Southern Italy by bike - Puglia from Matera to Lecce

Southern Italy by bike, from Matera to Lecce

Go on a cultural and gastronomic bike trip through Puglia and let yourself be charmed by its picturesque beauty. Large olive groves, grain fields and vineyards are part of this sunny route. 
 
You are on the heel of the Italian boot, between the Ionian and the Adriatic Sea, starting from Matera. This Italian region invites you to admire beautiful whitewashed villas in the hills and to cross picturesque places where time seems to stand still.
Your cycling vacation in Puglia ends in Lecce, known as the "Florence of the South" in the Salento region.

Highlights of the trip : 

• Lecce
• Gastronomy
• Oenology
• Alberobello and Martina Franca
• Locorotondo
• The Itria Valley
• The vineyards

Day 1: Arrival in Matera

You will be welcomed in Matera for a briefing about the bike trip in Puglia. You can test the bikes rental (if booked). Overnight in Matera.
 

Day 2: Matera to Putignano/Castellana (60 to 70 km)

Today's ride takes you to Putignano.

After riding through the countryside around Matera, you arrive at Gioia del Colle. The town is famous for its Fior di latte mozzarella (made only with cow's milk) and for its burrata. After a break, get on your bike to reach Putignano. This town has become famous for its picturesque carnival.

Once there, we recommend a walk through its beautiful historic center, once protected by powerful walls with three doors: Porta Barsento (towards Alberobello), Porta Nuova (towards Castellana) and Porta Grande (towards Noci - Goia del Colle).

Day 3: Around Putignano: Conversano, Castellana and Polignano a mare and Grotte de Castellana (61 km)

Today's stage takes you to some of the towns south-east of Bari, such as Polignano a Mare. Here you can taste the typical octopus sandwich and enjoy a good swim. You finish at Castellana Grotte, where you can visit amazing caves, a complex of underground cavities of karstic origin.

Day 4: From Putignano to Alberobello / Locorotondo / Martina Franca (35km / 41km / 45km)

The route takes you to the area known as Valle D'Itria.

The first stop is Noci, which is probably the least known and least touristy of the towns in the Itria Valley, but worth a visit and a coffee break. Small hills lead you to Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996 thanks to its 1,500 "Trulli" (typical houses with conical roofs).

Day 5: Around Alberobello/ Locorotondo to Manduria (70 km/60 km)

This day invites you to discover the Itria Valley by bike. You leave Alberobello to reach Martina Franca. Less touristic than Alberobello, it has kept a unique charm. The old town is surrounded by stone walls with baroque doors, leading to the main square. You can taste the famous capocollo of Martina Franca, a Slow Food Presidium.

You leave Martina Franca to drive through gently rolling countryside on a short section of the aqueduct cycleway. You then head for Ceglie Messapica, a town famous for its bread, which you can sample in one of the old bakeries in the town center.  In Francavilla Montana, you'll visit the Basilica Minore of the Most Holy Rosary, or Matrix Cathedral, and the Palazzo Argentina. Next stop is Oria, the town of witches! You then cross Erchie before ending your stopover on a farm (or guest host) in the Avetrana countryside.

Day 6: Around Manduria (45 km)

The longest section of the journey takes you to Manduria, crossing the border between Valle d'Itria and Salento. You'll notice the change of scenery around you as you travel along the seafront, with the dunes of Torre Colimena. You'll have the chance to visit the Salina dei Monaci and watch the birds. 
You reach San Pietro in Bevagna and the crystal-clear Sandy beach. After a dip in the Ionian Sea, drive to Manduria, the ancient archaeological site of Messapica and the a a museum dedicated to the primitivo grape variety, widely cultivated in the region.

Day 7: Manduria to Lecce (60 km)

On this last day, you will reach the "Florence of the South": the city of Lecce. On the way, you will pass through the fascinating ghost town of Monteruga, built in the 1920s and completely abandoned in the 1980s. This is the region of "Salice Salentino", whose vineyards produce a DOCG wine that is very popular throughout the world.

You will pass through some typical small villages where, all year round, you will find the squares filled with elderly residents, hats pulled down against the sun, discussing politics and agriculture. Here, time seems to stand still. Later in the afternoon, you will reach your final destination, the city of Lecce.

Day 8: Departure from Lecce

Your cycling trip in Italy ends after breakfast.

General Information:

• 8 days and 7 nights
• Standard version: 3* hotels or charming hotels
• Comfort version: 4* hotels
• Comfort + version: 4 and 5* hotels
• Rates for children : contact us.

Dates 2025:

• Departures on Sundays from 02/03 to 08/06 and from 31/08 to 21/12
• Departures possible on other days of the week with supplement (150 €)
• High season from 31/08 to 27/09

Included:

• 7 nights in accommodation with breakfast
• 2 tastings of wine, cheese and local products
• GPS tracks of the routes
• roadbook with practical and cultural information
• Luggage transportation
• Telephone assistance service

 
Not included :

• Everything that is not mentioned in the "included" section
• Transportation to the place of departure
• Personal expenses
• Local taxes (to pe baid on site)
• Everything that in not mentionned in "included"

Options :

• Renting of VTC or VAE 
• Comfort version
• deluxe version
• Transfer from Bari Airport to Matera(on request)
• Transfer from Brindisi Airport to Matera (on request)
• Transfer from Lecce to Bari Airport (on request)
• Transfer from Lecce to Brindisi Airport (on request)
• Supplement for departures on a day other than sunday
• Additional night at the beginning or end of the tour
• Bike theft insurance (for rented bikes)
• Cancellation insurance

Level :

1 2 3 4 5 6

Terrain :

Mainly in the plains, sometimes hilly. Traffic is almost non-existent in Puglia, except during the high season. The itinerary includes some very nice stretches on the coast.

Some days the route will be flat, others more hilly. Suitable for people in good physical condition and with cycling experience.

Climate :

Hot and dry summers. June and September are the most pleasant months.

Technicality :

• Cycling: from 35 to 70 km per day or 3 to 6 hours of cycling. From 0 to 690 m of positive difference in altitude.
• Itinerary partly marked, roadbook and map reading useful.

Bibliography :

cycling maps on Italy on cartovelo.fr

Additional nights :

An extra night is offered at the beginning and/or end of the tour.

Meals :

• Breakfasts : copious (coffee, tea, chocolate, milk, butter, bread, jam, orange juice) or buffet
• Lunch : not included
• Dinner: not included - restaurants nearby on each stage.

Bicycle :

Rental bike: If you rent a bike, it will be given to you on the day of your arrival at the 1st hotel. At the end of the tour, you will have to leave the bike at the last hotel and inform the reception. We will take care of its return.
 
Assistance :
Assistance in case of breakdown (except for punctures for which we do not intervene).
 
Luggage:
They are transported by a courier or by our partner and limited to one bag per person. (max. 20 kg).
 
Travel book :
It includes detailed maps and descriptions of the routes, vouchers for hotels and restaurants and labels for luggage.
 
Transportation: 

• By train: It takes one day by train from Paris to reach Lecce. 
• By car: Lecce is about 1879 km from Paris. 
• By air: Brindisi (40 km) and Bari (150 km) airports.

 
Cancellation insurance:
In order to guarantee the reimbursement of expenses in case of cancellation of your stay, you can take out a cancellation insurance. To learn more about the insurance, click here.