Italy’s Puglia from Bari to Santa Maria di Leuca — all the way south

Italy’s Puglia region offers an incredible variety of landscapes from the coastline overlooking clear waters to the richly vegetated hinterland. It’s not only nature though, this territory is also rich in history and art from Roman archaeological sites to the vibrant baroque of Lecce, just to mention some of the many historical and artistic beauties. This Collection covers the southern part of the region, from Bari downwards, and always remains on the Adriatic side. But this isn’t a long ride along the sea: part of the itinerary takes place in the heart of Puglia and touches on some of the most evocative villages of this fantastic region.

It starts in Bari, a beautiful city that’s easily accessible by public transport, and travels in five stages to the southernmost tip of the region: Santa Maria di Leuca. As you explore between Bari and Santa Maria di Leuca, you can enjoy the variety of breathtaking scenery that has made this area so famous. Santa Maria di Leuca is unfortunately not as well connected though: the nearest train station is Gagliano di Leuca, 6 kilometres (4 mi) away.

Each Harvest Tour departs and arrives in a town where you can easily find accommodation and supplies as well as places of historical and artistic interest such as Monopoli, Lecce and Otranto. In the evenings, you can enjoy the cultural (and gastronomic) richness of the region and, during the day, a succession of new landscapes accompany you on your rides: from the ancient olive trees to the woods around Alberobello, and from the Murge plateau to the coasts of Salento.

The sea here is spectacular in summer but the temperatures are prohibitive when cycling between June and August. Not to mention that vehicle traffic increases significantly during the summer period. Spring is definitely the best time to set out: you'll find cooler temperatures and see the fields in bloom. Even in autumn you can count on a milder climate and watch the countryside come to life during the olive harvest. Winter itself is never too cold, but watch out for rain, which can be heavy and sudden.

The route is suitable for all levels of fitness and is designed for touring bikes, but can also be undertaken with racing bikes as it’s entirely on asphalt. In the towns you pass through you’ll always find bike shops selling spares but I recommend that you always carry a basic repair kit with you as you may find yourself in isolated areas during the ride.

This itinerary crosses the Salento and Lecce regions. You can try two local delicacies (at least): the coffee from Lecce and the pasticciotti. Leccese coffee is espresso coffee with added ice flakes and almond milk while pasticciotti are pastry cakes filled with custard. They go very well together, so I suggest you take advantage of them during your breaks. After all, you need a lot of energy for cycling.