adventurespiccli na o - Piccolina Adventures

P I C C OL I N A
A D V E N T U R E S
Biking Puglia’s
Dazzling Coast
Silvery olive orchards, dazzling blue sea and splendid baroque cities set the scene for 9 days of great riding, wines and incredible cuisine!
Tour dates:
June 20 – 28, 2014
September 6 -­‐ 14, 2014
June 18 – 26, 2015
September 5 – 13, 2015
Length:
9 days, 8 nights
Difficulty:
Easy -­‐ Moderate: 30-­‐45 mile rides along flat to rolling roads. Options to extend mileage up to 50 miles. 15% riding on unpaved roads. Arriving & Departing
Arrive Brindisi • 2 pm at train station
Depart Lecce • 1:30 pm at station
Click to download Arrival Information
Highlights
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Bike country lanes & along the dazzling sea •
Stroll t he s plendid B aroque s treets of Lecce, t he “Florence of the S outh”
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Traditional P uglian c ooking c lass, t aught b y a l ocal mamma! •
Explore fairytale-­‐like trulli in a UNESCO World Heritage site •
Relax over a glass of w ine & sea v iews at in Leuca, the “end of the e arth” •
Motorboat tour of the A driatic sea caves
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Taste f resh r icotta w ith a n a rtisan c heese-­‐maker
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Party with the locals -­‐ food, d rink, music & the warmest of w elcomes!
Price:
$2445 Includes:
8 nights lodging; bicycles; ride & luggage support; transfers; activities inc. wine & cheese-­‐tastings, a motorboat tour, city tour; a Pugliese cooking class; light breakfasts & 6 dinners or substantial lunches
Accommodations:
Family-­‐run Bed & Breakfasts, farm guesthouses (agriturismi), characteristic apartments Single Supplement:
$345
Beloved for its summer sun, sparkling sea and haunting wind, Puglia is a land of wild beauty and ancient mystery. Messapian, Greek, Byzantine & Spanish conquerors left a rich heritage throughout the region and, yet, it remains surprisingly unspoiled by tourism. Farmers, winemakers and housewives will be your guides and hosts. They warmly share the simple pleasures of a rustic life – beautiful countryside, good food, and lively folk songs that will keep you dancing long into the night.
PiCCOLINAADVENTURES.COM
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800 466 5884 ● laura@piccolinaadventures.com
P I C C OL I N A
A D V E N T U R E S
Biking Puglia’s
Dazzling Coast
“One o f the more memorable experiences i n my l ife and easily o ne o f t he b est t ravels I h ave ever h ad.”
-­‐ Alex S heldon, S an Francisco
Detailed Itinerary
DAY 1: ARRIVAL
15 miles • 5 00 f eet of climbing • paved & d irt r oad
Welcome to Puglia! We’ll meet at the Brindisi train station (see “Arriving & Departing”) and shuttle through the countryside to a rural masseria, a fortified farmhouse, specializing in fresh-­‐milk mozzarella, ricotta and caciocavallo cheeses. We’ll get to know each other over refreshments and a welcome orientation, bicycle fitting, then head out for a warm-­‐up ride along the Pugliese aqueduct! We arrive in Locorotondo, a picturesque town of whitewashed houses and flowering alleys, officially one of the “most beautiful villages in southern Italy.” Its streets glow golden as the evening sky dims. Meet for a welcome dinner of local specialties and a first taste of Locorotondo’s D OC white wine. Accommodations: Apartments in Locorotondo
DAY 2: VALLEY OF THE TRULLI
42 m iles • 1900 feet of climbing • paved r oads
Shorter O ption: 2 7 m iles • 1400 feet of climbing
After a breakfast of fresh breads, preserves and exquisite Italian coffee, we’ll begin our ride through the fairy-­‐tale-­‐like Itria Valley. This curious landscape is known for its peaked stone houses, called trulli. Built from mortarless stone with fanciful pointed roofs, they’ve been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Monuments. Follow a network of beautiful country lanes passing through vineyards, farmland, and into the hilltop towns. We’ll v isit Alberobello, known for its extraordinary concentration of trulli -­‐ over 1500 including a trulli-­‐church! We’ll return to Locorotondo in the evening, and you’re free to choose your own r estaurant for d inner tonight. Accommodations: Apartments i n Locorotondo
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800 466 5884 ● laura@piccolinaadventures.com
P I C C OL I N A
A D V E N T U R E S
Biking Puglia’s
Dazzling Coast
DAY 3: IONIAN COAST
36 miles • minimal climbing • paved r oads
Train Transfer: 1 hour
Head out early for an easy downhill r ide to Fasano. We board the train for a scenic passage south. Watch the landscape change from the hilly Itria region, to the flatter, sunnier Salentine peninsula. We’re heading into Italy’s deep south -­‐ a land of silvery olive trees, scarf-­‐
covered nonnas, crumbling stone w alls, and dazzling blue sea. We’ll take a vineyard-­‐lined r oad toward the I onian coast where you can enjoy your first swim in the Mediterranean! We finish near the resort town of Santa Caterina. Accommodations: Bed & Breakfast in S anta C aterina
DAY 4: GALATINA, WINE & OLIVES
23 -­‐ 35 miles • 250 feet of climbing • paved country r oads
Today we'll begin our exploration of Ionian Salento. We ride out over beautiful back roads toward Sanniccola's underground olive mill. In pre-­‐modern times, olive oil was considered liquid gold in Puglia. Its prized mills required both the consistent temperatures and the secrecy found only underground. Fueled by a mule and three men, they ran 24/7 during the pressing months -­‐ you can poke into their underground sleeping chambers! Then climb back into the sunlight, and prepare to press on yourself -­‐ towards Tuglie's Museum of Rural Culture, ruins of Macugno Abbey, a unique fossil park near Cutrofiano, and finally along a narrow lane framed by crumbling stone walls, leading us to a beautiful organic farm, Masseria Piccapane, and Giuseppe who's been waiting for us! He'll show us his garden, and give you the chance to harvest your own fresh vegetables, which he’ll skillfully prepare into lunch! In the afternoon, we'll visit Galatina, a richly historical city, and the breathtaking Church of Santa Caterina, covered in realistic Giotto-­‐style frescoes. Just outside town lies one of the city's best wineries -­‐ we'll enjoy a cellar tour and wine & cheese tasting. Relax, we'll return to Santa Caterina by train. Accommodations: Bed & Breakfast in Santa Caterina
DAY 5: GALLIPOLI & LEUCA
42 m iles • minimal climbing • paved & d irt
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800 466 5884 ● laura@piccolinaadventures.com
P I C C OL I N A
A D V E N T U R E S
People were s o welcoming a nd f riendly. T hey threw a party for u s a nd b aked u s a cake!
-­‐ R aphael D ozzi, B erkeley
Today we begin with a ride around Gallipoli, a lovely walled city on the sea. Zip through its winding alleys, scenic ramparts and stop to visit the Angevin castle which, conveniently, stands next to the best gelato in town. Now we zip down the coastal road, popping in and out of lively beach towns. The road takes us south, toward the extreme tip of the heel of the boot, Santa Maria di Leuca, and the southernmost point in Puglia. The city reigns majestically over the convergence of the Adriatic & Ionian seas, and glows beautifully with a light reflected off the shimmering waters. We’ve been invited out tonight by local friends for some music, food and merrymaking. After such a warm welcome, you’ll be surprised at the Italian you can speak, and may find yourself chatting, singing and dancing well into the night... Accommodations: Bed & Breakfast in Leuca
DAY 6: SANTA MARIA DI LEUCA
15 miles • 300 feet of climbing • paved r oads
San Gregorio O ption: 12 -­‐ 2 0 m iles • 350-­‐500 feet of climbing
Enjoy a lazy morning sipping cappuccino and strolling through this eclectic seaside town, or hop back in the saddle for a ride up into the San Gregorio countryside. We’ll regroup for a motorboat tour of the Adriatic sea caves, stop to swim, then disembark for lunch. After a relaxing siesta, we’ll join longtime local friend Fabio, for an easy ride to visit the nearby towns, churches & towers -­‐ then meet the characters who live there. Accommodations: Bed & Breakfast in Leuca
DAY 7: SPECCHIA
38 miles • 2500 feet of climbing • paved r oads
Longer Option: 8 miles, minimal climbing
We leave early today for a beautiful ride down the Adriatic! Tackle some rolling hills, overlooking spectacular sea views, then head inland toward Specchia. Recognized as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in Southern Italy,” the town was built from local limestone, and refashioned under Baroque artists. It’s known for its artistic piazza, but far less-­‐known as home to some of the region’s best cooks! We’ll stop in at Mamma Maria’s home. She opens her little PiCCOLINAADVENTURES.COM
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800 466 5884 ● laura@piccolinaadventures.com
P I C C OL I N A
A D V E N T U R E S
Biking Puglia’s
Dazzling Coast green door to us, beckons us inside, and teaches us to prepare a traditional southern Italian meal – rolling and shaping the pastas by hand! Then we’ll sit down to e njoy this fabulous lunch prepared with homegrown vegetables, our handmade pasta, local wine and lots of love. Take a stroll around town, then continue down the coast, arriving in Uggiano near sunset. Accommodations: Agriturismo in Uggiano La C hiesa
DAY 8: OTRANTO
14 miles • 600 feet of climbing • paved and/or r ocky r oads
Longer Option: 10-­‐15 miles • 250-­‐500 feet of climbing
Beautiful views of the Adriatic greet us today! If you rise early, you may enjoy a morning ramble to the caseificio next door for cheese-­‐making. You’ll find Rosa & Antonio laboriously stirring a boiling pot of milk, then straining off the fresh ricotta. Yum! Then visit a series of dolmen and menhir, mysterious standing stones from the Bronze Age. In the afternoon we’ll visit the seaside town of Otranto, the gateway to the Middle East. You’ll have plenty of time to explore its shops, its extraordinary Byzantine architecture, and one of the largest floor mosaics i n Western Europe, a 12th-­‐
century masterpiece depicting biblical scenes, warrior kings (including Alexander the Great & King Arthur!), the Tree of Life, mythical beasts, and pictorial r epresentations of the Zodiac. We then board the little train for a quick ride to Lecce. Nicknamed “the Florence of the South” for its wealth of beautiful architecture and focus on Arts, the city’s delicately-­‐carved Baroque facades and creamy limestone palazzi create a particularly aristocratic atmosphere. As dusk falls and the lamps light, it’s streets glow golden. We’ll enjoy a farewell dinner together tonight. As we toast to the end of our journey, recall the unique experiences you’ve had here in Puglia. Salute! Accommodations: Bed & Breakfast in Lecce DAY 9: LECCE
21 miles • 250 feet of climbing • paved r oads
Enjoy a luxurious breakfast of fresh fruit, artisan breads, dark Salento coffee, and Lecce’s divine specialty: the pasticciotto. This custard-­‐filled golden cornmeal pastry is reason enough to overnight in Lecce! Meet outside for a guided walking tour of the city center. You’ll learn of its history and legends while walking across cobblestoned streets, through tiny alleys, into fanciful Baroque churches, artisan workshops and lovely piazzas. Then, we’ll get our bags and walk together to the train station for departure. Enjoy a last look at the ancient walls and PiCCOLINAADVENTURES.COM
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800 466 5884 ● laura@piccolinaadventures.com
P I C C OL I N A
A D V E N T U R E S
Biking Puglia’s
Dazzling Coast “The trip was absolutely beautiful. Such an amazing and authentic experience that I don’t think we could have received from other bike tours.”
-­‐ Sarah McIndoe, San Francisco, USA
silvery olive trees, and remember that Puglia doesn’t forget its visitors. You w ill be w elcomed back at any time!
Please Note: This itinerary is an approximation of our tour. We aim to provide you with the best vacation ever. In keeping with this commitment, we may change the routes, activities, and lodging at any time.
What’s the Cyclng like?
How difficult is it? The trip is rated easy -­‐ moderate for its flat or gently rolling terrain. A typical day involves a morning excursion that stops at interesting sites (the cheese-­‐maker’s house, a green sea cave, a frescoed rural church), a long lunch, and an afternoon excursion. The days are long and action-­‐packed. Some days we offer additional r outes for those w ishing to add mileage. What’s the terrain like? Puglia is ideal for bicycle touring, as it is generally flat, though offers rolling hills and ridges in areas of the interior. Our rides are designed to showcase the beauty and variety of the landscape and cover a combination of flat and hilly roads, both inland and coastal. We generally take quiet secondary roads, though at times ride along particularly scenic stretches of the state road or rocky paths to experience the best of the landscape. About 15% of riding is over unpaved road. We design our r outes t o be practicable by e veryone on t he t our. What bicycles do we ride? We provide quality Italian-­‐made male and female Bottecchia touring bicycles. They have aluminum frames, with Shimano shifters and adjustable handlebars, stems, pedals and saddles. We also offer options to ride Specialized Crosstrail 2007 hybrid touring bicycles. What distances are we riding? We’ll be taking 25-­‐45-­‐mile rides, with options to shorten and extend rides.
Do I need to train? Routes are designed for guests who are active, but not necessarily avid cyclists. But you should be comfortable riding at a moderate pace for four to five hours including breaks. We recommend you get accustomed to being physically active for consecutive days. There are four days with lighter/non-­‐riding options. There are also options to e xtend mileage! PiCCOLINAADVENTURES.COM
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800 466 5884 ● laura@piccolinaadventures.com