The stone of the eternal cities — Puglia by bike

Bike touring routes & trails

The stone of the eternal cities — Puglia by bike

Hard

The stone of the eternal cities — Puglia by bike

07:37

120km

950m

Cycling

A tour that cuts Puglia in two to take you to discover the timeless charm of the Itria Valley and its unique and enchanting places: from Altamura to Ostuni passing through Alberobello, the City of Trulli, a UNESCO heritage site since 1996.

Start from the grandiose Cathedral of Altamura pedaling towards Santeramo in Colle, a city inhabited since the Neolithic period, and continue until you reach the shadow of the Swabian-Norman castle of Gioia del Colle. Continue among cultivated fields and stone walls passing through Gioia del Colle and Noci. If you look around, you can spot the first trulli, which gradually become more numerous as you advance. You are in fact approaching their capital: the suggestive Alberobello. After an obligatory visit to this incredible village, continue through the villages of Locorotondo, Martina Franca and Cisternino. The tour ends in front of the majestic Cathedral of Ostuni. Behind it you can enjoy a spectacular view of two "seas": on one side, the Adriatic, on the other, an expanse of olive trees as far as the eye can see.

The Tour, although devoid of particular difficulties, is overall rather long. We recommend that you divide it into two or more stages, to adapt it to your level of training and to take all the time you need to explore these places and all they have to offer, including of course the excellent food and wine offer.

by WeAreinPuglia

Last updated: May 31, 2024

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 90.3 km for 114 m

Waypoints

Altamura Cathedral

Highlight • Religious Site

The Cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption, is a true religious, civic, and historical symbol of the city. It was Frederick II who commissioned its construction in 1232, in keeping with the Romanesque art and architecture of the time. Altamura Cathedral is one of the four Palatine basilicas of Puglia, meaning those directly dependent on the Emperor of Swabia. Much of the original church collapsed in the 1316 earthquake and was rebuilt during the reign of Robert of Anjou.

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38.9 km

Norman-Swabian Castle of Gioia del Colle

Highlight • Castle

Gioia del Colle is a village characterized by its Byzantine origins. The narrow streets and white houses make this town very suggestive. It is worth visiting the Norman-Swabian castle which stands out over the town and houses the national archaeological museum.

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68.2 km

Trulli Houses Between Noci and Alberobello

Highlight • Monument

Well indicated and with continuous ups and downs among the panoramic countryside, to be avoided in the central summer hours!

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71.4 km

Alberobello, the City of Trulli

Highlight • Historical Site

This small village in the heart of the Valle d'Itria is known to most as the capital of the trulli, the famous conical stone structures widespread in this area, as well as a UNESCO heritage site since 1996.

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73.1 km

Alberobello–Locorotondo Cycle Route (IT02)

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

Locorotondo - Alberobello cycle path. In the countryside of the Itria Valley, manicured roads and wonderful dry stone walls. Trulli everywhere, olive and cherry trees surround the ride.

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82.5 km

Historic Center of Locorotondo

Highlight • Historical Site

Locorotondo owes its name to the shape of the first settlement dating back to the year one thousand, when the peasants built their houses side by side, expanding gradually from the center with a circular shape. Even today this feature can be found in the plan of the old town. Locorotondo is located at the southern limit of the Murgia plateau where it slopes down into the verdant Valle d'Itria, a green area between the Adriatic and the Ionian Seas. The characteristic whitewashed houses make Locorotondo one of the famous "White Cities" of Puglia together with Ostuni, Martina Franca and Cisternino to name a few.

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90.3 km

Ducal Palace of Martina Franca

Highlight • Historical Site

The municipal seat of the Municipality of Martina Franca, a jewel of the Baroque

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104 km

Palazzo Amati, Cisternino

Highlight • Historical Site

Palazzo Amati dates back to the late Middle Ages. It stands out on the "Ponte della Madonnina", from which you can admire the walls of the old historic center while also enjoying a magnificent panoramic view of the Valle d'Itria.

Between the Villa Comunale and Piazza Garibaldi is the Palazzo Amati with its tower.
In the Angevin period the farmhouse of Cisternino was equipped with a curtain wall interspersed with some defense towers around the only existing tower at the time which was the Norman-Swabian tower in Piazza Garibaldi. Over the centuries, however, all the towers were destroyed or incorporated into urban buildings, losing their defensive connotations to assume those of simple civilian homes. The only remaining cylindrical towers are the Capece tower and the Palazzo Amati tower. The slender body of the tower is flanked by the building characterized by an airy veranda with three arches, with an elegant balustrade of turned columns that alternate with apotropaic masks and sensual herms.

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120 km

Historic Center of Ostuni

Highlight • Historical Site

Lying on three hills, Ostuni rises, the White City is only seven kilometers from the Adriatic coast. This splendid village is located on the final part of the southern Murgia, where the rolling hills and the plain of olive trees open the doors of Salento. The old town, which stands on the highest of the hills, has made Ostuni famous with its small and large houses, strictly whitewashed with lime milk. There is only one street that directly connects the main square with the uppermost part of the historic center, Via Cattedrale. Here are concentrated artisan shops, shops of all kinds, souvenirs, small wine and local gastronomy products and some typical restaurants. Those who set out to discover the ancient city cannot help but linger along this white artery, which in summer swarms with visitors and tourists. Finally, the walls enclose the historic center and frame it, for those who look from afar, in a postcard image.

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Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

87.9 km

12.7 km

9.61 km

8.70 km

718 m

671 m

Surfaces

80.5 km

29.3 km

8.19 km

1.40 km

509 m

391 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (490 m)

Lowest point (190 m)

Weather

Thursday 12 November

21°C

14°C

32 %

Additional weather tips

There’s a fairly high chance of rain. Consider packing a waterproof jacket.

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

August 24, 2022

A tour that cuts Puglia in two to take you to discover the timeless charm of the Itria Valley and its unique and enchanting places: from Altamura to Ostuni passing through Alberobello, the City of Trulli, a UNESCO heritage site since 1996.
﻿
Start from the grandiose Cathedral of Altamura pedaling towards

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