Puglia Bike Tour 2020

Pack your bags for 11 days biking across Puglia!

June 6, 2020 – June 19, 2020

11 DAYS IN PUGLIA*

06/09/20 – 06/19/20
*12 person maximum
$6,800 per person

CITIES YOU’LL VISIT:

Polignano a Mare, Martina Franca, Alberobello, Grotte di Castellano, Ostuni, Parco Dune Costiere, Monopoli, Gioia del Colle, Altamura,  Matera, Gallipoli, Marina di San Gregorio, Gagliano del Capo, Tricase, Miggiano, Otranto, Lecce

ARTISAN PRODUCERS:

Wine, cheese, olive oil, bakery, vegetables, Cartapesta

HIGHLIGHTS:

Trulli houses, Città Bianche, touring and lunching under 500 year old olive trees, UNESCO World Heritage sites, Baroque architecture, 4-star hotels, cooking class, biking, shopping, eating and drinking!

MEALS INCLUDED:

Breakfast Daily
Four Lunches
Five Dinners

BIKE SERVICE:

Bike tour leader during the bike excursions

Private van for bike support with water, fruits and mineral salts

Bike selection

Dedicated concierge service for the whole trip

If Italy is the ‘boot’, then Puglia is the ‘heel’. It is also sometime called ‘the land between two seas’, because it lies right between the Adriatic and Ionian, also ‘the Florence of the South’ due to the stunning Baroque architecture that adorns the facades of Lecce and other towns and finally ‘the mezzogiorno’, an apt allusion for its slow pace of life and sleepy ambience of the noonday sun.

Join the Travelling Chef on this one of a kind travel experience to discover Puglia! We’ll tour amazing cities, tasting the region’s finest cheeses, wines and olive oils. We will explore local villages, dine in wonderful restaurants, cook a traditional Puglian meal with a professional chef, shop on cobblestone streets among masters of cartapesta (papier-mâché) renowned in the region.

We have customized this adventure to Southern Italy with a brilliant balance of free time and guided activities with an intimate group of just 6–12 guests. We encourage the single traveler and do not charge a single supplement fee. Be sure to bring an extra suitcase, a generous appetite and a spirit for adventure!

Reserve your spot!

Deposit is due by February 1, 2020!

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Itinerary

Tuesday June 9: Brindisi Airport/Polignano A Mare

  1. Arrival at Brindisi Airport and private van transfer to Hotel Borgobianco in Polignano A Mare, times to be determined.
  2. Check in at Hotel Borgobianco and free time, relaxing at the hotel.
  3. 08:00 PM Welcome dinner at the Hotel Restaurant.
  4. Overnight at Hotel Borgobianco – Polignano A Mare. borgobianco.it

Wednesday June 10: Polignano A Mare/Martina Franca/Alberobello/Grotte di Castellana/Polignano A Mare

  1. Breakfast at Hotel Borgobianco.
  2. 09:00 AM Van Transfer from Polignano A Mare to Martina Franca (driving time approx. 45 mins).
  3. Bike transfer from Martina Franca to Alberobello (15 km).
  4. Free time in Alberobello, discovering the amazing “trulli” of Alberobello.
  5. Lunch on your own in Alberobello.
  6. Bike transfer from Alberobello to Grotte di Castellana (15 km).
  7. Guided tour of the beautiful Caves of Castellana Grotte.
  8. Bike transfer back to the hotel (12 km).
  9. Free evening and dinner on your own at the hotel or in the village.
  10. Overnight at Hotel Borgobianco.

Thursday June 11: Polignano A Mare/Ostuni/Parco Dune Costiere/Monopoli/Polignano A Mare

  1. Breakfast at Hotel Borgobianco.
  2. 09:00 AM Van Transfer from Polignano A Mare to Ostuni (driving time approx. 45 mins).
  3. Free time in Ostuni, discovering the “white city” of Salento area.
  4. Bike transfer from Ostuni to the Natural Park of Dune Costiere (14 km).
  5. Free time, walking and enjoying the beautiful park.
  6. Bike transfer from the Park to Monopoli (30 km).
  7. Free time, walking, shopping and enjoying the village.
  8. Bike transfer back to the hotel (10 km).
  9. 08:00 PM Dinner at Restaurant Locanda dell’Abbazia – Polignano. locandadellabbazia.it/
  10. Overnight at Hotel Borgobianco.

Friday June 12: Polignano A Mare / Gioia del Colle / Gravina / Altamura / Matera

  1. Breakfast at Hotel Borgobianco.
  2. 08:30 AM Luggage collection and check out.
  3. 09:00 AM Van transfer from Polignano A Mare to Gioia del Colle (driving time approx. 1 hr).
  4. 10:00 AM Visit and tasting at Caseificio Milano (cheese producer) – Gioia del Colle.
  5. 11:00 AM Van transfer from Gioia del Colle to Gravina (driving time approx. 1 hr).
  6. Bike transfer from Gravina to Altamura (15 km).
  7. Visit a local artisan bakery and tasting lunch, learning about the typical bread from Altamura.
  8. Bike transfer from Altamura to Matera (20 km).
  9. Check in at Hotel Palazzo degli Abati.
  10. Free afternoon and dinner on your own in Matera.
  11. Overnight at Hotel Palazzo degli Abati – Matera. palazzodegliabati.it/

Saturday June 13: Matera

  1. Breakfast at Hotel Palazzo degli Abati.
  2. 09:30 AM Guided tour of Matera, discovering the amazing Stones City.
  3. 01:00 PM Lunch at Restaurant La Fedda Rossa – Matera. lafeddarossamatera.it
  4. Free afternoon, enjoying the city.
  5. Dinner on your own in Matera.
  6. Overnight at Hotel Palazzo degli Abati.

Sunday June 14: Matera/Gallipoli/Marina di San Gregorio

  1. Breakfast at Hotel Palazzo degli Abati.
  2. 08:30 AM Luggage collection and check out.
  3. 09:00 AM Van transfer from Matera to Gallipoli (driving time approx 2 hrs 30 mins).
  4. Free time walking in Gallipoli and lunch on your own.
  5. Bike transfer from Gallipoli to Marina du San Gregorio, enjoying the west side coast of Salento (45 km).
  6. Check in at Hotel Montecallini in Marina di San Gregorio and free time, relaxing at the hotel.
  7. 08:00 PM Dinner at Restaurant Sant’Elia – Marina di San Gregorio. santeliatrattoria.com/
  8. Overnight at Hotel Montecallini.

Monday June 15: Marina di San Gregorio/Gagliano del Capo/Marina di San Gregorio

  1. Breakfast at Hotel Montecallini.
  1. 10:00 AM Visit the Agriturismo Serine, learning about local ingredients. www.agriturismoserine.it
  2. 12:00 PM Tasting lunch at the company.
  3. 03:00 PM Van transfer to Gagliano del Capo (driving time approx 15 mins).
  4. 03:30 PM Cooking class, discovering the ancient recipes of the region, in a historical building of 1700.
    Local people will work with your group and you will be responsible for preparing a traditional Puglia meal. You will start in the morning learning about ingredients. In the afternoon they will assist you in the preparation of the dishes. At dinner time you will enjoy what you have cooked.
  5. 08:00 PM Cooking class dinner at Palazzo Comi – Gagliano del Capo.
  6. Overnight at Hotel Montecallini.

Tuesday June 16: Marina di San Gregorio/Tricase/Miggiano/Marina di San Gregorio

  1. Breakfast at Hotel Montecallini.
  2. 10:00 AM Van transfer from the hotel to Tricase (driving time approx. 30 mins).
  3. 10:30 AM Visit and tasting at Castel di Salve Company (wine producer) – Tricase. casteldisalve.com
  4. 12:30 PM Transfer from Tricase to Miggiano (driving time approx 15 mins).
  5. 01:00 PM Visit and tasting lunch at Azienda Merico (extra virgin olive oil producer).
    Learning about the olive oil production, visiting their own meal and a beautiful stroll through their historic olive groves, that have more than 700 years old. www.oliomericosalento.com
  1. 03:30 PM Van Transfer back to the hotel.
  2. Free afternoon and dinner on your own in the village.
  3. Overnight at Hotel Montecallini. 

Wednesday June 17: Marina di San Gregorio/Otranto/Lecce

  1. Breakfast at Hotel Montecallini.
  2. 08:30 AM Luggage collection and check out.
  3. 09:00 Van transfer from Marina di San Gregorio to Otranto (driving time approx. 1 hr).
  4. Visit at the beautiful Bauxite Lake and following guided tour of Otranto, discovering and enjoying the most eastern city of Italy.
  5. Lunch on your own in Otranto.
  6. Bike transfer from Otranto to Lecce (45 km).
  7. Check in at Hotel Risorgimento in Lecce.
  8. Free afternoon enjoying the Capital of the region and dinner one your own.
  9. Overnight at Hotel Risorgimento – Lecce. risorgimentoresort.it

Thursday June 18: Lecce

  1. Breakfast at Hotel Risorgimento.
  2. 10:00 AM Guided tour of Lecce, including the visit at limestone and cartapesta masters.
  3. Lunch on your own in Lecce.
  4. Free afternoon enjoying the city.
  5. 08:00 PM Group dinner at Restaurant La Scarpetta – www.lascarpettahostaria.it
  6. Overnight at Hotel Risorgimento.

Friday June 19: Lecce/Brindisi Airport

  1. Breakfast at Hotel Risorgimento.
  2. Transfer from Lecce to Brindisi Airport, times to be determined.

Your Host

Nancy and her guests will be joined by guide and co-owner of aTTavola, Gioacchino Passalacqua, is an artisanal Italian food exporter, gastronome and native Sicilian who divides his time between Sicily, Italy and New York. As a native Mediterranean, Gioacchino has developed relationships with food producers, restaurateurs, olive oil companies, chocolatiers, vintners and confectioners.

Gioacchino has a keen sense of quality foods and wines which he passionately shares through his unique tours, tastings, and products. You’ll be pleased to know, every one of our guests has rated him a 5 star tour guide!

Reserve your spot!