The adventure begins with a reminder: no 's' on cannoli.
The final ride of this great week was to the coastal town of Polignano a Mare, 26 miles away. Then we were going to hop in a boat and see the rocky coast from the sea. I loved discovering Puglia and I loved it even more discovering it by bicycle. I challenged myself every day …
Continue reading Cycling in Puglia Day 6: Polignano a Mare and Alberobello Celebrates
The fifth day of the trip took us out of the Salento and into the Itria Valley of Puglia. The most striking thing about this itinerary was that we were headed to an area known for the trulli, the conical-shaped homes and buildings that are unique to this area. The first town was Locorotondo, which […]
Day four was a spectacular day, from start to finish. We had a 40-mile ride ahead of us, plus an optional 14 mile-loop down to the seaside and back, which required going up a big hill. We were going to Ostuni, another one of Italy’s beautiful white-washed towns perched on a hill. This was also …
The third day of the bicycle trip took us out of the Salento region of Puglia, the southern end of Italy’s boot, and to the town of Mesagne, in the province of Brindisi. I looked forward to discovering the town. The itinerary for the day was a 41-mile ride just short of the town, where …
Continue reading Cycling in Puglia Day 3: Mesagne and a winery visit
The itinerary for Day Two of my fabulous week in Puglia was a 43-mile loop to Otranto, a beautiful, whitewashed seaside town. We really got a look at the Pugliese countryside on this ride. Dry stone walls lined the road and acres upon acres of olive trees covered the landscape. And there were also prickly …
I have traveled all over Italy – from hiking in the Dolomites to driving around the Sicilian countryside with my cousin in a Jeep – but I’d not yet been to Puglia, Italy’s “heel.” So I decided to see it on a bike tour. Because . . . Italy. It was a fantastic and life-changing …
The first time I went to Italy, I spent a month with cousins in Grotte, Sicily, discovering my mother’s hometown. Then I was back in Rome, ready to start an internship with the Associated Press. I was 22. My Uncle Charlie was the next Grotte visitor. He and my mom went back to their hometown …
Continue reading A tribute to my Uncle Charlie, my Italy buddy
