Meet our staff in the late afternoon for a trip briefing and to receive your bicycles and GPS. Afterwards, we recommend exploring Lecce's historic center, either by bike or on foot. Known as the 'Florence of the South,' Lecce will captivate you with its Spanish-style baroque architecture and Roman ruins.

• Accommodations: Arco Vecchio or similar

Today's entirely flat route takes you along secondary roads. Your first stop is in Cavallino, where you'll explore an open-air museum dedicated to the Messapian civilization, the area's ancient inhabitants before the Greeks and Romans. Continue through olive groves bordered by dry stone walls to Calimera, where you can visit a natural history museum to learn about the region’s distinctive flora and fauna. Your final destination is Martano, the capital of “Salentinian Greece.”

• Daily distance: 18 mi / 29 km
• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodations: Borgoterra

In the Middle Ages, Salento's inhabitants spoke Greek, a legacy of the Byzantine monks. Today, you'll explore the 'Grecìa Salentina,' a cluster of 9 municipalities where a variant of this language, Griko, is still spoken. Visit Zollino, Sternatia, and Martignano, savoring local gastronomic delights like 'sceblasti,' a soft bread topped with tomatoes, zucchini, onions, and peppers, or 'Sibilla,' an almond-based pastry so beloved that locals travel miles for it.

• Daily distance: 14 mi / 23 km
• Accommodations: Borgoterra
• Meals: Breakfast

Your journey continues through Grecìa Salentina, first passing through Castrignano dei Greci, where you can admire 'pozzelle,' an ancient public rainwater collection system. Then, head to Corigliano D'Otranto to see its majestic baroque castle, and finally, reach Cutrofiano, known for its pottery crafts. Consider an optional visit to an organic farm near Cutrofiano, which produces cheese and honey.

• Daily distance: 17 mi / 28 km
• Accommodations: Masseria Fulcignano
• Meals: Breakfast

Start the day by picking vegetables from the farm’s garden, followed by a cooking class with Anna at her large country house with a swimming pool. Learn to make orecchiette and 'pitta di patate,' a potato-based casserole. Enjoy some leisure time at the pool before and after lunch. Then head to Galatina to admire the Church of Santa Caterina, covered with Giotto-style frescoes, and explore the historic city center. Galatina is also known for its connection to 'tarantismo,' a ritual dance used to cure the mythical spider bite. Be sure to try 'pasticciotto,' a local custard-filled pastry, best enjoyed warm.

• Daily distance: 12 mi / 19 km
• Meals: Breakfast

Continue your ride through the countryside, passing olive trees and traditional 'pajare' stone buildings. Visit the Fulcignano Castle in Galatone and the Messapian civilization museum in Alezio. Optionally, detour to Tuglie to explore the Radio Museum, featuring a comprehensive collection of functioning antique radios. Your final destination for the day is Gallipoli.

• Daily distance: 10 mi / 16 km
• Accommodations: Palazzo Zacá
• Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy a relaxing day by the sea. After a brief ride along the coast, you’ll reach the Porto Selvaggio Natural Park, a vast wooded area adjacent to the sea fed by spring waters, perfect for swimming and relaxing. On your return, make sure to stop in Santa Caterina, a quaint town where the favorite pastime is enjoying ice cream!

• Daily distance: 12 mi / 20 km
• Accommodations: Palazzo Zacá
• Meals: Breakfast

Spend your morning wandering through the narrow streets of this ancient fishing town, where life seems unchanged by the passage of time. Don't miss the underground mill, a relic of Gallipoli’s past when it was a global hub for olive oil export. We will organize your transfer back to Lecce.

• Meals: Breakfast