Puglia

Puglia, the Bike-friendly Region

Puglia is to be discovered slowly, through places and emotions that are hidden from the senses when pedaling by. Ride after ride, in the shadows of age-old oaks, monumental olive trees, and the dense Mediterranean maquis, what is revealed to the eyes of the cycling traveler is a marvelous and unexpected Puglia.

The following is but one of twelve different itineraries available in our Biking Guide: from Gargano to Salento, Puglia is recounted in a grand tour totaling two thousand kilometers, to be traveled by bicycle, but also on foot or horseback, via ancient paths and untrafficked country roads. There is no need to be experienced cyclists in Puglia, and each itinerary can be split into stages for week-long journeys, daily excursions, or long weekends.

Between one stage and the next, you can discover culinary specialties and explore museums, villages and cities of art, for a journey in pursuit of culture and well-being. Puglia is unique, but there is not just one Puglia. It changes its views with every season. The invitation is to discover it all - slowly.

Happy trails!

Giro d’Italia 2023 across Foggia, the hills of Daunia and Gargano

The exciting journey around Gargano is a long loop around its Promontory, from the rocks to the forest. It begins in Manfredonia. The faraglioni in the Zagare Bay, or Mattinata, and the Pizzomunno monolith in Vieste, are just two of the endless picture postcards that the Gargano coastline offers visitors. A restless succession of curves with the gaze turned to the sea affords glimpses unique in this world – truly breathtaking.

After passing Peschici, a town perched on a rocky spur, we leave the sea behind at Rodi Garganico. The Tremiti Islands are not far away; in the summer and spring, they can be reached by helicopter from Foggia and Vieste, or by ship and hydrojet from Termoli, Vieste, and Rodi Garganico. From Rodi Garganico, we continue for 20 km along the banks of Lake Varano, one of Europe’s largest wetlands. Leaving the coast behind, nature becomes irreverent and unwilling to make way for people. The itinerary becomes more demanding, but our spirits can be buoyed in one of Puglia’s most ancient sanctuaries: San Matteo, located in San Marco in Lamis.

Here, Museo Paleontologico dei Dinosauri is an exciting adventure for the whole family. Proceeding to San Giovanni Rotondo, we can visit the church dedicated to Padre Pio. The tour of Gargano ends in Manfredonia after the obligatory stops in Monte Sant’Angelo, the crossroads of pilgrims making their way to Jerusalem since the 6th century, and the sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Imperial Coast Bike Route

From the Romanesque north to the trade tradition of Bari, along the Adriatic coast. From the Santa Maria Maggiore church in Siponto, a masterpiece of Puglian Romanesque architecture, we easily reach the Margherita di Savoia salt marshes, a storehouse of biodiversity and a reserve since 1977. Pink flamingos have also made their home in this natural habitat. (The route from Trinitapoli to Trani is usually highly trafficked – we recommend covering this stretch by train). Once in Trani, one is absolutely entranced before the blinding white Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino, one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful and dramatic.

And that’s not all. In the kilometers that follow, the eyes can catch a glimpse of the splendid villages that owe their fortunes to the sea: Bisceglie, Molfetta and Giovinazzo, three of the most important path markers between West and East. For just a moment, we leave the coast and head towards Bitonto city of olives, before ending this fun ride in the characteristic village of Bari Vecchia, perhaps savoring a traditional focaccia along the way.

Find out more: viaggiareinpuglia.it

1. Puglia Bike Tourism Itineraries