The best road cycling routes around San Giorgio Ionico

The section with 10%, or possibly even more, comes long before the sign, when you ride through the village below. There is a proper ramp that really gets the pulse racing. Then you turn left onto the road and come to the section with the 10% sign. In this area, however, it is then only about 4-6% to the top. It is still a beautiful climb. One of the few in the region.

Short climb with approx. 8% max. Once at the top, you are rewarded with a great view.

"The Bucito Cave", in Grottaglie I'll make a very brief introduction: generally the manifestations of worship in caves, here, refer to what is the devotion for the Archangel Michael (quis ut Deus). And we owe this to the Lombards who made him their national saint. I would not leave out, however, the Byzantines of Puglia among whom this saint enjoyed enormous popularity. "The Grottaglie area, like other places in the area, has been inhabited by man since the most remote times. In fact, in some districts (Bucito, Coluccio and Lonoce) roughly worked stone tools, splinters and processing residues have been found, belonging to the Paleolithic, that is, to the period of the Ancient Stone. The Buccito Cave (or Coluccio), near Grottaglie, is located at an important road junction, closely connected to the Tratturo Martinese. These are the oldest signs of the presence of man in our territory. In the Neolithic Age (from the mid-5th to the first centuries of the 4th millennium BC) the first agricultural villages began to emerge (Bucito and Caprarica). Caves and natural caverns were then used in all phases of the Bronze and Iron Ages, especially in the villages of Riggio, Lonoce, Fullonese and Pensieri. In the last period of the Bronze Age, the agricultural economy took over from pastoralism, so the ravines were gradually abandoned to form small urban-type settlements. This process was however stifled with the foundation of Taranto by Spartan colonists (towards the end of the 8th century BC)” (From metropolis.it) Why is it called that? The cave takes its name from the Greek term βοῦς, βοός- bus,- or “ox” and οἰκία or “house, shelter, dwelling” and therefore, originally, indicated a place of shelter for these animals. The Greek etymology is evidence of both Magna Graecia, of Byzantine d+-++-homination and of the subsequent presence of the Basilian monks in our territory For some years, in this cave, the mass of December 24th was celebrated. Suggestive! A custom that would be nice to resume, both for our religion and for our traditions.

The Cave is part of the Gravine di Grottaglie and is located in the Terra delle Gravine Regional Park. The Bucito cave (also known as the Coluccio cave) is located in an important road junction, closely connected to the Tratturo Martinese, an ancient primary communication route until the 19th century in Puglia. On a boulder adjacent to the cave there are two statuettes, one of Padre Pio da Pietrelcina and one of Jesus Christ. Until a few years ago, in the Bucito cave, on the night of December 25, the inhabitants of Grottaglie and the surrounding area flocked there for the Christmas vigil and for the celebration of the Midnight Christmas Mass.

A completely flat road

The "we got it" sign on that road. If you've passed by you'll have seen it. Isn't it 10%? You have to blame the municipal office. Maybe it was the only sign they had available

The historic center tells the story of the area, a story that has remained embedded in the architecture of the Castello de Falconibus, once surrounded by a moat and an outpost for soldiers.

Stunning and relaxing landscape, excellent for going as a couple to have a bit of relaxation. Very green and excellent to visit