White Town for its white walls and its typically white-painted architecture.

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1 Tour code: GBPUXX - year 2011 cycling in Italy CONTACTS GIROLIBERO TOUR OPERATOR Via Manin Vicenza Tel: info@girolibero.com Office hours: from Monday to Friday ; Cellphone for emergencies: (every day 8-20) APULIA 1 Itinerary Apulia (Italian name: Puglia) is a region in southeastern Italy that includes the heel part of Italy s boot. It is bordered by the sea on two sides (the Adriatic Sea in the east and the Ionian Sea to the southeast). The region is characterized by endless olive groves, long fields of grain and vineyards. The charm of this tour is that it leads you into a region of scenic beauty, which is, by today s standards, still unspoiled by the unattractive aspects of tourism and still retains testimony of its great and ancient culture. 1st DAY Matera. Arrival. For millennia, inhabitants of this region have carved dwellings directly into ravines and gullies made of tuff (or tufa), a characteristic honey-colored soft stone. These houses are called Sassi and are today World HeriDays site. 2nd DAY Matera Alberobello (70 km). You cycle to the famous trulli of Alberobello and Locorotondo. Trulli were generally constructed as dwellings or storehouses. Alberobello is situated upon two hills, once separated by a riverbed. On the eastern hill is the new town, with modern architectural features. On the western hill, the trulli are lined up in an urban conglomeration, subdivided into two districts: Monti and Aia Piccola, both National Monuments from 1930, and today World HeriDays sites. 3rd DAY Alberobello Ostuni (40 km). You cycle through the countryside to Ostuni, which is reputed an architectural jewel, and is commonly referred to as the White Town for its white walls and its typically white-painted architecture. 4th DAY Ostuni Lecce Gallipoli (70 km by train + 60 km by bike). A train transfer brings you to Lecce. After a few kilometers through this amazing baroque town, you go deep into salentinian countryside, before approaching the Ionian coast and your daily destination, Gallipoli. 5th DAY Gallipoli Santa Maria di Leuca (50 km). Cycling further along the coast you will reach Santa Maria di Leuca. The name Santa Maria di Leuca was given by the ancient Greek sailors who came from the East. They saw this place lightened by the sun and therefore called it leukos, meaning white. Santa Maria di Leuca is a famous seaside resort and a fishing area. 6th DAY Santa Maria di Leuca Otranto (55 km). Today you will cycle northwards along the Adriatic coast to Otranto, the most eastern point of Italy where you can visit the beautiful Cathedral and the great Aragonese Castle. 7th DAY Otranto Lecce (50 km). Riding along the Alimini Lakes and their unique Mediterranean bush you ll enter into Lecce. Thanks to its Baroque style, it has deserved the nickname of Florence of the South. You ll come to appreciate the rich sculpted motives done in the 17thcentury with the tender stone from Lecce. The old town enclosed by what is left of the ancient walls, bears the impression of that exuberant period. 8th DAY Lecce. Departure. Lecce is well connected by train with the airports of Bari and Brindisi. Route profile. Mostly in the lowlands, sometimes hilly, the itinerary is almost always on asphalt roads. Traffic is almost non-existent in Apulia except during the high holiday season. The route includes very beautiful stretches on the coast. Train transfer from Ostuni to Lecce is not included in the price (approx. 60 min., 7! per person + bike).

2 APULIA cycling in Italy matera-alberobello alberobello-ostuni ostuni-gallipoli gallipoli-leuca leuca-otranto otranto-lecce Accompanying material If you haven t received your Information Pack by mail, it will be given to you at your first hotel. The Information Pack includes: - the road book of the tour - bike maps - information on the cities, towns and villages passed on the tour At the reception of the first hotel on your tour you will find an envelope with: - final hotel list: due to overbooking or organizational needs your hotel list may be changed just before your arrival. - luggage labels to be fixed at each baggage, which has to be carried. - hotel vouchers: to give to reception on arrival in each hotel. Welcome and bike delivery The morning after your arrival, at 8.30 a.m., in the hotel reception area you will meet our representative who will describe the tour, give you your bikes and be at your disposal for about 30 minutes for any questions you might have. Distance in Km Train Ostuni-Lecce The train ticket from Ostuni to Lecce is not included in price, you can buy it at the station of Ostuni (approx euro bike included, transfer: approx.: 60 min.). Departures from Ostuni (to be checked in Ostuni): 9:35-10:33-13:10-13:40. For the timetable, please visit the website in Hotel in Ostuni Luggage transportation Luggage labels to be attached to each piece of baggage will be given to you on the first day when you arrive at the hotel. Luggage (a maximum of two pieces per person) is to be taken down to the hotel reception every morning before 9.30 and grouped according to the receptionist s instructions. It will arrive at the next hotel by We ask you the full respect of these rules. In the case of non-delivery due to luggage deposited late or without the label we will arrange an additional transportation to be paid locally by the customer. We also ask you not to put glass bottles containing liquids or any fragile objects into your bags which may damage not only your clothing but also that inside other baggage carried. Luggage transportation is never included in case of extra nights before or after the standard tour. Food In Puglia you will find genuine regional cooking that has strong links to the land and the sea: Bread from the Gargano or the Murge, durum wheat pasta, vegetables such as aubergines, peppers and courgettes, which are grown just a few steps from the sea, then olives, broad beans and chicory, all used to prepare simple, tasty dishes such as the pasta delicacy orecchiette, served with a sauce of turnip-tops or fresh tomato and sheep s ricotta-cheese, cavatelli with pulses, aubergine and parmesan bake, roasted peppers, courgettes alla poverella - marinated in oil, garlic, mint and vinegar, etc., to accompany grilled fish, seafood, horse-meat chops, lamb, burrata (soft mozzarella and cream cheese), mozzarella and caciocavallo sheep s cheese... plus excellent wines. In hotels, international breakfast with a varied buffet is usually served. However, we point out that the typical Italian breakfast served in bars is just a cup of coffee and a cream-filled or jam-filled croissant. For lunch and dinner, in the Road Book you will find suggestions for bars, restaurants and trattorias that are often recommended by other bike-tourists (tips are welcomed by waiters). 2

3 APULIA cycling in Italy Territory Puglia is also called the heel of Italy and stretches to the extreme south-east of the peninsula. It borders with the Adriatic Sea in the north-east, the Ionian Sea in the south, and with the regions of Basilicata, Campania and Molise in the west. In the north of the region there are the mountains of the Gargano peninsula and the Umbrian Forest, with a rugged coastline stretching down to the Tavoliere delle Puglie, a vast plain crossed by streams and rivers. To the south of the Tavoliere, the Murge rises up. This is an undulating carsic plateau with no surface water. Then there are the coastal shores, which are partly sandy and party rocky. Climate Questionnaires On the last 2 pages of this dossier you will find a questionnaire (quality control comment sheet) to fill in, which you can hand over directly to the hotel's reception. We thank you in advance for your courtesy and for any useful information you can give us. Puglia has a typically Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters. Rainfall is rare and scarce, except for showers in winter. For information on the weather, you can consult the following site: Clothing We advise you to wear comfortable shoes and various layers of practical clothing to be prepared for sudden changes of climate and temperature; don t forget a K-Way or a poncho, both indispensable in the event of rain, besides a light jacket for cold days and evenings. Sunglasses, a light-coloured hat, protective suntan cream and insect repellent sprays are important, especially in summer. During the tour you will have the chance to visit various religious institutions, such as churches and convents, where you must be appropriately dressed (covered shoulders, shoes or sandals, etc...). Helmet: Italian law does not require cyclists to wear a helmet, but we consider it important to wear one for safer travelling. Also remember to bring a first aid kit with you. Italian law Here below are some points to be observed on Italian legislation concerning the movement of bicycles: Helmet, cycling trousers and gloves are advisable but not essential. Cyclists have to: - always proceed on a single line, in particular when they are out of the towns - have free use of arms and a clear view to promptly perform maneuvers - bring the bike in hand when they are a hindrance or danger to pedestrians - travel on the tracks reserved for them - wear a reflective vest out of the towns by half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise and in tunnels Opening hours shops and restaurants Shops opening hours: from Monday to Saturday in the morning from 08.30/09.00 to 12.30/ In the afternoon from 15.30/16.00 to Some supermarkets have adopted an all-day opening from to Midweek closing: food shops are closed on Wednesday afternoon, while other shops are closed on Monday morning. Approximate restaurants kitchen opening hours: from to for lunch and from to for dinner. August is traditionally the vacation month also for shops and some restaurants.

4 BIKE RENTAL APULIA cycling in Italy We have carefully chosen our bicycles and accessories in order to be able to satisfy the requests and wishes of our customers. Bicycle Girolibero s Citybikes are available in various sizes in men s, women s or unisex models: - City bike 27-gear Shimano Deore Features: - aluminium frame - mudguard - rack - comfort gel saddle - anti-puncture Schwalbe Marathon 700 x 35 tyre Accessories: - 5-function cycle computer - ORTLIEB 100% waterproof side saddlebag (12/20 lt.) - front saddlebag or A4 format map holder or basket - a water bottle (0.75 l) - repair kit (inner tube, glue, patch, pump) - combination lock - helmets 10 euro per week We remind you that you are responsible of the rental bikes during the whole tour. Bicycles must be always locked and possibly secured to a pole possibly even in short-term stages. Mechanical problems During the tour, if the bicycles should have any type of technical problem that prevents you from continuing, please contact us at the emergency numbers ( or ) and try to describe the occurred issue. We ll try to solve as soon as possible the problem and, if necessary, we ll suggest you a mechanical where it is possible to repair the failure. We ask you to go to a mechanical only after being authorized by Girolibero. If a reparation by a mechanical will be necessary, keep the receipt and send it to us at the end of your tour, so that we can refund you the charges. In case of puncture no intervention or assistance is forseen. Customers will be given a proper puncture reparation kit, which wil enable them to intervene directly and solve the problem. Bicycle return Bikes must be locked and left in the garage of the last hotel. All accessories must be put inside the rear pannier of the bike. Your own bikes If you want to take the tour with your own bike, before you depart we suggest you to verify that all parts of the bike are functioning properly. A cycle computer is necessary to follow the road book. We also highly recommend you to bring a repair kit because the emergency number in case of breakdown cannot be used if you are using your own bike. Don t forget to bring a padlock and always lock your bike. Trains with bike transportation In Italy there is a good train service offering bicycle transport. This low-cost option will allow you to reach the next city in the case of rain or bad weather, or if you prefer to visit a city at your own pace instead of cycling. Trains with bicycle compartments are all regional trains and are indicated with a bicycle symbol on the carriage and also on the timetables on display in the station. The cost of the ticket for a passenger varies according to the distance covered, whereas for the bike it is always! 3.50 (valid for 24 hours on the entire Italian network). Tickets can be bought directly at the railway station or at a Tabacchi shop, asking for a fascia chilometrica (per kilometre) ticket, plus a ticket for the bike. For further information on timetables and prices you can consult

5 ARRIVAL AIRPORTS APULIA cycling in Italy Connections to MATERA - Bari Wojtyla (BRI) The Tempesta shuttle bus every hour links the airport and the railway station Bari Centrale (transfer: 30 min; ticket: 4.15 euro; From Bari you take a train to Matera (transfer: 90 min; ticket: 4 euro; There is also the possibility of private transport to Matera in a shuttle bus, at a cost of! 40 per person. - Brindisi Casale (BDS) From the airport every 30 min leave buses to the station (it takes about 30 min, about! 1). From Brindisi train station you have to take the trin to Bari ( 80 min - about 8!) and the from Bari to Matera (90 min, price 4!) Trains: for further information on timetables and prices you can consult the following websites: index.html, and Arrival by car: Matera is well connected to the A14 Bologna-Bari motorway, exit at Bari Zona industriale and proceed on the SS96 road towards Altamura and Matera (65 km from Bari). Create your route itinerary on or At the end of tour - back from Lecce to Matera: if you need to bring the car in Matera you can book in advance a private transfer at cost of 60 euros per person including bike. You can also take a bus: Ibus line, it takes about 2 hours, the ticket costs about 30! - back from Lecce to Bari airport: by train to Bari Centrale (transfer: 120 min; ticket: from 8 to 18 euros depending on the type of train. From the Bari station take the Shuttle Bus Tempesta to the airport. - back from Lecce to Brindidi airport: by bus (30 min, ticket about 3!). From Brindisi railway station take a bus or a taxi to the airport. As Alternative you can take a bus: Cotrap lins, 40 min, the ticket costs about 12!. 5