CYCLING IN PUGLIA & MATERA

YOUR WORDS

CYCLING IN PUGLIA & MATERA

SUE DUNCOMBE

Exodus Customer

From ancient hilltop towns to miles of Mediterranean coastline, the undulating landscape of Puglia and Matera is ideal for exploring on two wheels. Read on to find out what Exodus customers, Sue Duncombe and her husband Patrick, thought of their recent cycling adventure through ‘the heel of Italy’s boot’.

When asked what the highlight of their trip was, Sue said, “That’s such a difficult question – as there were so many! Starting in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Matera, location for the latest James Bond film, immediately set the bar very high. However, if I have to choose one highlight, it would be cycling through picturesque olive groves, with the classic circular Trulli houses dotted across the landscape. Some were recently renovated and some ramshackle, but that just added to the area’s character. These buildings are what sets this region apart from everywhere else in Italy.”

Travelling in October, “when the high summer temperatures have cooled down a little”, Sue was pleasantly surprised that, “the roads were much better than in the UK (or at least the roads I know in Oxfordshire), and the drivers were very considerate towards cyclists.” With backup support available during the whole trip, Sue explained another benefit for travelling in a guided group, is, “All you have to do is pedal, enjoy the scenery and soak up the culture. It makes for a relaxed cycle as you don’t have to worry about taking wrong turns or punctures (the group only had one puncture all week). Also, our guide, Emanuele (Manni), took us on the most interesting and beautiful routes which you honestly wouldn’t have found by yourself”.

Sue paused and then elaborated, “Manni was warm, welcoming, and supportive, sharing his extensive knowledge of the local area. His recommendations for restaurants in the evenings were very reliable – so much so, that the whole group spent every evening with him! As a fish lover, there was an abundance of fresh seafood – and the quality was always good.”

Aside from the spectacular cycling routes and delicious local cuisine, another enchanting part of this adventure is the local accommodation. On this trip, customers not only stay in a restored Trullo house in Alberobello, but also sample a night in a renovated Sassi house or cave hotel in Matera. Where else in Europe can you stay overnight in a room that was first occupied 7,000 years ago?

Cycling in Puglia & Matera EXODUS.CO.UK/TRIP/MWV