Cycle through the painted blue – a journey of discovery in Puglia

Bike Touring Collection by Anna_Orsatti

days

3-4 h

/ day

287 mi

8,500 ft

Nestled in the heel of Italy’s boot, this Collection takes you among centuries-old olive trees, UNESCO heritage towns, medieval towers and castles and typical pajare: ancient circular stone buildings and symbols that characterise Puglia. Shades of blue in the coves on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas provide the backdrop for mostly asphalt and back road pedalling between Bari and Gallipoli. The scenic ups and downs will make you feel like you're flying through the blue painted blue!

Salento, the area roughly encompassed in the heel of the Peninsula's boot that juts out between the Ionian and Adriatic, is a region within a region. Rich in history, culture, traditions and culinary refinements, Salento is a popular tourist destination. For this reason, you may find quite a lot of traffic on the roads, especially between July and August. In any case, I do not recommend you travel these trails during the summer. The muggy heat and scarcity of shade do not make visiting Puglia by bicycle during these months a good idea. I, therefore, recommend that you plan your trip between September and October.

In general, the Collection follows the tracks of the Adriatic cycle route. I suggest several detours, as the Apulian hinterland is worth a look. The first leg starts at the Bari train station and the last ends near Gallipoli train station. Many connections to other Apulian cities and Italian capitals depart from both stations. All of the stages begin and end in front of a train station so that you can organise your bicycle trip as is most convenient for you.

The stages are appropriate for all types of bicycles but I recommend tyres suitable for firm gravel, as some parts of the tracks are on dirt roads. With significant elevation gain and climbs with steep inclines, the most challenging stages are the second and sixth. The latter are also the most scenic; you’ll see that they’ll be worth it!

This Collection offers you a set of must-do stages to get to know the heel of our beautiful boot in depth. Don't forget to try all the specialities of this land full of delicacies: a tarallo, a mozzarella and a pasticciotto are a must!

Enjoy your adventure!

On The Map

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Da Bari a Gallipoli

282 mi

8,375 ft

8,400 ft

Last updated: February 22, 2023

Plan your own version of this adventure in the multi-day planner based on the stages suggested in this Collection.

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Tours & Highlights

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Stage 1: Bari to Torre Canne – bike touring in Puglia
Intermediate
04:02
43.3 mi
10.7 mph
725 ft
625 ft
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The route that connects Bari to Torre Canne is mainly on asphalt and mostly flat. It begins by following the wide roadway of the Bari seafront. Immersed in the scents of the sea, this part of the route runs alongside the city offering suggestive views of the same.

After the seafront of Bari, the marine…
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Stage 2: Torre Canne to Ostuni via Alberobello – bike touring in Puglia
Expert
04:55
49.6 mi
10.1 mph
2,500 ft
2,375 ft
Expert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This stage develops mostly on secondary roads and crosses the most iconic Apulian towns. It is a demanding track that has slopes of up to 10%, but offers absolutely unmissable panoramic views if you are in this area of the Region.

Start by warming your legs along a secondary road surrounded by olive trees…
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Stage 3: Ostuni to Brindisi through Carovigno and San Vito – bike touring in Puglia
Intermediate
04:02
41.6 mi
10.3 mph
1,025 ft
1,250 ft
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
From Ostuni to Brindisi this stage develops both along the coast and inland, passing through the towns of Carovigno and San Vito dei Normanni. The track mainly follows paved roads but the cycle path that connects Gorgognolo to Costa Merlata is characterized by a rather compact and smooth dirt road. I…
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Stage 4: Brindisi to Lecce through the forest of Cerano – bike touring in Puglia
Intermediate
03:35
37.3 mi
10.4 mph
525 ft
400 ft
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Some portions of the Tour may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
From one province to another, this stage develops entirely on flat ground and mainly along the Adriatic coast. The route is 90% on the road, but the route in the Cerano wood is entirely on compact dirt road. The landscape that surrounds you is typical of the Apulian hinterland dedicated to the cultivation…
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Stage 5: Lecce to Otranto – bike touring in Puglia
Intermediate
03:18
36.2 mi
11.0 mph
500 ft
575 ft
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
This stage offers you a variant of the Adriatic cycle path to immerse yourself in the culture and history of the area. Two castles and typical Salento structures will surprise you along the route which is mostly flat and on the road. A single piece of dirt road takes you to the Torre Specchia Ruggeri…
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Stage 6: Otranto to Gagliano del Capo through Santa Maria di Leuca – bike touring in Puglia
Expert
04:17
41.3 mi
9.6 mph
2,675 ft
2,275 ft
Expert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
The kilometers that connect Otranto and Gagliano del Capo are demanding, with more than 800 meters in altitude. The climbs are scattered throughout the route and reach 9% gradient. As far as traffic is concerned, the general discourse of the seasonal trend is valid. During the high season months (June…
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Stage 7: Gagliano del Capo to Gallipoli – bike touring in Puglia
Intermediate
03:22
37.6 mi
11.2 mph
550 ft
1,000 ft
Intermediate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Mainly on asphalt and on roads with little traffic, the kilometers that connect Gagliano del Capo to Gallipoli are a perfect combination of culture, history and breathtaking views. The track of this stage develops for the first half in the Salento hinterland and, the second half, along the Ionian coast…
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