Peloton Grand Tours: Southern Italy

Join us on this unique tour of the Mezzogiorno, Southern Italy. Get ready to discover the region’s unique history, its glorious countryside and beaches, amazing architecture and wonderful food and wines. We’ll be riding through Puglia, Basilicata and Campania, along beautiful coastlines, past ancient olive groves, through fine mountain landscapes and protected national parks, past fascinating archaeological sites and to some of the prettiest hilltop towns in Italy.

Bring your sense of adventure and discover a part of Italy, which is a favourite of Italian families, but still less well-known to outsiders. Let the Peloton Tours team guide you through these three amazing regions including Lecce, the Florence of the South, Castelmezzano, a member of “the most beautiful villages in Italy” club, and Naples, described by the food critic Anthony Bourdain as “Italy on steroids.” This fully-organised tour allows you to ride stunning coastal and country roads and then to enjoy the off-bike activities all the more.

Dates:

3rd June 2023 to 18th June 2023

From:

$6999.00 Twin Share

Rider Types on this Trip:

• Sportive

• Elite

• Cycling Focused

What's Included:

1. 15 nights accommodation twin share* at a selection of curated hotels

2. All breakfasts

3. 10 dinners

4. All luggage transfers and during your trip

5. 2 expert ride guides

6. Minimum of two daily group ride options

7. Experienced mechanic

8. Ride support vehicle

   * Single room supplement available on request

What's Not Included:

• Airfare and transportation to and from the trip meeting/departing locations

• Accommodation before and after the trip

• Personal items purchased during the trip

• Additional hotel expenses

• Travel and personal insurance

• Lunches & drinks

• Five dinners are not included. We invite you to explore the local cuisine at your leisure.

Day 1

Arrival Day. Check into our wonderful hotel in the centre of town. Rest up at the hotel or enjoy sightseeing in town before welcome drinks at a local bar and dinner at a local favorite restaurant in town.

Hotel

• 8Piuhotel

Included Meals

• Dinner

Day 3

Today we ride to Gallipoli, on the west, Ionian coast of Puglia’s Salento peninsula. It may not be as famous as its Turkish namesake, site of the disastrous 1st World War battle, but its history is long and varied, its historic centre a delight and the beaches which flank it superbly.

A stop for lunch, before heading back to enjoying a first class dinner and a glass of wine.

Ride

• Lecce-Gallipoli-Lecce 96km

• Lecce-San Catald- Torre Chianca-Lecce 45km

Hotel

• 8Piuhotel

Included Meals

• Breakfast & dinner

Day 4

Departing Lecce we head north to our next location Martina Franca, a pretty, southern Italian heaven, with whitewashed alleys, laundry drying in the breeze, cats napping in sun-drenched streets and the chatter of families reaching you from the open windows of the local homes.

Our ride takes us on back roads through historic village after village with plenty of time to stop for a coffee and a pastry on the way.

In Martina, you will also find lovely restaurants and wine bars, making Martina Franca a perfect stop over and night off to explore your own adventure.

Ride

• Lecce-Martina Franca 92km

Hotel

• Park Hotel San Michele

Included Meals

• Breakfast only. Tonight we invite you to explore the local cuisine at your leisure.

Day 7

You may feel like leaving the bike behind and exploring the town today, but the rest day is tomorrow so pump up your tyres for a ride in the hills. We ride north east back into Pulia stopping in Altamura an important historical town but also famous for its Pane di Altamura Dop. This traditional Apulian bread has been part of the Puglia local food culture since 37 BC. A slice of bread and a coffee before riding across to Gravina in Puglia well know for its stone bridge in the opening scene from the lastest James Bond movie. A short ride back to Matera with the afternoon being yours.

Ride

• Matera-Altamura-Gravina in Puglia-Matera

• 61km

Hotel

• Pianelle Resort

Included Meals

• Breakfast & dinner

Day 9

Today you may feel sad departing Matera, and most likely will return one day as you will feel like you have unfinished business there. There is so much to see and explore but now the tour heads into the hills as we start our journey to the other coast of Italy. We are staying in Potenza about half way to the Mediterranean but gateway into the Parco Regionale di Gallipoli Cognato Piccole Dolomiti Lucane and tomorrows not to be missed ride.

Ride

• Matera-Potenza

• 102km

Hotel

• Park Hotel Centro Congressi

Included Meals

• Breakfast only. Tonight we invite you to explore the local cuisine at your leisure.

Day 10

A lumpy loop ride today from Potenza to Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa in the heart of the Parco Regionale di Gallipoli Cognato Piccole Dolomiti Lucane. Narrow back roads with very few cars wind their way through the mountainous regional park spanning thousands of acres, with resident wolves, boar & wild cats. Fortunately we are very unlikely to cross paths with wolves, boar & wild cats on the bike but will pass through Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa with its Dolomiti peaks above the towns. A stand out, must see region, that few tourists venture far enough to see.

Ride

• Potenza-Castelmezzano-Pietrapertosa-Potenza 110km

• Albano di Lucania-Castelmezzano-Pietrapertosa-Laurenzana-Albano di Lucania 58km

Hotel

• Park Hotel Centro Congressi

Included Meals

• Breakfast & dinner

Day 11

Wake up late in the mountains, breakfast and a short ride across to the beautiful hill top town of Atena Lucana and changing regions into Campania.

Our gentle ride takes us up a final switchback climb to our hotel for a photo and look back from where we have crossed.

Ride

• Potenza-Atena Lucana

• 47km

Hotel

• Villa Venus Resort & SPA

Included Meals

• Breakfast & dinner

Day 12

Departing our only one night stay in Atena Lucana we head to the coastal town of Castellabate. It’s medieval castle town stands above the sapphire waters of the Mediterranean, that will be inviting for a swim from one of it’s golden sand beaches, after the past few days of riding. The town seems to bask in the sun as it lays itself out on the hillside facing the sea. It's beauty, history and location have put it on the list as a UNESCO heritage site, as well as naming it one of the Borghi Piu' Belli d'Italia (most beautiful villages in Italy). A perfect place to arrive at the Mediterranean.

Ride

• Atena Lucana-Castellabate

• 88km

Hotel

• Grand Hotel Santa Maria

Included Meals

• Breakfast & dinner

Day 13

Total we start with a coastal ride down to the town of Pioppi for coffee and pastries, before making the decision to stay close to the coast back or head inland and upwards to take in the view on the way back to Castellabate.

Spend the afternoon exploring the medieval UNESCO heritage site, have a quite drink people watching before searching out a local dinner.

Ride

• Castellabate-Pioppi-Castellabate

• 58km

Hotel

• Grand Hotel Santa Maria

Included Meals

• Breakfast only. Tonight we invite you to explore the local cuisine at your leisure.

Day 14

Today we head north up the coast for a flat ride into Salerno. Some may prefer to have lunch in the ancient city and miss the hills or narrow coastal ride into the busy city of Naples, Sit back and have a drink with lunch and take the local train into the heart of Naples and a short ride to our final hotel in Naples.

Those who want to carry on can ride the high Amalfi Coast road, past the towns of Amalfi and Positano before crossing the point and descending into the outskirts of Naples and onto the bike path into the city center reaching our final destination on our trip - the city of Naples

Enjoy the rest of your day exploring Naples with its many shops, bars & cafes before dinner and gelato.

Ride Options

• Castellabate-Salerno (Train Salernoto Naples) ** Train Extra**

• 58km

• Castellabate-Salerno-Positano-Naples

• 152km

Hotel

• Star Hotels Terminus

Included Meals

• Breakfast & dinner

Day 15

Our final ride boards us onto the ferry to Ischia a volcanic island in the Gulf of Naples. Ride around the island stopping for coffee and pastries many times over. Ischia is known for its mineral-rich thermal waters. Hot springs bubble up at Maronti Beach. Take your swimmers and have a dip before heading back for a pizza for dinner in Naples.

Rides

• Ferry to the island of Ischia (50Mins) **Ferry Extra**

• Cycle around the island

• 35km

• Naples sea front ride on dedicated path

• 42+km out and back

Hotel

• Star Hotels Terminus

Included Meals

• Breakfast only. Tonight we invite you to explore the local cuisine at your leisure.