A 5 night cycling break exploring the southern tip of Puglia. Starting and finishing in the beautiful old town of Lecce with its butter coloured sandstone buildings, this charming route leads you along quiet country lanes and coastal roads to historic towns and sleepy villages.
This idyllic short cycling break in Puglia packs a lot of scenery and experiences into a short trip. After enjoying a night in the beautiful old town of Lecce you will head south through the olive groves to Gallipoli on the Ionian coast. Thanks to its strategic position this old fortified town has a troubled and violent past but thankfully these days things are a lot calmer and its winding alleyways are a joy to explore.
Cycling in Puglia
You then head down the Ionian coastline to Santa Maria di Leuca located at the southern-most tip of the peninsula. This remote town marks the point at which the Ionian and Adriatic seas meet and has a real end-of-the-earth feel to it. The route then leads you up the rugged east coast to the charming old town of Otranto with its lovely beaches and beautiful Cathedral.
The final ride leads you past more fabulous beaches and through a wildlife reserve before delivering you back to the the historic town of Lecce.
The route is very manageable for most abilities as it is mainly on quiet secondary roads and there are very few hills.