If you choose this option your bike travel will start one day after because you will have one day in the wonderfull Matera (U.N.E.S.C.O. Site), otherwise you will start soon your ride, but your travel duration will be the same because at the end of the travel you will stay one day ore in the fashionable Lecce.
If you choose the Matera Option, in the morning, you will have a transfer to Matera by train (1h and 45 minutes)

All the day in Matera

OPTIONABLE:

A TOUR OF THE MATERA AND THE MURGIA PARK A walk exploring the charming city of Matera and its naturalistic and historical beauties; discovering its ancient rupestrian churches; tasting the traditional food of its area; enjoying breathtaking landscapes from unusual spots of one of the oldest cities of the world. From the depth of the very heart of the sassi, we’ll descend into the gravina (ravine), cross the wooden bridge on the gravina creek, visit some of the many rupestrian churches of the Matera Murgia and have lunch at the ’jazzo Gattini’.

Overnight accommodation: B&B or Hotel 3/4 stars or Agriturism

For those who stayed in Matera, train transfer to Bari and then, with all the other participants, another very short train transfer (25 minutes) to Mola di Bari where the bike tour will start.

LENGTH OF THE FIRST STAGE: 29 km.
Light level until the wonderful city of Polignano a Mare, birthplace of the famous singer, Domenico Modugno, this village was built on a peak on the sea from where visitors can enjoy the view of the natural and historical beauties the place offers, with a very old historical centre and its byzantine, spanish and norman past.
Some places are so much overhanging you could dive in the sea from the balconies, in fact, every year in Polignano, thera are international diving competitions.
After Polignano a mare, you’ll get to Monopoli, a village inhabited since the bronze age; fortified by the Messapi with strong, huge walls; the romans made a military harbour and, in the 1500s, a fascinating castle was built.
-Overnight stay in a B&B in Monopoli

LENGTH OF THE SECOND STAGE: 33 km.
During this fourth day, you’ll bike through the Parco delle Dune Costiere” and you can choose what to visit: “parco archeologico di Egnazia” and its museum; Paco Rupestre “Lama d’antico, San Giovanni, San Lorenzo”, a huge rocky settlement with a fresco crypt, one of the biggest in Apulia; the megalithic monument of the “Dolmen dei Paladini” (or”tavola dei Paladini”).
In the middle of the path, we suggest to stop and have lunch with seafood and RICCI in one of the many restaurants in front of the sea, in FORCATELLA!!
Overnight stay in an Hostel in the Park.

LENGTH OF THE THIRD STAGE: 26 km
On the way to Ostuni starting from the “Parco delle Dune Costiere” (16 km) all the way to the “White City”, so called for the whiteness of its houses, one of the characteristics that makes it one of the most beautiful places of the Basilicata, so, it’s going to be worth the effort of the little climb.
After this visit, on the way to the “Riserva of Torre Guaceto”, you’ll pass by Carovigno and its wonderful Dentice di Frasso Castle.

After the check-in in a structure near Carovigno, in the afternoon, we suggest to make a guided tour bike of the Natural reserve of Torre Guaceto (Info and costs in the details).
After the tour (independent or guided) you go back to the agritourism for the overnight stay.

LENGTH OF THE SIXTH STAGE: 26 km
After breakfast you can choose to spend the entire morning on the beach of the Natural Reserve before the bike ride to Brindisi that will welcome you on its beautiful port, the same from where the ships to Jerusalem used to sail to bring the pilgrims who got there after their long march on the “Via francigena”.
After the tour of Brindisi, a train transfer to Lecce where you’ll spend the night and discover its beauties the morning after.
Overnight stay in Lecce

A day in Lecce, discovering one of the most beautiful cities of the South of Italy. Also called”The Florence of the South”, Lecce is a jewel of architecture. Famous for the Baroch of the historical buildings, this city enchants the visitors with its elegance and for the warmth of the residents (just like every Apulian). You will discover the alleys of the historical centre, the artisan’s workshops, the tiny and characteristic museums and enjoy the dolce vita of the south with an aperitivo with a “Puccia Leccese” (a super local sandwich) and a glass of excellent wine.
Of course, don’t miss to taste a “pasticciotto leccese” for dessert!
Optional: a guided bike tour with a street food sampling (info and prices in the details)
Overnight stay in Lecce

Last day of the tour, restitution of bikes and the rented equipment and return to Bari by train