Enchanting landscapes, places, and people.
An easier bike tour through the hills of Matera and two regions that will charm you. This tour begins with the Sassi of Matera, old dwellings and rock churches carved out of the rock cliffs centuries ago. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore Metaponto, an ancient Greek colony established in the 7th Century B.C., set among vineyards and orange groves. Pythagoras founded one of his schools in this rich and important town. Today it houses an interesting archeological park and museum.
- Cost
- € 1290 – € 1570 ($) see PRICING details below
- Duration
- 8 days/7 nights
- Start/End
- Matera/Matera
- 2010 Start Dates
- April 17, May 8, May 22, June 19, September 11, October 2, October 16
Highlights of the tour
- See the Sassi of Matera, cave dwellings and rock churches carved out of rock cliffs. A spectacular site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Explore Metaponto – with its beaches and archeological significance
- Visit the quiet village of Bernalda, with its nice promenade lined with bars and restaurants. Film director Francis Ford Coppola has ancestral roots in this village and has recently purchased a home here.
- Bike along the San Giuliano Lake, a peaceful natural oasis and a destination for many migrating birds from Africa
- View the Crypt of Original Sin with the oldest frescoes in the area. Also known as the “Sistine Chapel” of Rock Churches.
- See video Highlights from our September 2009 trip to Basilicata and Apulia.
Day 1 – Welcome to Matera!
Arrival to Bari Airport and transfer to Matera is on your own. Check into your hotel and enjoy lunch on your own. In the afternoon, join us for guided tour of the Sassi, ancient cave dwellings inhabited for centuries until the 1950’s. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sassi are being renovated and occupied again. Meet for a welcome drink and overview of the bicycle tour.
Day 2 – Bread, focaccia, and the Park of Rupestrian Churches around Matera (15 miles/25km)
A good beginning to our bicycle tour with a 15 mile loop route where we will visit a wood-burning bakery where you will taste the special bread and focaccia made with local hard grain. You will also stop at the Park of Rupestrian Churches (churches built in the rock). Here we will enjoy a picnic. A free afternoon to explore Matera. Dinner is on your own.
Day 3 – The Bradano Valley (27 miles/45km)
Bike through the Bradano valley, following the road that skirts the Park of Rupestrian Churches. You will come to a typical farm, which has been turned into an agritourism inn. This is where we will stay for the night. Relax in the swimming pool surrounded by orchards and olive groves. Dinner will be here tonight.
Day 4 – Relax in the Magna Graecia (21 miles/35km)
Today, a gentle bike ride to the sea to visit the Archaeological Park of Metaponto. Pythagoras founded one of his schools in this rich and important town. After this visit you will spend the rest of the day at the seaside having a picnic on the beach.
Day 5 – The Bradano River (25miles/42km)
Cycling along the Bradano River you will reach the Montescaglioso and its Benedictine Abbey. Dinner and overnight stay at a holiday farm located in the valley. Relax in the swimming pool, if you would like.
Day 6 – Two cycling options or a rest day
Today you have time to enjoy a circular cycle route in the valley or relax – perhaps at the swimming pool.
1st option: The Ancient Via Appia (21 miles/35km)
Riding along the ancient “Via Appia” (an old Roman road), you will pass through the charming village of Miglionico, with a nice view of the valley. Back to your holiday farm to relax. Dinner is together again at the farm.
2nd option: San Giuliano Lake and the Matera hills (24 miles/40km)
This route will take you along the wonderful, deserted road around the San Giuliano Lake. Optional stop at the Crypt of Original Sin (with the oldest frescoes in the area). Back to your holiday farm to relax. We will be together again for dinner at the farm.
Day 7 – Back to Matera (15 miles/25km)
The route will take you back to Matera again skirting the Park of Rock Churches. After 7 miles, you’ll leave your bike and walk to reach the Gravina Canyon. We will enjoy a picnic in the caves of Cristo La Selva, an amazing rupestrian village, where the homes are carved into the rock in the heart of the Park. Head on to Matera, where dinner will be on your own.
Day 8 – Departure Day
End of tour. You will transfer to the Bari Airport on your own. Ciao!
Actual tour itinerary may vary slightly due to unforeseen circumstances.
- Level of difficulty: Easy
- The Bradano Valley is quite flat. The only ascents you will find are getting in every village, but just for few km. The roads are no more busy. These are old roads only used by local people and peasant. You will find some traffic around Matera only.
- Travel Notes
- The reference airport for the tour is Bari. Low-cost airlines are offering good deals to Bari.
- Group tour price
-
- 4-5 people € 1570 per person
- 6-7 people € 1460 per person
- 8+ people € 1290 per person
- Additional options and fees
-
- High season surcharge – € 120 (effective July 1 – August 31)
- Private room – € 270
- Bike rental – € 100 (€ 15 each additional day), which includes 1 bike pannier per bike, helmets and a cycle computer.
- GPS – € 35 Garmin E-Trex Venture HC
- Included
-
- One English-speaking trip leader
- Guided tour in Matera in the Sassi district
- Seven nights double rooms
- Seven breakfasts and four dinners
- Baggage transportation between hotels
- Detailed route information and maps
- Van support
- Not included
-
- Admission to museums and archaeological sites
- Tickets for trains or any public transportation
- Wine or beverages
- Airfare
- Transfers to the starting point or from the finishing point unless specified; we can assist you in planning and arranging for any necessary shuttles
- Transport of bike case (for guests who bring their own bike)
- Personal expenses (laundry, personal supplies, phone calls, etc.)
- Gratuity
- Self-guided option
- This tour is also available as a self-guided option at a cost of € 1020 per person. This option includes:
- Seven nights in double rooms
- Seven breakfasts and four dinners
- Welcome meeting (tour explanation)
- Baggage transportation between hotels
- Detailed route information and maps
- Telephone assistance
- Tour code
- BP
