APULIA - THE HEART OF THE MEDITERRANEAN Through olive groves and along an idyllic coast Self-guided tour approx. 307-317 km 8 days / 7 nights Description Discover the south east end of Italy. On this bicycle-tour you will not only experience the unique countryside between the Adriatic and the Ionic Seas, but also the friendliness and hospitality of the southern Italians. The countryside is rich in culture. The Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Habsburger and the Bourbons have all left their mark in the region. Characteristics of the route Easy touring, apart from a few slight ascents and descents along the route, most of this tour is along flat, tarred roads. As you are travelling out of the main season, most of the roads are mainly free of traffic. The tour is suitable for children from the age of 14. FUNActive Tours GmbH Bahnhofstraße 3 39034 Toblach (BZ) Italien Tel.: +39 0474 771210 E-Mail: office@funactive.info
A day by day account of the route Day 1: Arrival at Alberobello The city is part of the UNESCO World Heritage - Trulli; Day 2: to Ostuni (approx. 35 km, over Martina Franca 45 km) Through the Valle d Itria Day 3: to Avetrana/surroundings (approx. 60 km) Through olive groves, wine-growing areas and fruit crops; Day 4: to Gallipoli (approx. 60 km) The Greek Kale Polis awaits you on the Ionic Sea; Day 5: to Santa Maria di Leuca/surroundings (approx. 50 km) The southernmost point of Salento; Day 6: to Otranto (approx. 52 km) The old part is surrounded by a mighty wall; Day 7: to Lecce (approx. 50 km) Stop on the way - best place is at Torre dell Orso beach; Day 8: Departure Lecce - the Florence of the South ;
detailed routing Day 1: Arrival at Alberobello Individual arrival at the hotel in Alberobello. This small town in the province of Bari is famous for Trulli stone constructions. The Trulli of Alberobello are part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites list since 1996. Day 2: Alberobello - Ostuni (approx. 35 km, longer variant over Martina Franca approx. 45 km) Enjoy a tour through the Valle d Itria, one of the prettiest cultural landscapes of the south, with a stop in the famous vineyards in Locorotondo to taste some of the local wine. The next stop is Ostuni, the white town offering breath-taking views of the sea. Day 3: Ostuni - Avetrana/surroundings (approx. 60 km) From Ostuni you continue through olive groves, wine-growing areas and fruit crops to Avetrana, a historic small town on the Via Appia. This ancient Roman road led once from Rome via Taranto and Oria to Brindisi. Today there are preserved only some parts of the ancient cobbled paths as Via Appia Antica. Day 4: Avetrana/surroundings - Gallipoli (approx. 60 km) You leave Avetrana to reach the sea in the shortest possible time. After a short ride to Torre Colimena you continue along the coastal highway with its numerous defence towers to Porto Cesareo. Along the Ionic coast you carry on to Gallipoli. This Greek Kale Polis (beautiful town) awaits you on the Ionic Sea. Old- Gallipoli is situated at the end of what seems to be an impregnable rocky island that stretches far out into the sea. There is a fantastic view both from the north and the south. The town itself has many churches, lanes and interesting museums. Watch the fishermen at work. The town was the largest exporter of lamp oil made from olives in the 17th and 18th centuries. Day 5: Gallipoli Santa Maria di Leuca/surroundings (approx. 50 km) Today you reach the southernmost point of Salento and at the same time the watershed to the Ionic Sea at Santa Maria di Leuca. The town is well known for its church and pilgrimages. At the turn of the century, many opulent villas were built and their fantastic and sometimes absurd forms are now an absolute architectural highlight. The people who lived here were eccentric people who loved the peace and quiet and wanted to enjoy the sea and the town. Day 6: Santa Maria di Leuca/surroundings Otranto (approx. 52 km) The tour takes you along the south coast of the Adriatic Sea, and up to the Messapian town of Otranto, one of the nuggets in the charming landscape. The old part of the town is surrounded by a mighty wall and contains the impressive Habsburger Castle. On the way to Otranto, you have the chance to visit the famous Grotta Zinzulusa, the only coastal grotta open to the public. The Santa Cesarea Thermal Spa is well known for its hydrotherapeutic cures and radioactive mud therapy, and is well worth a visit. Day 7: Otranto - Lecce (approx. 50 km) Carry on along the coast through innumerable olive orchards to Lecce. If you want to stop on the way, the best place is at Torre dell Orso beach, which is surrounded by limestone cliffs. Lecce, the capital of Salento, is a town with lots of appeal mainly due to its buildings and churches. The cities of Naples and Lecce are the Baroque metropolises of the south. There are over 30 churches and innumerable palaces. Don`t forget to visit the amphitheatre and the Roman theatre, both built under Kaiser Augustus. Day 8: Departure Individual departure or extension of your stay.
starting dates 2018 arrival every Wednesday and Sunday 25/03/2018 (first available date) to 24/06/2018 (last available date) 26/08/2018 (first available date) to 14/10/2018 (last available date) Additionally during the months of May, June and September an arrival on Saturday is possible as well. non schedule arrival dates minimum of 5 persons - upon request! General information Classification of the cycle-tour: Self-guided tour Duration: 8 days 7 nights Distance: approx. 307-317 km Accommodation: Accommodation in 3*** and 4**** hotels or Agritourist farm in a room with bath/shower and WC Tourist tax if requested has to be paid on the spot Starting point: Alberobello Accommodation in 3*** and 4**** hotels or Agritourist farm in a room with bath/shower and WC Parking at the starting hotel in Alberobello cannot be booked upon reservation of the tour to be paid directly on the spot. Transfers: by shuttle bus on request bicycle included - reservation and payment upon booking Monopoli train station > Alberobello daily minimum 2 pax 25.00 p. p. Bari / Brindisi airport/train station > Alberobello daily minimum 2 pax 40.00 p. p. Lecce > Bari airport daily minimum 2 pax 95.00 p. p. daily from 4 pax 50.00 p. p. Lecce > Brindisi airport daily minimum 2 pax 40.00 p. p. Lecce > Alberobello daily minimum 2 pax 55.00 p. p. The airports at Bari/Brindisi can be easily reached by train. Arrival: By car Directly to Alberobello By train train station Lecce, Monopoli or Alberobello Timetabel on: www.trenitalia.com By plane airport Bari or Brindisi Rental bikes: 21-gear unisex bicycle Electro bike (unisex bike) Included services Accommodation in 3*** and 4**** hotels or Agritourist farm in a room with bath/shower and WC Breakfast buffet or full breakfast Personal tour information Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel Well planned routes Detailed documents (maps, route description, places of interest, important telephone numbers) Telephone service hotline for during the entire tour non Included services Arrival to the starting point of the tour Departure at the end of the tour Drinks and all extras Lunch, dinner Not mentioned entries Rental bikes Travel insurance All not expressly mentioned under the item Included services
prices 2018 Self-guided tour Package price per person in a double room with breakfast arrival date on 25/03/2018 595.00 Package price per person in a double room with breafast 695.00 Single room surcharge per person 189.00 High season* surcharge per person 59.00 Additional services Rental bike 85.00 Electro bike 190.00 Extra nights Alberobello (Hotel 4*-category) Per person and night in a double room with breakfast 55.00 Surcharge single room per night 20.00 Extra nights in Lecce (Hotel 4*-category) Per person and night in a double room with breakfast 67.00 Surcharge single room per night 28.00 * High season: arrival date from 03/06/2018 to 24/06/2018 (incl.) and from 26/08/2018 to 09/09/2018 (incl.)