Biking Tour in Puglia Italy – Itria Valley
Self-guided Tour – 5 days
The charm of the Itria Valley is recognized worldwide, but probably not everyone knows that this area in the heart of Puglia is even more fascinating by bicycle! Its elegant villages, quiet countryside dotted with trulli and olive groves surrounded by dry stonewalls, the multitude of flavours, scents and colours of its cuisine will captivate you and make your cycling trip a continuous discovery!
Itinerary
DAY 1: ALBEROBELLO
Arrival and accommodation in Alberobello.
DAY 2: (LOOP) ALBEROBELLO
+/- 45 km
The tour starts from a UNESCO heritage site before taking you in the heart of the Itria Valley. Leaving Alberobello, you will then ride towards Martina Franca to admire the elegant baroque old town. A few kilometres later, you will come across the first Apulian cycle route: the “Ciclovia dell’Acquedotto”, the second biggest cycle route one in Europe. The cycling route will take you to Locorotondo, rewarded as one the most beautiful villages of Italy. Before coming back to Alberobello, you’ll still have time to ride across some “contrade” (built up areas in the countryside, often full of trulli, which are the most peculiar and distinctive features of the Itria Valley).
+/- 500 meters of climbing
DAY 3: ALBEROBELLO – OSTUNI
+/- 40 km
The day-2 stage again starts form Alberobello. It will be a full immersion in the most authentic but varied landscape of this corner of Puglia: Itria Valley, a triangle whose vertices are Locorotondo, Martina Franca and Cisternino. You’ll already have visited the first two and now it’s Cisternino’s turn! You will discover another outstanding mixture between spontaneous architecture and the elegance of big churches and palaces. The last daily kilometres are a gentle and extraordinarily panoramic ride down to Ostuni. This “white town” on the hill overlooks the sea, exactly as you’ll have the chance to do at the end of this stage.
+/- 400 meters of climbing
DAY 4: (LOOP) OSTUNI
+/- 50 km
The third stage is dedicated to the best-kept secrets of this land. Don’t you think for instance that a castle is missing among all these trulli? Today you are going to visit two very different but both very scenic castles: “Dentice di Frasso” Castle of Carovigno and “Castello Ducale” of Ceglie Messapica. Ceglie is also the silent capital of Apulian cuisine, too: it has been hosting the international Mediterranean Cooking School in an old monastery and some of the best Apulian restaurants. You will drop in around noon…Are we perhaps suggesting something?
+/- 500 meters of climbing
DAY 5: OSTUNI
After breakfast, end of services.
