Day 2 Sunday: Meet your guide(s) in the hotel lobby this morning for introductions before transferri

Come explore the rich history and beautiful scenery of Southern Italy on our Puglia and Basilicata bike tour. The heel of the Italian florence hotel accommodation boot, Puglia has been home to ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Normans, florence hotel accommodation Saracens and the royal Spanish court of the 1600's. Today it is asserting itself as home to some of Italy's best food, most innovative wines, florence hotel accommodation and most interesting landscapes. We also visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Matera, a dramatic city carved into the cliffs and gorges that cut through the town. The landscape and architecture is completely different from that of northern Italy. Vast olive groves stretch to the Mediterranean, white-washed baroque villages perch on hillsides overlooking the sea. Traditional  Trulli, houses dot the landscape, their charming forms make for a fairytale landscape.
The biking is more moderate than our Tuscany bike tour, but there are plenty of optional extension rides for those who want something a bit more strenuous!  The hotels have been chosen to let you to experience Puglia s countryside and village life. Our first night is in Bari, the capital of Puglia, where you can explore the city s beautiful medieval center as well as the broad 19th century boulevards lined with majestic date palms. Our next two nights are at a wonderful boutique hotel in a converted 16th century convent in the charming baroque village of Conversano.  Then we spend two nights in a lovely florence hotel accommodation resort near the sea, and we finish at a 4-star hotel in the heart of Matera.  (Luggage florence hotel accommodation is transferred by van. 1 night Bari, 2 nights Conversano, 2 nights near Fasano, 2 nights Matera.)
Peter and I had the most amazing and happy time with Luca and Claire. The knowledge that they shared with us was remarkable They were the best people, making us laugh all the time, and helpful with any problems I hope you realize what great people you have working for you The accommodation, florence hotel accommodation food, tour, people were fantastic.   (P. Ross May 2008)
Day 1 Saturday: Transfer to the Hotel Boston in Bari. Formerly the domain of smugglers and brigands, Bari s quaint and atmospheric historic florence hotel accommodation center has been revitalized during the past ten years. Cafés, wine bars, and trattorias are found around every corner of the labyrinthine medieval streets, all of which eventually lead to the remarkable Romanesque architecture of the 12th-century Basilica di San Nicola. Depending on your arrival time, you may have time for sightseeing or just relaxing after your journey. Dine independently tonight in one of the many local restaurants. Hotel included.
Day 2 Sunday: Meet your guide(s) in the hotel lobby this morning for introductions before transferring by van to the village of Conversano for our first ride. Upon arrival, our guides conduct a safety talk and oversee the bike fitting before we set out on our warm-up ride amongst florence hotel accommodation the ancient olive groves and whitewashed trulli houses that fill the Pugliese countryside. After returning from our ride this afternoon, we ll enjoy an aperitivo florence hotel accommodation in town before heading off to dinner tonight in a colorful local pizzeria. florence hotel accommodation Overnight at the beautifully restored Corte Altavilla . (Mileage: 55 km/35 mi) Hotel, breakfast and dinner florence hotel accommodation included.
Day 3 - Monday: Today begins with a gentle ride to the stunning cliff-side town of Polignano a Mare. Here, the vertical cliffs surmounted by 16th-century palazzi plunge dramatically into the Adriatic. We stop for lunch at a beach-side taverna in the shadow florence hotel accommodation of the 17th century monastery of San Vito. The afternoon ride takes us back up to Conversano past whitewashed masseria, the imposing florence hotel accommodation fortified manor houses that are the legacy of dangerous medieval times when corsairs raided the Pugliese coast. You have free time this afternoon to wander through Conversano s maze of alleyways and cobbled streets and shop or simply enjoy a chilled glass of wine in the piazza before a special dinner at a family-run farm in the countryside just outside of Conversano. (Mileage: 50 km/30 mi).  Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 4 Tuesday: After breakfast we ride to the village of Alberobello, recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage status and famous for its trulli florence hotel accommodation houses (almost 1,500 of them!), the squat stone buildings with conical roofs for which Puglia is renowned. We have lunch in town and then take time to explore the streets and architecture of this amazing town. We then bike to our next hotel, the Torre del Diamante , a beautifully restored and luxurious masseria with swimming pool.  (Mileage: 30 km/19 mi). Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 5 Wednesday: Today we ride down to the seaside florence hotel accommodation and visit the beautiful whitewashed town of Monopoli. It lies on a quiet harbor and has elegant Renaissance palazzi tucked here and there amidst florence hotel accommodation the medieval streets. florence hotel accommodation An imposing castle  built by Charles V to protect the town in the days of piracy and Turkish florence hotel accommodation corsairs still quietly guards the port. Return to the hotel to enjoy a dip in the pool before dinner at the elegant restaurant.  Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 6 Thursday: Today we have a morning loop ride to the hilltop village of Locorotondo, which has a lovely baroque florence hotel accommodation town center and the quintessential cafe serving up wonderful fresh canoli and other delicacies. In the afternoon we say goodbye to the bikes and transfer by van to Matera.  Another UNESCO World Heritage site, Matera is one of the most visually stunning towns in Italy.  Its inhabitants carved their homes, shops and churches right into the cliff-side of a dramatic gorge.  Abandoned in the 1950 s, the old town has been reborn as artists, restaurants, and local citizens have rejuvenated and restored the area. Matera is one of our favorite towns in Italy, both for its unique architecture and aesthetic, but also for the fantastic food! We also love the hotel, much of which is carved directly into the rock supporting the city. The Hotel San Martino has an amazing setting and a thermal spa within its walls!  Tonight is a free night dinner so you can choose to eat light or go lavish. Overnight in Matera. Hotel and breakfast included. Dinner not included
Friday 7 Friday: We have a morning guided visit of Matera s fascinating Sassi , then you have the choice between florence hotel accommodation an optional bike ride around the Parco delle Chiese to the west of town (Mileage: 30 km) or an adventurous walk down into the gorge where we discover ancient rock-hewn churches.  You can also stay at the hotel and enjoy the spa and swimming pool built into the rock! We have one final epic dinner to conclude a great week. Overnight florence hotel accommodation in Matera. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
The Biking in Puglia is mostly rolling, with gentle hills, long stretches of flat, and a few very short-but-steep climbs.  We normally ride between 40 65 km a day, with optional extensions as well as van support, which allows you to ride as much (or as little!) as you like. We have designed the trip to allow for free time in the late afternoon so you can relax or explore the towns we stay in. Breakfast is included every day, and dinners reflect the excellent florence hotel accommodation traditional food of the region.
Qualifications : This trip is rated easy to moderate with some challenging optional rides. This trip is perfect for anyone who is physically fit and likes to cycle; the presence of a support van and relatively flat terrain means that cyclists of all abilities may join. The daily distances are between 50-60 kms (31-38 miles) a day, or 3-5 hours of riding more or less equally divided between morning and afternoon. Trip Cost Includes: 7 nights accommodations (1 night Bari, 2 nights in Conversano, Fasano, and Matera in 3-4-star hotels); 7 breakfasts and 5 dinners, bilingual guide(s) for the duration of the tour; support vehicle; guided tours as noted in the itinerary; pick up from Bari, transfer to Bari train station at the end of the trip; and bikes (quality 27-speed hybrid-style touring bikes with map readers, front handlebar bags and rear racks). Getting there (this will redirect you to our Getting to the Trip page) Booking: e-mail florence hotel accommodation us to receive a booking contract (or use the Reservation page). Insurance: We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance. We recommend Travel Guard to our North American clients, just click on the logo below.  Australian, New Zealander, and British travelers, please consult your insurance brokers.