Italy Coast to Coast Ride: Puglia to Amalfi Coast

Start in the picturesque town of Polignano a Mare. Depending on the group
arrival, there might be time for a relaxing stroll through the town's narrow
alleys and along the sea shore. We strongly recommend arriving a day or two
early to visit some of the other region's jewels including the UNESCO town of
Alberobello or Ostuni.

Today we start cycling from the coast and go inland, heading for one of the
most fascinating cities of southern Italy, Matera. A first warm-up climb
brings us onto a large rolling plateau, where we will be pedalling through
fields of fennel and ancient olive groves. We pass several nice small
Apullian villages along the route, where we stop to regroup, take a coffee or
simply for a rest. As we cross into the region of Basilicata for the last
part of the route, we cycle through open fields and partly along the Appia
Antica, the ancient Roman Road. We should reach the UNESCO listed town of
Matera in the afternoon with some time for a relaxing stroll in the historic
‘Sassi’ district and for an Italian 'aperitivo' in one of the beautiful
squares. You are free to choose from the wide selection of restaurants and
pizzerias for your evening meal however the leader may suggest a group meal
for those interested. 

Today will be our longest ride but the destination will be more than worth
the effort! We start with an easy downhill section through the fields,
towards the Lake of St. Giuliano. We then follow an old road along a ridge,
encountering a number of beautiful historic villages, like Tricarico, an old
Byzantine capital and Grassano, before arriving in sight of the stunning
Lucan Dolomites as known as the 'Dolomites of the South'. We make a great
downhill ride just before having to gather some strength for the challenging
but rewarding steep climb up to the beautiful village of Castelmezzano,
clinged to the mountains' sandstone rocks. The support vehicle will be
availble for those who prefer to skip this last ascent. Castelmezzano, rated
as one of the prettiest villages in Italy, is very remote and set in a
breathtaking location with stunning mountain views - a perfect quiet retreat
after today's long ride. A short walk through the village and up to the
Norman steps is a must, before we enjoy a delicious hoemade meal at our
hotel's restaurant. Overnight in Castelmezzano.

Today we are heading west into the Campania region. In the morning we cross
the National Park of the Basilicata Apennines, a sparsely populated
wilderness area featuring stunning mountain scenery and pleasant villages
where time seems to have stood still. Towards the end of the afternoon, after
a last challenging climb, we’ll reach the top of the ridge between
Basilicata and the Campania region. From here we will be cycling all the way
down into the Vallo di Diano, a fertile highplain with several beautiful
medieval towns. We settle in the beautiiful hilltop village of Montesano
sulla Marcellana.

Today's ride is relatively short, thus allowing time for some sightseeing. We
first cycle all the way down to Padula, where we recommend paying a morning
visit to the Padula Charterhouse, the largest monastery in Italy and UNESCO
heritage site. After the visit we get on our bikes again and cycle into the
heart of the Cilento National Park. First we follow a nice, mainly flat,
route through the Vallo di Diano and continue with a climb up the beautiful
‘Sentinella’ pass (932m), which winds up high above the plain. The last
part of the route is a nice descent into the Cilento National Park, where we
settle in homely agriturismo with pool. If we arrive on time there we can
have a great lunch, after which we can relax on the grounds or go for a short
optional ride to nearby Roscigno, the Pompeii of the 19th century. Tonight we
dine on great local specialties prepared with organic produce. 

Today we ride a great route in the shadow of the Alburni Mountains making our
way down to the Tyrrhenian Sea. Early in the afternoon we’ll arrive at the
fantastic Greek Temples of Paestum. Our hotel is just a few hundred meters
from here so we have the time to visit the impressive archaeological site.
Alternatively, you could opt to relax at the swimming pool. The sea is only a
few minutes away by bike so those who whish can also enjoy a refreshing late
afternoon swim. Tonight we’ll eat on the premises of the hotel. 

We start the day with an early train ride to Salerno. Here we get on our
bikes and begin our final ride along one of the most beautiful stretches of
coastline in Italy: the stunning Amalfi Coast. After a short climb up to
Vietri, we follow the undulating coastal route to Cetara and continue uphill
to the dramatic viewpoint of Capo d’Orso. We then head towards Amalfi
itself, where we have time for a short stop and stroll. In the afternoon we
ride past Positano, and cross the ridge to then wind down to the nice resort
town of Sorrento. Here we can toast to our accomplishment, perhaps with a
drink or two down at the beach and a dive into the Bay of Naples, in sight of
Mt. Vesuvius. Those who wish can opt for a stroll in the historic centre, or
perhaps just a few hours of relaxation. In the evening we all gather together
for a last great evening meal (optional). 

The trip ends in the morning of Day 8. Those who are interested in exploring
more of this stunning part of Italy may opt to add some extra nights in
Sorrento or the Amalfi coast, and extend this fantastic week of cycling with
a few days of relaxation and sightseeing. Please contact us if you wish to
book any post tour accommodation.