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The flavours of local food & wine
Lecce-Otranto-Leuca-Ugento-Santa Maria al Bagno-Gallipoli-Lecce
This gourmet cycle tour through Salento in Apulia, the most southeastern region of Italy, is a perfect combination of leisure cycling and exploring the flavours of LOCAL FOOD & wine. Salento is lying in the so-called “heel of the boot”, in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea. This region is full of monuments reminding us of the many different civilizations that inhabited it, from the Messapi, to the Greeks, followed by the Romans and then the Normans. Crossing Salento with a bicycle is like cycling through an open-air museum. Prehistoric Dolmen, Byzantine shrines hidden in the caves, Baroque cathedrals, secluded corners of the coast… are all but a few of the things you can see when visiting this area.
This tour is dedicated to the Food & Wine of Salento, where we find both delicious seafood and land dishes. We only mention the panzerotti filled with different stuffing’s, focaccia Barese, Pettole, la pasta orecchiette con le cime di rape, the soup Cecamariti and many other recipes. The local cheeses are worth to taste, like the caciocavallo and canestrato pugliese. As the most famous wine, we can name the Primitivo di Manduria and Negroamaro.
The daily program of the 9-day tour
Individual arrival at Lecce, In the end of afternoon/evening you will have a briefing with our local representative. In the evening, you can explore the nice town centre of Lecce, an exuberant city with a perfect balance of past, traditions and modern life.
Overnight with breakfast in Lecce
Today an easy flat route, with many interesting cultural and naturalistic sights. After breakfast you pedal to Acaya, a small fortified town with a huge, renaissance castle from in which you can see the influence Arragon period. Then you plunge down into the natural state reserve “Le Cesine”, a WWF protected area for many species of migratory birds. You visit San Foca on the sea and you could enjoy here a lunch with fish dishes. You continue cycling following the coastline, passing the remains of the ancient Bronze Age city, Roca Vecchia. You pass the ‘Alimini’ Lakes, where kilometers of beaches, forest and lakes are joined harmonious together. The last stretch of today brings you to Otranto, Apulia par excellence. Visit the San Peter church with its Byzantine frescoes and the cathedral with a very interesting mosaic pavement, a sort of figurative Middle Age encyclopedia. In the evening you have a unforgettable seafood dinner with fresh fish.
Overnight stay with breakfast and dinner in OtrantoDistance: 58 km / 36 mi
This short ring tour, gives you the opportunity to discover the surroundings of Otranto and in the same time you can dedicate yourself some more to this lovely town. The route follows the river “Idro” (“water”), which gave originally the name to Otranto. You come to Casamassela, a peaceful oasis where old looms are still being used in the agricultural handmade center “le Costantine foundation” (guided tour). The route continues to Giurdignano, a Bronze age megalithic park containing huge “dolmen” and “menhir” and then goes further to “La Cutura”, a botanic garden, where you can see an incredible plants collection. It is unique in Europe for its extensive cacti collection. Later in the morning you have a tasting of local products in a bakery. Returned to Otranto, you can visit the historical center. Interesting to visit is the twelfth-century mosaic in the Romanesque cathedral. This mosaic is made by a monk called Pantaleone and shows religous scenes like Noah’s ark, but there are also depictions of historical, mythical and even pagan figures, such as Alexander the Great and King Arthur.
Overnight stay with breakfast in Otranto
Distance: 29 km / 18 mi
Today you cycle along a part of the wildest coastline of Salento. A beautiful landscape of cliffs will bring you to the ‘Palacìa’ lighthouse (extreme eastern tip of Italy) and a little red lake surfaced in a disused bauxite quarry. Then you carry on riding along the coast. The road on high cliffs offer stunning panoramas over the Otranto Strait. With clear weather, you even will be able to see the mountains of Albania and Greece. It is worthwhile to visit ‘Zinzulusa’ cave, going down nearly 200 feet into the earth bowels. This cave is one of the most famous anchialine caves of Italy. The landscape exist of terraces and dry stonewalls, ingenious devices of peasants to get arable land in barren and impervious areas. After crossing the bridge over the “ciolo” (a small canyon with a rare flora), you reach the pilgrimage sanctuary Santa Maria di Leuca, built on the promontory Capo di Leuca and the lighthouse, where the Adriatic Sea meets the Ionic Sea. Fish dinner in town.
Overnight stay in Leuca
Distance: 54 km / 33 miles
Today you discover Leuca Cape, the southern part of Apulia. You pass an astonishing defence tower situated in the centre of a small village and continue for a visit of an ancient mill, which is dugged into the rock. Another particularity is the enigmatic funerary monument made by big stones (its name “centopietre”, means “hundred stones”). As a highlight you visit Leuca piccola (‘little Leuca’), an important pilgrimage station which still maintains a vast underground area. You pass Giuliano with its castle and church dating back to the 10th-century. Cycling amongst olive groves with dry stonewalls you reach another olive oil mill where you have an olive oil tasting. A short ride takes you finally to Ugento, where it is worth to visit the archaeological museum.
Overnight stay in with breakfast & dinner in Ugento
Distance: 47 km /29 miles
You will reach again the ionic coast and continue till St. Andrew’s island and the “Punta Pizzo” natural park. In Gallipoli, called the Pearl of the Ionian, you can enjoy an aperitif on one of the many terraces overlooking the sea. The town is divided in a modern and old city, which is located on an island. This originally small fishing-village is striking by its bright sea light, its small alleys and its fish market. Continuing you reach the byzantine church of San Mauro, a hidden treasure built on a rocky spur. Inside the church are frescoes dating back to the 13th-century. The route of today ends in Santa Maria al Bagno, a quiet village on the border of the Porto Selvaggio Natural reserve. In the afternoon you could go kayaking along the coastline of the natural park.
Dinner in Villa or in nearby restaurant
Overnight stay in with breakfast and dinner in Santa Maria al Bagno
Distance: 45 km /28 miles
A day dedicated to the surroundings of Santa Caterina. The first place to visit is Galatone, a picturesque Baroque town and then you go the castle of Fulcignano built in the 12th– and 13th century by the Normans. The next stop is Galatina with the church of Santa Caterina, which is totally painted with frescoes a Giottesque style. This town centre is very nice and here you have a tasting of local products. In alternative of the cycle route you can book also for a cooking class with mamma Anna.
Overnight stay with breakfast in Santa Caterina
Distance 30 km / 18,5 miles or 45 km / 28 miles
The last day of your trip, you pass many 19th century fortified farmhouses and villas. There are also nice towns to visit: Nardò has a baroque style historical centre and Copertino an impressive Norman castle. Some km before Lecce a last stop at the Martina brothers, which skilful keepers of the producing of traditional pottery. Late afternoon arrival in Lecce and bikes drop off. In the evening a farewell dinner in one of the best restaurants of town !
Overnight stay in Lecce with breakfast & dinner
Distance: 42 km / 26 miles
After breakfast end of your gourmet tour.
Gourmet cycle tour in Apulia
Lecce-Otranto-Leuca-Ugento-Santa Maria al Bagno-Gallipoli-Lecce
LEVEL 1,5
Salento is a region that is almost completely flat, making the ride a pleasant journey for any level of rider. The daily route is about 3-4 hours of leisurely cycling, mainly crossing secondary roads, with sea breaks and places to visit. On day 3 there are some more differences in level. This easy tour is meant to fully enjoy the surrounding landscape and culture with all its different aspects. GPS maps will guide you through the most suggestive and less busy roads.
Daily distances between 29 km /18 mi and 58 km / 36 mi
Total km: min. 305 km / 189 mi or max. 320 km /199 mi
DEPARTURES:
Every Friday and Saturday from 15/03 until 05/07 (last departure) and from 30/08 till
27/12/2024 (last departure). It is possible to start on other days of the week with a supplement of €100,00 p.p.
PARTICIPANTS:
2 or more people.
START / FINISH:
Lecce / Lecce
An eno-gastronomic cycle tour
This tour for foodies offers the possibility to get to know the beautiful green Umbria in a different way, thanks to this perfect combination of cycling and tasting excellent local wines and delicacies.