61 km
Today you cycle towards Grottaglie, one of the most fascinating destinations in terms of craftsmanship in relation to ceramics. Grottaglie is a riot of colour: its Quartiere delle Ceramiche (Ceramics Quarter) is a unique place, full of craft workshops that tell stories of skilled hands and ancient traditions. This tradition stems from the favourable and abundant presence of clay in the soil, a condition that has made Grottaglie a town where art is intertwined with everyday life, creating a magical and vital atmosphere.
+337m
DAY 3: Grottaglie – Ostuni
48 km
Cycling towards Ostuni, the landscape becomes tinged with green and silver, thanks to the presence of huge expanses of centuries-old olive trees, dry stone walls, and small rural roads that sinuously embrace the slopes. Halfway through this stage, you encounter Cisternino, a small village with a typical Puglia atmosphere, white houses, green wooden windows, scenes of daily life that flow like an Italian movie. After this brief interlude, the destination is Ostuni. The White City appears like a mirage due to its position on the hill. The walls that can be seen from below are made up of white-plastered houses that, hit by the sun’s rays, reflect the light and amplify it. You can stroll through the narrow alleys, discovering the Gothic-Romanesque cathedral and enjoying the panoramic view of a green sea of olive trees stretching all the way to the Adriatic. This is an experience that will last in your memory forever. Last but not least: enjoy a fine Puglia meal at one of the osterias in the winding alleys of the town.
+581m
DAY 4: Ostuni – Monopoli
55 km
DAY 5: Monopoli – Alberobello
52 km
+702m
DAY 6: Alberobello – Castellaneta
49 km
+648 m
DAY 7: Castellaneta – Matera
53.7 km
The day’s ride starts in Castellaneta, in the Gravine Regional Park, and takes in wheat fields and sweeping views. Among golden hills, scattered hovels, breathtaking ravines and ancient stone bridges, you reach Laterza, for an intermediate stop. Laterza is the city of bread and ceramics and is a place to savour with all the senses on. It will begin to transport you to the typical atmosphere of Matera, but here we are still in Puglia and in a more niche and discreet place. The day continues to Matera, the city of the Sassi in Basilicata, considered a Unesco heritage site. It is one of the most special places in the world. It is a fascinating theatrical setting that almost makes you feel like you are in a nativity scene. Get full of the panoramic terraces, caves, stones, little houses, rocks, scattered lights, barren hills, rock churches, and local peasant culture on this last day of the trip. Finally, enjoy the sunset over Matera, which is pure poetry.
+594 m
DAY 8: Matera
Last greetings to the city of Matera. Check out.
