This is a beautiful Southern Visions' self guided cycling trip through the region of Puglia, Italy, which lies in the heel of the boot, along the sun drenched Adriatic Sea. Puglia offers access to the freshest seafood, crowd-free open spaces, irresistible desserts and pastries, distinct wines, and 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…..we promise, once you discover it, Puglia will leave a lasting impression.

1. Ten (10) Day Self Guided Trip 2010
This is a beautiful Southern Visions’ ten (10) day self guided cycling trip through the region of Puglia,
Italy, which lies in the heel of the boot, along the sun drenched Adriatic Sea. Puglia offers access to
the freshest seafood, crowd-free open spaces, irresistible desserts and pastries, distinct wines, and
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…..we promise, once you discover it,
Puglia will leave a lasting impression.
Trip Highlights
 Exceptional Cycling Routes that pass through fishing villages, country lanes, ancient olive groves,
vineyards, hidden coves, golden beaches, and the unparalleled Itria Valley.
 A trip to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Alberobello with its ancient Trulli houses
 Optional guided walking tours of Alberobello, Locorotondo, and Monopoli
 Insider look at the region’s hidden treasures
 All luggage transfers
WHAT YOU GET!!!
 Professional Bike demo and fitting
 An outstanding adventure travel  Exceptional, detailed Maps and Route
experience Notes
 Peace of mind you are with the most  Local city maps and dining suggestions
professional cycling company in Puglia
 Local, native guides with knowledge of €1199 per person based on double occupancy
the secrets and mysteries of the region €600 single supplement
 9 Nights lodging at 4 and 5 star hotels
and resorts Services available at additional cost
 All luggage transfers
 The finest and best maintained bikes in  Optional Shuttles to/from Bari or
Southern Italy Brindisi Airport(s)
 9 Breakfasts  Alberobello Walking Tour and Tasting
with Native Guide
 Pre-paid cellular phone

2. At the beginning of your trip, a Southern Visions Team Member(s) will meet you at the Monopoli
Train Station at 11:00 a.m. You will find your Southern Visions representative in a red and orange
shirt, or holding a sign with you name. (If you choose, we can provide optional shuttles from and to the
Bari or Brindisi Airports for an additional fee – ask a Southern Visions/Active Cultures representative for
details.) After we meet, we will have a briefing, custom fit you to your bikes, and provide you with
proprietary, exceptional maps and route notes to help you navigate your way along the countryside,
and find special hidden gems to stop, explore, and dine. (Guests are expected to make their own travel
arrangements to Puglia. See the end of itinerary for recommendations on arriving and departing from
the area).
Prior to arrival we will send you a very a brief guide on the region of Puglia, which we suggest you
read thoroughly. Welcome to Puglia!
Day 1. Arrive in Monopoli
Cycling: Egnazia loop ride 35km/22mi (optional)
Lodging: Tenuta Chianchizza www.tenutachianchizza.it
You will be met at the Monopoli train station, and led to your first hotel, Tenuta Chianchizza for your
briefing. Your trip starts with a perfect, easy, flat, circular ride heading south from Monopoli, past
ancient olive groves and along the Adriatic coast to the archaeological site of Egnazia, once the location
of a Greco-Roman town dating as far back as the 4th century BC. Guests can choose to visit the local
museum and archaeological park, or explore the nearby beach. We will make several suggestions on
stops along the route for dining and exploration. Have a great first day!!
Day 2
Cycling: Monopoli to Conversano 29km/18mi
Lodging: Hotel Corte Altavilla www.corte-altavilla.com
Today, you will embark on a charming route along stunning Adriatic coastline from Monopoli to
Conversano. We will suggest a stop en route to visit the small, but vibrant fishing village of Polignano a
Mare, idyllically perched on the side of the rocky limestone cliffs. Pay attention to your route notes, as
we will suggest a stop at one of the great gelato shops in the region, Il Supermago del Gelo – the Super
Magician of Gelato! You will continue, through the quaint, picturesque village of San Vito, with its multi-
coloured boats moored up in the tiny port and finish your journey in the sleepy, beautiful little town of
Conversano, set amid a landscape of olive and cherry trees, with its rambling alleyways and sun-baked
piazza dominated by the Norman castle and Romanesque cathedral. Wow, what a day!!
Day 3
Cycling: Conversano to Alberobello 38km/23mi
Lodging: Grand Hotel Olimpo www.grandhotelolimpo.it

3. Today, you will leave Conversano and cycle towards the Valle d'Itria, or Itria Valley, and the old town of
Alberobello, with its unique plethora of Trulli houses, the most famous architecture and symbol for
which this region is known. Pedal through rolling countryside to the sweet aroma of mint that grows by
the roadside and stop to enjoy the little towns of Putignano and Noci, with their characteristic
whitewashed houses and narrow alleyways. On arrival in Alberobello, you will check into your second
hotel, Hotel Olimpo, a perfectly situation 4-star hotel in the city. Well done on today’s activities.
Day 4
Cycling: Alberobello Loop 49km/31mi
Lodging: Grand Hotel Olimpo www.grandhotelolimpo.it
Spend today roaming around the historic centre, navigating your way through narrow streets, kitsch
souvenir shops and tasting local products or maybe visit the museo del territorio to discover the history
of this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site. We also suggest riding a circular cycle route (49km/31mi)
deep into the Itria Valley to visit stunning Locorotondo - nicknamed “città del vino” for its excellent dry
white spumante (sparkling) wine made from verdeca grapes. Here in Locorotondo, meander the
atmospheric alleyways bedecked with geraniums and citrus plants. Continue on to Martina Franca – a
must-see town for its marvellously intact historic centre, beautiful Baroque architecture, and stunning
palazzi, an architectural jewel, splendidly positioned on the hillside with wonderful panoramic views
across the Itria Valley.
Day 5
Cycling: Alberobello to Pezze di Greco 43km/27mi
Lodging: Masseria Salamina www.masseriasalamina.it
Today, we will leave the lovely town of Alberobello and our friend Mimmo, and cycle from Alberobello
to Pezze di Greco, cycling down beautiful scenic country lanes lined with weathered stone walls,
beginning with some rolling hills to the edge of the plateau, before enjoying a long downhill run with
panoramic views of the Adriatic coastline and the lower fertile plains. This incredible descent will bring
you down to Capitolo and south along an ancient farming road, finishing through a patchwork of almond
orchards, olive groves, vineyards and gloriously coloured fields of fresh tomatoes and peppers. Your
home for the night will be the pastoral farmhouse, Masseria Salamina, situated only 7 km from the sea
with natural food and old-time charm.
Day 6
Cycling: Pezze di Greco-Cisterno-Ostuni Loop 65km
Lodging: Masseria Salamina www.masseriasalamina.it
Today, you ride from the Masseria Salamina to Cisternino, one of the most lovely and chic hilltop towns
in Puglia. Here you will have sweeping views of the Itria valley below and a chance to see why this town
is starting to gain some serious international repute. You then cycle through the olive groves and rock
strewn fields to the stunning Citta Bianca, white city, Ostuni. Here you will enjoy a fabulous lunch on

4. your own and breathe in the clean air from the sea only 6KM away. You pedal back down to Pezze di
Greco and your lovely Masseria home.
Day 7
Cycling: Squinzano-Otranto Loop 68km
Lodging: Relais Valle dell’Idro http://www.otrantohotel.com/hotel-otranto-home-ita.php
Today we will shuttle you via train to Squinzano, and then cycle along the beautiful Salento coast to
Otranto. Along the way you can have a lovely local lunch in the Castle town of Acaya. You will ride
through numerous olive groves and nearly empty roads to reach the coast and pedal into one of the
jewels of all of Puglia: Otranto. Here you will lodge in the gorgeous Relais Valle dell’Idro and enjoy
lovely evening walks along the giant piazza and the pristine beach. Thanks to its peculiar location, you
will enjoy a panoramic view of all Otranto, of the sea and of the old town centre, in which it is possible
to admire the architectural beauties of the Otranto martyrs’ Cathedral, the Byzantine Church of Saint
Peter, the old city centre, and much more. There are numerous lovely suggestions for dinner as well as
one of the best Pizza joints in Puglia right in the main Piazza. Welcome to Otranto!
Day 8
Cycling: Otranto-Santa Maria de Leuca Loop 55/110km
Lodging: Relais Valle dell’Idro http://www.otrantohotel.com/hotel-otranto-home-ita.php
We have saved the best ride for last! You pedal along the coast south and west of Otranto where you
will see the easternmost and southernmost points of Puglia both on the same day. You will also visit the
winery Castel di Salve winery on our way to Santa Maria de Leuca, a city noted for gleaming white as you
arrive from the sea and its position as De Finibus Terrae, the end of the earth). You can make today as
challenging as you like, as your route notes will provide cycling options up to 110km, but will also make
it easy for you to pick a point to turn around and head back at any time. And, of course, whatever
route(s) you choose to take, it will be easy to find places to stop for food and sightseeing along the way!
Day 9
Cycling: Otranto-Lecce 37km (optional)
Lodging: Palazzo Rollo www.palazzorollo.it
Today, you will head to the wonderful town of Lecce, choosing to be shuttled by Southern Visions Staff,
or if you still have energy, cycle the 37km down. If you choose to cycle to Lecce, known as the Florence
of the South, you will find the terrain is mostly flat and in between endless olive orchards. Your ride will
lead you through the small enchanting villages of Borgagne, Melendugno, Castri' di Lecce e Lizzanello....
all villages in which time seems to have stopped, so be sure to stop and smell the olives . After arrival
in Lecce, we will provide you a walking map to reach your final hotel destination, the Palazzo Rollo.
Palazzo Rollo is a charming bed and breakfast located in a 17th century palace in the heart of the
historical centre of Lecce. The beautiful structure offers the opportunity to appreciate Lecce's baroque

5. masterpieces in just a few steps. No matter how you choose to spend the day, be sure to stop for a
coffee and the amazing local pastry known as Pasticciotto Leccese (filled with yummy custard cream).
Take in all that Lecce has to offer on this last day of your Italian Holiday!
Day 10
You will depart for your flight home or next destination. The Southern Visions Team is happy to help you
shuttle back to Monopoli (upon request), or help you extend your stay in the Puglia Region. We are sure
that this trip will have changed your life for the better, as it has all of ours!
ARRIVING AND DEPARTING - LOGISTICS
After reviewing the following information, please inform us of your arrival and departure plans on the
Personal Information Form.
Arrival in Monopoli
We will meet you at the town of Monopoli train station and can provide details about how to arrive in
Monopoli. If you would prefer a more full service experience we would be happy to arrange a shuttle
for you from Bari or Brindisi airports. Please let us know during the booking process of your intentions
so that we can make all the necessary arrangements.
Conclusion of the trip
On the last day of the trip we can make arrangements for you to If you would like a private shuttle to
either Bari or Brindisi airort or assist with the best advice to continue your journey in Puglia, Italy, or
other parts of Europe. There are frequent trains to that will lead to all points in Italy.
Flight arrangements
We recommend flying into Milan or Rome. You can then catch a flight to Bari (airport code: BRI) from
either city. Or, if you don’t mind the longer travel time and perhaps a pre trip stay in another Italian
destination you can take the train to Bari. You can see below.
Getting from the Bari train station to the Bari airport
A taxi ride from train station to the airport takes 25-30 minutes and costs around €20. An Autolinee
Tempesta bus ride to the Bari train station takes approximately 30 minutes and costs €4.15.
Taking the train to Bari from Rome, Milan or Florence

6. The trip from Rome takes about 5 hours; from Milan it’s about 8 ½ hours; from Florence, expect
approximately 7 ½ hours of travel.
Train travel in Italy
We suggest purchasing rail tickets and making reservations through your own travel agent. For more
information on rail travel in Italy, visit the web www.trenitalia.com. There you can purchase tickets and
book your seat by using your credit card. There is also a great website called www.raileurope.com
where you can purchase individual rail tickets and also rail passes.
You can purchase Italian rail tickets from any train station in Italy, but the best advice is to get your
entire ticket from a major train station as there are sometimes unpredicted outages in the smaller
stations. Many stations are equipped with automatic ticket machines, from which you can purchase
tickets and reservation coupons for travel in Italy and for principal cross-border routes. The machines
accept cash, credit card and ATM card with your PIN.
If you travel on one of Italy’s faster trains, including Eurocity, Intercity and Eurostar, you’ll be charged a
supplemental fare in addition to the regular ticket price (this will be included in the price when you buy
from a machine). If you travel on these trains without your supplemental ticket, you’ll be fined. (it is
almost impossible not to get the proper ticket nowadays especially if you buy from a machine) Eurostar
and Intercity trains require a seat reservation for travel at all times. For travel on intercity trains,
reservations are not mandatory; however, you may want to pay the extra reservation charge for a
guaranteed seat, simply for peace of mind. If you know you’ll be taking the train during a peak local
travel period, such as a holiday, you’ll definitely want to make reservations or you risk standing for your
entire trip. Italy’s slower train (Rapido, Espresso, Regionale, Inter regionale and Locale) don’t require a
reservation or a supplement ticket.
Boarding the train
To find your platform, which will be listed at least 10 minutes prior to departure, check the small TV
screens or the larger schedule boards in the main station area. If you are travelling without reservations,
you’ll need to validate your “open” ticket by stamping it at one of the small yellow machines located on
each train platform (the machine stamps the date and the time on the open ticket to prevent multiple
uses). If you forget to stamp your ticket before boarding, tell the on-board ticket inspector immediately
to avoid a supplementary fee.
WHERE TO STAY BEFORE & AFTER YOUR TRIP
BARI
PALACE HOTEL
Via Lombardi 13 GRAND HOTEL LEON D’ORO
70122 Bari Piazza Aldo Moro 4
tel. +39 080 5216551 70122 Bari
www.palacehotelbari.it tel. +39 080 5235040

7. www.grandhotelleondoro.it
HOTEL VILLA ROMANAZZI HOTEL BOSTON
Via Giuseppe Capruzzi 326 Via Piccinni 155
70124 Bari 70122 Bari
tel. +39 080 5427400 tel. +39 080 5216633
www.villaromanazzi.com www.bostonbari.it
HOTEL ADRIA HOTEL VICTOR
Via Zuppetta 10 Via Nicolai 71
70121 Bari 70122 Bari
tel. +39 080 5246699 tel. +39 080 5216600
www.adriahotelbari.com www.victorservice.com
MATERA
LA CASA DI LUCIO
Via S. Pietro Caveoso, 66 ALBERGO DEL SEDILE
75100 Matera Recinto Sedile n. 4 - Piazza del Sedile
Tel. +39 0835 312798 Matera
www.lacasadilucio.it tel +39.0835.333436
www.albergodelsedile.it
HOTEL SANT’ANGELO
Rione Pianelle - Piazza San Pietro Caveoso HOTEL IN PIETRA
75100 Matera Via San Giovanni Vecchio, 22
tel. +39 (0)835 314010 75100 Matera
www.hotelsantangelosassi.it tel +39 0835 344040
www.hotelinpietra.it
LOCANDA DI SAN MARTINO
Via Fiorentini, 71
75100 Matera
tel +39 0835 256600
info@locandadisanmartino.it
HOTEL RIDOLA - Albergo in dimora storica ALBERGO ITALIA
Via Morelli 13 Via Ridola 5
75100 Matera 75100 Matera
tel. +39-0835-318811 tel: 0835 333561, 0835 337689
info@hotelridolamatera.it www.albergoitalia.com
LECCE
Hotel Patria Palace +39 0832 245111
Piazzetta Riccardi www.patriapalacelecce.com
73100 Lecce (Lecce), Italy

8. Hotel delle Palme tel. +390832 272111
Via Di Leuca, 90 www.grandhoteltiziano.it
73100 Lecce (LE), Italy
+39 0832 347171 B&B Palazzo Rollo
www.hoteldellepalmelecce.it Via Vittorio Emanuele II, n°14
Lecce
Grand Hotel Tiziano Tel. +39.328.9540585 - +39.0832.307152
Viale Porto d'Europa, s/n www.palazzorollo.it
73100 Lecce
FINAL THOUGHTS
Please be sure to note these important contact numbers, should you need assistance before, during, or
after your trip: Puglia: +39.340.264.4128 or +39 331 833 1857 U.S.A: +1.713-540-0989
All tours operated by Active Cultures LLC