Puglia Bike Tours
Puglia offers an eclectic mix of architecture, delightful food, cultural sites and matchless southern hospitality. Puglia offers access to the freshest seafood, crowd-free open spaces, irresistible vegetable dishes, fish plates, desserts, pastries and distinct wines. Let’s not forget the 50 million olive trees that make Puglia the world’s leading producer of olive oil. Come to Puglia and hear the voices of the past call out over the trulli houses. Puglia promises to leave a lasting impression.
Essence of Puglia
- Captivating clusters of conical trulli structures
- Discover the whitewashed town of Ostuni,
- Savory cuisine: grilled vegetables, handmade pasta and dense, delicious Pugliese bread
- Three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Lecce, Alberobello and Matera
- One-night stay and a walking tour of Matera, “The City of Stone”
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The Experience
Culture
Art and history enthusiasts come here to admire the gorgeous 12th-century mosaic floors of its Baroque and Romanesque style architecture and cathedrals; gourmets for the seafood restaurants lining the scenic waterfront promenades; and incurable romantics to get lost in its postcard-perfect old quarter crisscrossed by narrow travertine-paved alleyways.
Food & Wine
Puglia’s cuisine is a rich, vast array of gorgeous vegetables, wonderful seafood and an endless creative list of fresh pastas. Some of our favorite dishes include:
- Orecchiette with Cime di Rapa (little ear-shaped pasta with fresh broccoli rabe)
- Panzarotti alla barese (deep fried pockets of dough stuffed with tomato or prosciutto and ricotta)
- Friselle con pomodorini (wheat dry bread with tomatoes, oregano and olive oil)
Landscape
Most of the villages in Puglia are gleaming white jumbles of houses, churches and charming piazzas spread across hilltops and surrounded by vegetable gardens and farms and and endless quilt of olive groves stretching out to the sea. Due to weathering limestone, the remaining clay contained in the rocks mixes with any other non-soluble rock material. Under oxidizing conditions, when the soils are above the water table, iron oxide (rust) forms in the clay. This gives it a characteristic red or orange color. Terra rossa is typically found in Puglia.
Best Time to Visit
May through the end of October
What to Bring on Tour
On the Bike:
- 2-3 pairs of cycling shorts with chamois lining
- Chamois cream
- 2-3 brightly colored bicycle jerseys (one will be provided by us)
- Cycling gloves
- Cycling shoes and pedals (if you use them)
- Sunglasses
- Waterproof wind breaker or rain jacket
- Light weight jacket or vest
- Bicycle helmet
- Day pack/hip pack
- Arm and leg warmers
- Saddle (optional)
Off the Bike:
- 2-3 interchangeable evening outfits – our style is very casual and comfortable; jacket and tie not necessary
- We occasionally have a more formal evening, feel free to bring something for that occasion
- 1-2 lightweight sweaters
- 1-2 pairs of shorts or slacks
- Intimate clothing/sleepwear
- Comfortable walking shoes for evenings in town
For Alpine Tours:
Pack warmer clothing (layers), waterproof gear, warm gloves and hat
Personal Supplies:
- Passport and photocopies of your passport
- Wallet
- Airline ticket/e-ticket information
- Camera and camera charger
- Cell phone
- Electrical adapter and adapter plug
- Toiletries
- Prescriptions or other medications
- Bathing suit and sunscreen
- Cash for guide gratuity and meals on own
- Cash for wine kitty (optional)