Family bike tour in Italy
The Salento region is perfect for bicycle tours, even for the youngest. The central part of the province is completely flat and populated with small villages that allow for many stops.
This family bike tour in Italy has been designed with shorter distances (15 to 30 km per day). Each itinerary takes place on secondary roads through the countryside, to also allow families to discover this beautiful region by bike.
Highlights of the trip :
- the landscapes of Puglia
- the Italian gastronomy
- the seaside
- Lecce, Galatina and Gallipoli
- The "Grecìa Salentina
Day 1: ARRIVAL IN LECCE
You will be expected in the late afternoon for a briefing on your trip and the handing over of the bikes and the GPS.
You will then have the opportunity to take a family walk through the historical center of Lecce, known as the "Florence of the South". You will be charmed by its Spanish-style baroque architecture and Roman ruins.
Overnight stay in Lecce.
Day 2: FROM LECCE TO MARTANO - 26 km
This first itinerary is completely flat and takes place on secondary roads. First stop at Cavallino, where you can visit an open-air museum about the Messapian civilization.
Then drive through olive groves bordered by dry stone walls to Calimera. You can visit a natural history museum about the characteristic flora and fauna of the area.
You end the stage in Martano, the capital of "Salentine Greece".
Day 3: SALENTINE GREECE - 23 km
In the Middle Ages, in the Salento region, people spoke Greek thanks to the presence of Byzantine monks.
The "Grecìa Salentina" is a small region of 9 municipalities where a version of this language, called "Griko" is still spoken to this day.
You will visit some villages like Zollino, Sternatia, Martignano.
In their charming historical centers you can taste Italian gastronomic specialties, such as "sceblasti", a soft bread seasoned with tomatoes, zucchini, onions and peppers. Or you can try the "Sibilla", a pastry made with marzipan, invented by a local pastry chef and very popular with Italians.
Day 4: FROM MARTANO TO GALATONE - 35 km
The first part of this cycling itinerary is still in the Grecìa Salentina. You will first pass through Castrignano dei Greci where you can admire the "pozzelle", an ancient public rainwater collection system, then you will ride towards Corigliano D'Otranto and its majestic baroque castle. You will finally reach the village of Cutrofiano, famous for its handmade pottery.
You will have the opportunity to visit an organic farm near Cutrofiano, a cheese producer and a honey producer if you wish.
Day 5: AROUND GALATONE: GALATINA - 30 km
This is an ideal day to pick vegetables from the farm's garden and then take a cooking class with Anna, who will welcome you to her large country house with swimming pool. You will learn how to prepare orecchiette (typical local pasta shaped like an ear) and "pitta di patate" - a pizza made with potatoes and "pasticciotto". In this pleasant place you can relax with your family.
Afterwards, you will take the bikes to ride towards Galatina and the church of Santa Caterina, whose walls are entirely covered with frescoes in the style of Giotto.
Don't hesitate to try the 'pasticciotto', a typical local dessert filled with a creamy pastry. Best eaten hot!
Day 6: FROM GALATONE TO GALLIPOLI - 25 km
Your bike ride will take you through the countryside, past olive groves and "pajare" (typical dry stone buildings). In Galatone you can visit the castle of Fulcignano and in Alezio the museum of Messapian civilization. You can even make a detour to Tuglie for a visit to the radio museum (where you will find the history of radio communication with dozens of old models, all in working order). You finish the stage in Gallipoli.
Day 7: AROUND GALLIPOLI - TO PORTO SELVAGGIO - 28 km
Why not enjoy a relaxing day with your family by the sea? After a short itinerary along the coast (quite deserted outside the high season), you will reach the natural park of Porto Selvaggio: a wooded area of more than 1000 hectares near the sea.
On the way back, you must stop in Santa Caterina, a very small town, where it is imperative to have an ice cream.
Day 8: End of the family bike trip in Italy
In the morning, you will have the opportunity to walk around the historical center of this fishermen's town.
Transfer to Lecce organized by our local partner.
