Learning Italian from the Saddle

Cycling along the coastline of Apulia while also enjoying an Italian language course?! Yes!

Enjoy this unique experience - getting in touch with the land, the people, and the wonderful culture on this cycling vacation in the heel of Italy's boot. This guided tour offers a terrific balance between cycling, guided walking tours, stops along the coastline for swimming, and an intensive Italian language course led by professional instructors.

Lessons take place in the shade of olive trees and pines or on the terrace and garden of a farmhouse - informal settings and atmosphere to make the learning experience so pleasant. The best way to learn Italian and to discover south Italy!

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Highlights

• 20 hours of an intensive Italian language course, led by professional instructors
• Masseria, a historic fortified farmhouse that produces cheese, in Uggiano la Chiesa and Nardó
• Astounding Italian coastline
• Historic towns, Roman-era cities, towers, monuments, churches
• An afternoon sailing excursion
• Fantastic cuisine and local wine

Learn More

Learn more about our guided tours or see more bike tours in Italy.

Daily program

Day 1: Individual arrival and welcome to Otranto
Upon arrival to Otranto, check in to your first hotel and have the initial briefing of the trip.

Overnight in Otranto

Day 2: Otranto and surroundings (18 miles/29km)
The first cycle route of the tour takes you along the river "Idro" the namesake of the city in which you are riding. You will visit an ancient Byzantine crypt from the 13th century and then you arrive in Casamassela, where ancient looms are still being used nowadays at “Le Costantine” foundation.

In Giurdignano, you cross a Bronze age megalithic garden, where to observe closely its “dolmen” and “menhir” - prehistorical monuments. Among huge stones and majestic olive trees you do the first test for the division of the group into levels.

For lunch, visit and tasting in one of the most characteristic bakery in the region, where a farming family has decided to transform ancient grains into baked goods with an ancient flavor.

Return to Otranto and have a free afternoon to visit the city. Possibility of a horse ride at sunset.

Overnight in Otranto

Day 3: Otranto – Castro (19 miles/30km)
This day is dedicated to one of the most fascinating portions of the Italian coast, where different towers, originating from the XVI century, rise facing the sea. You will see the remarkable beauty of the Palascía lighthouse and a unique lake emerged in a disused bauxite quarry of considerable beauty.

It is the most eastern spot of the peninsula: when the sky is clear you can see the mountains of Albania and Greece across the bay.

In the afternoon the Italian classes will be held on the roof of the hotel.

Overnight in Castro

Day 4: Castro – Santa Maria di Leuca (17 miles/27km)
You carry on through the Otranto-Leuca coast, the so-called “park road," with its outstanding panorama. At the arrival in Marina Serra, an Italian lesson will take place in a coastline pine forest.

In the afternoon, you will rest by a picturesque inlet where it will be also possible to swim. Later you reach Santa Maria di Leuca, where you can enjoy the sunset over the Ionian Sea.

Overnight in Santa Maria di Leuca

Day 5: Santa Maria di Leuca
Today is a day to relax without cycling! After breakfast join the group for another Italian lesson, followed by a late morning boat ride with lunch on board!

Day 6: Leuca – Gallipoli (38 miles/61 km)
Today you will spend time learning Italian as you cycle through the villages and the phenomenol region of "Capo di Leuca". Visiting
Today will be jam-packed of Italian lessons while you cycle across the villages around the astonishing area known as “Capo di Leuca”.

Visiting ancient towers, underground oil mills, the ruin of a pre-Roman city, a Mausoleum that holds traces of Byzantine frescoes, a semi-abandoned castle and an ancient pilgrims station with its incredible immense underground gives you ample time to practice your Italian lessons with the teachers!

In the afternoon, you will again come to the ionic coastlines of St. Andrew’s island and Punta Pizzo Netural Park. In Gallipoli you can enjoy an aperitif on a terrace overlooking the sea. A small fisherman's village, located on an island is a striking scene with the way the light hits the town's alleys and fish market.

Overnight in Gallipoli

Day 7: Gallipoli loop tour and cooking class
Today you will test what you have learned this week as you embark on a cooking lesson and family lunch in a local farmhouse. You will learn from a true Italian mother as she teaches you to cook some of the regional specialties entirely in Italian!

Cycling start in the morning from Gallipoli to Alezio, the ancient Messapian city, then onward to Sannicola. Cycle onward to "Tenuta mamma Anna" - a family-run “agritourism” where the cooking class will take place.

The products are harvested directly from the family garden and then brought into the kitchen for preparation: "pitta di patate" (a kind of potato gateau, with a stuffing of tomatoes, olives, capers, onion and tuna), "pittule" (some fried dough balls), filled with tomatoes and capers, or empty to taste with honey) and hand-made orecchiette (a typical local pasta, shaped like an ear, prepared with fingers and a knife), the "pasticciotto cake" (a cake made with shortcrust pastry, filled with chantilly cream); These are some of the dishes that may be prepared.

After you learn the art of cooking these delicious meals, you will enjoy the meal with the family and friends you have made along the way.

You will then return to Gallipoli.

Overnight in Gallipoli

Day 8: Departure

Surface and terrain

This tour takes place mainly on paved routes. Some shorter sections might be on gravel. You'll cycle through countryside and along the coast. The country roads will have very little traffic, while some of the coastal routes may have a little more traffic. Overall, the tour follows quiet roads and is accomplishable for all levels of cyclists.

Hotels

These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.

Otranto: Hotel Resort Vittoria

Castro: Hotel Piccolo Mondo (Jun and Oct) / Hotel Orsa Maggiore (Apr and Sep)

Santa Maria di Leuca: Hotel Terminal

Gallipoli: Relais Corte Palmieri OR hotel 33 Baroni

Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.

How to get there

Tour start
Nearest airports: Bari Airport (BRI)
Nearest train station: Otranto, Italy

Tour end
Nearest airports: Bari Airport (BRI) and Brindisi
Nearest train station: Lecce, Italy

Tips on getting to and from your tour

Dates

Prices

Included services

• 7 nights in 3- and 4-star accommodations
• Breakfast; 7 lunches or dinners
• Luggage transportation
• 24-hour guide
• Local guide
• Standard bike rental
• 20 hours intensive Italian course, (with professional teachers)
• Wine, cheese and other typical product tasting
• 1 boat tour in Santa Maria di Leuca
• 1 cooking class

Bike rentals

Bikes available on this tour, and included in the tour cost (reserved in advance at the time of booking):

• Standard bikes, 21-speed, men's or unisex frame

Bikes available to rent on this tour (reserved in advance at the time of booking):

• Electrically-assisted bikes*

*More about electrically-assisted bikes >

Bikes will be equipped with:

• Racks
• Travel bags
• Spare inner tubes
• Repair kit
• First aid kit

Bike Protection:
Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.

Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals.

Helmets:
Helmets are not available on this tour. We recommend that you bring your own helmet or plan to purchase on upon arrival.

Tour Company