Puglia Cycling Tour

Bordered on two sides by the Ionian and Adriatic seas, Puglia is a long sliver of land that stretches along Italy’s heel. In between, you'll find some of the best riding in all of Italy along peaceful backroads. All around, fields and orchards deliver the tastiest ingredients for traditional dishes. The countryside is also rich in history, with the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Normans and many other leaving their mark.

Start from the picturesque Polignano a Mare, once a fishing village and now a lovely seaside resort town famous for its dramatic vistas of limestone cliffs and whitewashed houses, as well as for its gelato.

After Polignano, we'll stay at a beautiful Masseria resort in the countryside of Savelletri among olive groves, fig trees, blooming cacti, and herb gardens that fill our cycling routes with delightful fragrances. Finally, we ride through one of the gems of Puglia: the Valle D’Itria. In Alberobello, the trulli region, you'll be captivated by clusters of fantastic conical dwellings surrounded by enormous, gnarled olive trees. Spicy handmade orecchiette, bruschetta covered with juicy tomatoes, roasted red peppers and grilled calamari satisfy our palates. Warm hospitality and friendly conversation greet us at every turn.

While many regions of Italy boast of having “the best food,” Puglia could humbly claim this title due to the use of simple preparations that allow the true flavors of the food to stand out. Slow Food has over 300 chapters here (called Presidi) to protect biodiversity and traditional production.

Highlights

• Charming Polignano a Mare
• Discover the whitewashed town of Ostuni and the beaches near the fishing village of Savelletri
• Spectacular fields of ancient olive trees and a visit to an olive oil producer
• Cucina povera and the Mediterranean Diet
• UNESCO World Heritage Site of Alberobello
• Beautiful countryside riding among the groves and trulli of Valle d’Itria
• Southern Italian hospitality
• Two nights at a 5-star Masseria country resort