Italy / Apulia

Lecce and the typical manor farms of Salento

A wonderful journey on the border between East and West, where cultures, religions, colours and scents meet and melt. From the Adriatic to the Ionian Sea, you will cycle between beautiful towns such as Lecce and Otranto, on lands covered by Mediterranean scrub and wind-beaten by hot Sirocco and cool Tramontane. Welcome to Salento!

Apulia

Photos (8)

5 Client reviews

Day by Day
Route profile
How to get there
Accommodation and meals
Bikes and accessories
Accompanying material
By your side
Client reviews

Day by Day

map
1. Lecce
Individual arrival.

2. Lecce and its coastal landscape (45 km)
Discover the beaches where the locals go!
Frivole may not be the most famous sea resort, but it lies in the middle of the wonderful nature park “Boschi e Paludi di Rauccio”. You will have also the chance to visit the medieval hamlet of Santa Maria in Verrate, which lies along the Southern Via Francigena. Finally, don’t forget to stop in an old Masseria to taste fresh produce and local delicatessen. The Masserie are very interesting also from a historic point of view, as they represented the local agricultural centre during the second world war.

3. Lecce – Acaya – Le Cesine - Caprarica (45 km)
Today you will begin cycling towards the sea. At half way you will reach the hamlet Acaya, built by the emperor Charles V. Its castle hides also a Byzantine cloister, which is older than the hamlet itself. Then, passing through the nature reserve “Le Cesine” you will finally get to the sea, with its long sandy beaches, before reaching Caprarica for the overnight.

4. Caprarica – Grecìa Salentina – Uggiano La Chiesa (60 km)
You will cycle in the so-called Salentinian Greece, a territory composed by 9 municipalities, where ancient “griko” is still spoken by elderly people. You will cross Martignano, Martano and its olive groves, and get to Carpignano. Don’t miss a bath in the crystal clear sea at Roca Vecchia, close to the mythical cave of Poetry, well-known by daring Salentinian cliff divers. Cycling along the Alimini Lakes, you will finally get to the pretty square of Uggiano la Chiesa.

5. Uggiano – Megaliths way – Turks’ Bay (60 km)
Today you will cycle on the famous “via dei Megaliti” (the street of megaliths) and reach enchanted places such as the isolated Stabile dolmen. If you are a greenery fan you can visit the Botanical Garden “La Cutura”, with a collection of succulent plants coming from 5 continents. Then you will get to one of the most beautiful places of the whole Salento, the unspoiled “Baia dei Turchi” (the Turks’ Bay), where the Turkish warriors landed in 1480, during the battle of Otranto. Here the deep blue sea will tempt you…but it’s time to get back on your bike! You will cycle to Otranto, with its white point into the Adriatic sea, and then to Uggiano la Chiesa for the overnight.

6. Uggiano La Chiesa – Castro – Otranto (45 km)
This stage is dedicated to the Salentinian inland, where you will cycle in the countryside until you reach the panoramic viewpoint of Castro, a village built on the cliffs where Aeneas landed, according to the legend. Then you will continue on one of the most beautiful cycle paths of Italy: after Punta Palascia you will head to Torre del Serpe and then again towards Otranto. So, if on the previous day you spent some time on the beach, today you can visit the castle and explore the narrow streets. Then you will cycle back to Uggiano la Chiesa through the Serra.

7. Uggiano La Chiesa
After breakfast end of services.

Due to organisational reasons, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the way you may find temporary deviations caused by roadworks, which cannot be foreseen; in this case please follow the indications you will find on site.
Route profile
- Total length: 255 km
- Total vertical up: 660 m
- Terrain: 95% tarmac, 5% unpaved
- Train connection among the overnight stays: NO
- Possibility to shorten the itinerary by taking the train: NO
The route is mainly on secondary country roads with some unpaved stretches, all in good conditions. There are some short climbs.

Some days the itinerary will be flat, others it will present some hills. Suitable for everyone in good physical condition and with some cycling experience.
How to get there

Lecce is connected with the following airports:
Brindisi: 40 Km, Bari: 150 Km.

Trains
For further information on timetables and prices you can consult the following website: www.trenitalia.com.
Accommodation and meals
We personally choose all the hotels mindful of your comfort as well as the proximity to cycling paths and any relevant local sites.

You will be accommodated in a 3/4* hotel in Lecce and in typical agriturismi or masserie (manor farms) with swimming pool (seasonal) in Caprarica and Uggiano La Chiesa.

All rooms have air conditioning and en suite facilities.

When you book the tour please specify the type of room requested:
- double room is a room with one double bed
- twin room is a room with two single beds
- triple room is usually a room with one double bed and a single bed or a sofa bed.
Bikes and accessories
Girolibero bikes are available in different sizes and frames:
- Touring bike 27-gear Shimano Deore
- E-bike 9-gear Shimano
Features:
- aluminium frame
- mudguard
- rear rack
- comfort gel saddle
- anti-puncture Schwalbe tyres
- ergonomic bicycle grips
- Speed Lifter system
Accessories
All rented adult bikes are equipped with:
- 1 cycle computer
- 1 Ortlieb one-sided saddlebag
- 1 front bar bag
- 1 water bottle (0.75 l)
- 1 repair kit per room: 1 spare inner tube, glue, patch, a pump, 2 allen keys and tyre levers
- 1 combination bike lock
At the moment of booking you can also rent helmets suitable for head circumferences from 54 to 61 cm. All our helmets have a certification mark according to the DIN EN 1078 (CE) European norm.
Accompanying material
Before your arrival, you will receive an email from us with the digital information material. It contains:

1. Link to download the App including maps, points of interest and GPS tracks (you can use the App offline, too)

2. Link to download the tour information material in Pdf:
- Tour notes
- Final tour details
3. Digital travel documents:
- Final hotel list: due to overbooking or organizational needs your hotel list may be changed just before your arrival
- Hotel vouchers to show to the hotel reception upon arrival
- Restaurant vouchers (if you have booked half-board)
- Luggage labels
By your side

Staff support
In the Final Tour Details you will find the contact phone numbers you can call during the tour in case of emergency.
The Girolibero team is always available for you at the office number during office hours.
5 Client reviews
- Stefania
  
  Departure 10-16 August 2020
  
  Online from 21 August 2020
  
  Chilometraggio complessivo leggermente superiore a quello dichiarato ma in ogni ogni caso nessuna difficoltà con la bici a pedalata assistita.
  Le ultime due tappe prevedono una leggera salita.
  Strutture e assistenza di ottimo livello.
  Attenzione al caldo, ad agosto non è da sottovalutare.
- Roberto
  
  Departure 07-13 August 2020
  
  Online from 18 August 2020
  
  80% del percorso facile per tutti.
- Sally
  
  Departure 26 September - 01 October 2019
  
  Online from 26 November 2019
  
  A really lovely trip in a beautiful part of Italy.
  Recommended.
- Emilio
  
  Departure 05-10 September 2019
  
  Online from 15 September 2019
  
  Vacanza assolutamente consigliabile
- Kevin
  
  Departure 31 May - 05 June 2019
  
  Online from 13 June 2019
  
  Very happy first experience. Biking through Italy allows you to see things which you would not see by hiking or driving. It is a good compromise to cover distance and "feel" the landscape. People you meet when biking are very supportive and helpful. They have respect for your undertaking.