Description

Classic Salento Cycling Tour

Classic Salento Cycling Tour
Every day all year long
For guided options from 4 persons or more send us an email.

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The Classic Salento Cycling Tour in the “heel” of Italy. Cycle on a peninsula that divides two seas, the Adriatic and the Ionian. Salento was settled in the prehistoric era. Situated in a strategic position in the heart of the Mediterranean sea. It is the perfect marriage of nature and culture. Even the farmers are inadvertent artists using special techniques to build out of mortarless stone, creating a unique landscape unlike any in the world! Enjoy seven days on pedals, follow the GPS maps that lead you in the most evocative corners, to the countryside roads, small villages, and handcraft laboratories. Salento is a cultural, historical, and geographic region that is almost completely flat. Because of the flat landscape, it makes the ride a pleasant journey for any level of rider to cycle.

This land smiles at the bicycle tourist. Its hillocks never climb more than 200 meters and even beginners can easily enjoy the beauty by bicycle. This travel is suitable for couples, families but also singles or small groups of friends. (cycling approximately 30 km a day. You’ll mainly cross secondary roads).

Salento’s climate

The climate is typically Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters which provide suitable conditions for the cultivation of olives, citrus fruits, and palm trees. The generally flat topography and surrounding seas can make Salento prone to windy weather year-round. The windy weather is ideal when it’s hot because it helps you to keep your head cool during heatwaves. Sirocco winds from the south occasionally deposit dust and sand from the Sahara in the coastal towns of Salento.

Cycle the Classic Salento Cycling Tour and discover all the beauties of Puglia

In the entroterra, you’ll find many small farms and artisans who strictly follow traditional ethics and respect for the land
Visit ‘Palacia Lighthouse’ (easternmost point of Italy)
The peninsula is also known as Terra d’Otranto, and in the past Sallentina. In ancient times it was called variously Calabria or Messapia
From Neolithic cave paintings, to ruins of ancient cities, to Roman theaters and spas, or Baroque churches, Salento is an open-air museum
Visit the ruins of Roca Vecchia – an ancient bronze age city and ‘alimini’ lakes
Cycle to Sannicola to discover its underground olive Mill

Start every Friday and Saturday from March till half July and End of august till half November

DEPARTURES: every Sunday from 27/3/2022 until 3/07/2022 (last departure) and from 28/08/2022 until 6/11/2022 (last departure). On other days on request paying an extra charge of € 75

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Day 1

Arrive in Lecce

Meeting in Lecce. Bicycle delivery, with GPS navigator. Briefing about the route.

Day 2

Lecce to Otranto - distance 56 km

The flat route today, with many interesting cultural and naturalistic sights. First, you visit Acaya – a fortified city with a huge castle -and then we plunge down to “Le Cesine” – a WWF protected area, the crossing point for many species of migratory birds. From there you head towards the coast, along the ruins of Roca Vecchia – an ancient Bronze age city – and ‘Alimini’ Lakes. Some more kilometers and you are in Otranto, where narrow streets reveal wonders at every corner: the St. Peter church Byzantine frescoes, a walk along the ramparts overlooking the sea, and finally the cathedral with its paved mosaic, a sort of figurative Middle Age encyclopedia.

Day 3

Otranto’s surroundings - distance 29 km

Exploring Otranto's surroundings day. Riding along the little river “Idro” (“water”), which gave the name to the city, you arrive in Casamassela, where old looms are still being used in “le Costantine” foundation. After a guided tour we move toward Giurdignano, crossing a Bronze age megalithic park containing huge stones (“dolmen” and “menhir”). In the late morning visit a characteristic stone-made oven, where you'll have a typical bread cheese and other baker product tasting. Return to Otranto and free dinner in the historical center.

Day 4

Otranto to Leuca coast - distance 52 km

Today you cycle along the wildest Salento coastal stretch. You visit ‘Palacìa’ lighthouse (eastERNMOST point of Italy) and a little red lake surfaced in a disused bauxite quarry. Then you carry on riding along the coast: nestled among the cliffs above the sea, this road is a huge balcony that looks onto Otranto Strait. With a little bit of luck, you'll be able to see the mountains of Albania and Greece. You could visit the ‘Zinzulusa’ cave, going down nearly 200 feet into the earth bowels. On the way, you admire some terraces and dry walls, the ingenious devices of peasants to get arable land in barren and impervious areas. After crossing the bridge over the “ciolo” (a small and rich in rare flora canyon carved by the waters), you reach Santa Maria di Leuca where you visit the sanctuary, following the ancient pilgrim's footsteps.

Day 5

Leuca to Gallipoli - distance 61 km

Today you discover Leuca Cape, the southern part of Apulia. After an astonishing defense tower situated in the center of a small village - it is time to visit an ancient mill, dug into the rock, and then an enigmatic funerary monument made by big stones (its name “centopietre”, means a “hundred stones”), coming from Vereto, an ancient pre-Romanic town situated nearby. Finally, you visit Leuca Piccola ('little Leuca'), an important pilgrimage station that still maintains a vast underground area. Through olive groves and dry stone walls, we'll reach Ugento, maybe to visit its archaeological museum. In the afternoon you’ll reach again the ionic coast until the St. Andrew’s island and Punta Pizzo" natural park. In Gallipoli, you could enjoy an aperitif on a terrace overlooking the sea. located on an island, this small fisherman village is striking by its light, its alleys, and its fish market.

Day 6

Gallipoli’s surroundings - distance 60 km

Day dedicated to Gallipoli's surroundings. The first stop is in Sannicola to discover its underground oil mill, then Tuglie with its amazing “rural culture museum”. you'll go to Galatone to visit its beautiful Baroque old town and the Norman castle of Fulcignano. In the afternoon you reach Galatina where we can admire the church of Santa Caterina, totally painted with frescoes in Giottesco style, and then visit the beautiful historical center of the town. Possible return by train.

Day 7

Gallipoli to Lecce - distance 52 km

Last day of our trip. You’ll pass by many 19th centuries fortified farmhouses and villas on your way back to Lecce. You stop in Nardò to visit its decadent baroque style historical center. Next stop in Copertino to discover its impressive Norman castle and listen to stories about 'the Hopi of flights'. Some km before Lecce the last stop at a handcraft traditional pottery, at the Martina brothers, skillful keepers of this ancient art. Late afternoon arrival in Lecce and bikes drop off.

Day 8

Departure

Onward travel

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All prices are based on double rooms. Departures all days
For bookings & inquiries please contact us at info@cycleclassictours.com
Start every Friday and Saturday from March till half July and End of august till half November
Departures: every Sunday from 27/3/2022 until 3/07/2022 (last departure) and from 28/08/2022 until 6/11/2022 (last departure)
Other days on request paying an extra charge of € 75

Extra Information

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