WAY OF THE COASTAL DUNES AND CAVE THE WAY OF THE TRULLI THE APPIAN way THE WAY OF THE PILGRIMS Le vie verdi SETTLEMENTS FROM OSTUNI TO BRINDISI cycling paths in the brindisi province Departure: Ostuni Route 4.1: Ostuni-Cisternino-Villa Castel- Departure: Brindisi, Roman pillars Departure: Oria Arrival: Brindisi li-Ceglie Messapica-Ostuni Arrival: Grottaglie Arrival: Oria 2 4 5 Total distance: 55 km 7 Total distance: 40km Total distance: 76 kms Route 4.2: Ostuni-Ceglie Messapica- Level of difficulty:Easy Gradient: the route follows the coast at sea-level Ostuni Level of difficulty: medium Facing the Adriatic Sea, the Brindisi Province occupies the cen- Gradient: 70m Route 4.3: Cisternino-Villa Castelli Gradient: 110 m Type of Road: the cycle path follows the routes along the coastal dunes of Type of road: Asphalt, light traffic tral area of Puglia, summarizing the diverse landscapes and Hilliness: very slight, except for the gen- Torre Canne and Torre San Leonardo (Km 9), Villa Nova to Costa Merlata (Km Ceglie Messapica-Pascarosa-Cisternino. Suggested bicycle: any history. The north east is characterized by the “murgia” hilly lan- tle incline to the centre of Oria 5) and an area of cave settlements (Km 12) (total 26 km). The remainder of Route 4.4: Ceglie-Francavilla, km 16 Railway stations: Latiano (FS), Oria (FS) dscape, the white cities painted with milk of lime, terrace fields, the route extends along asphalted roads as well as some dirt roads following Distance: Route 6.1 and 6.3 are about 70km each; Route 4.2 is 37 km, Route Type of road: low traffic, asphalted road Highlights en route: Muro Tenente 54 the coastline. 4.4 is 17 Km. Railway stations: Brindisi, Mesagne, Latiano, Francavilla Fontana (FS and FSE) 57 Trulli and farms. The Murgia hills slope towards the sea, in rocky ROUTE ROUTE ROUTE ROUTE , Church of the Madonna di Cotrino , Suggested Bicycle: Mountain bike Gradient: 200 m on average for each route. and Grottaglie railway stations. Santa Maria di Gallana 61 , Svevo Castle shores. Flowing to the sea, the rain has carved in the limesto- Railway stations: Cisternino (FS), Fontevecchia (FS), Carovigno, San Vito dei Level of difficulty:medium. of Oria 70 , Madonna della Scala 78 , San- ne rocks, gorges used since ancient times as settlements and Normanni and Brindisi (FS). (Check train timetables, and arrival and departure Type of road: Dirt road km 25; low-traffic asphalted road km 70; Part of the Highlights en route: Brindisi 38 : the port, the cathedral and the church of ctuary of San Cosimo alla Macchia 83 , productive sites. Proceeding southward, the murgia gives way points at www.trenitalia.it ) journey follows the non asphalt route of the aqueduct. S.Lucia; Mesagne 52 : the castle and the ancient town; Muro Tenente 54 ; church S. Lucia (Erchie) 90 , underground oil-mills, 5 Suggested bicycle: city bike or mountain bike. of Madonna di Gallana 61 ; Oria 70 : the castle and the Cathedral; Grottaglie 58 : Crepacuore Church 68 . to the Salento plain with his landscapes characterized by oli- Highlights en route: Watchtowers: Torre san Leonardo , Torre San Sabina 8 , Torre Guaceto 18 and Torre Testa 24 . Trekking path: the portion that runs along the service track of the Apulian Aque- ceramics’ quarter and museum, and the castle. ve groves, vineyards, orchards and crops. The cities of Salento Cave settlements: In the area of San Vito dei Normanni near the route one can duct is suitable for trekking. We suggest you leave the car near Masseria Monte Description: In the land of Brindisi, the strong sense of religion has been mani- often hide in their old town, baroque or medieval unsuspected find the crypts of San Biagio 32 , San Giovanni 40 and San Nicola 28 . d’Oro. Description: It is one of the most famous ancient Roman roads. Built to connect fested in festivals and processions dedicated to the patron saints. Pilgrims used Rome to the Orient, it arrives in Brindisi across the Appennines, through Taranto. to walk long distance to worship their beloved saints in remote cave churches and beauties and historical and architectural prestige. Areas of Natural interest: Agricultural park of ancient olive groves, costal du- Railway stations: Cisternino (FS and FSE); Ceglie Messapica (FSE); Ostuni nes of Torre Canne 2 and Torre San Leonardo Regional National Park 5 , (FS) Dotted throughout the territories of Oria, Latiano, Brindisi and Mesagne there are sanctuaries. A link road connects this route to the Appian way. In the south east cost, nature does not fail to impress with fo- 70 Torre Guaceto Nature Reserve 18 . Highlights en route: crypt of S.Biagio in Rialbo 10 ; church of Madonna d’I- important historical sites ideally reached by means of the tourist cycle path along The route starts in Oria , a beautiful city situated on a low lying hill. Founded rests of oak and cork. Those who merely follow the major traffic bernia 13 ; Cisternino 12; Masseria Monte d’Oro 30 ; Pascarosa rural village; Via Appia: Madonna di Gallana 61 , S. Pietro di Crepacuore 68 and the remains 3,500 years ago by the Cretans, Oria reached the height of its fortune between the routes will miss the hidden beauty of this land. It will disclose as Trullo sovrano 21 ; Ostuni’s old centre 15 . of a Messapian city at Muro Tenente 54 . 6th and 3rd century B.C. when its rich and famous necropolises were constructed. Description: The route starts from the Fontevecchia 6 contrada (farm) in The itinerary is part of “Bicitalia” (route n°3). In its own region the council of Me- Oria’s history is closely tied to that of Frederick II, who fortified it by building one a virgin land to those who will chose outdoor adventures, biking Along the route you will see beautiful and meticilously constructed stone ter- Ostuni. This abandoned railway station has been reopened as a station and races where olives or grapes are cultivated. Trulli, once used by the peasants’ sagne has created a cycle path along the route. of his most powerful castles, the Castello Svevo, in the highest part of the city. or hiking, in the net of secondary roads and lanes. visitors’ centre for the coastal parks of Torre Canne and Torre San Leonardo. families, in many cases have been turned into holiday homes for locals or tou- Departing from the ancient Roman pillars, which were placed at the end of the In August the “Torneo dei Rioni” celebrate Frederick II with rich processions in This guide is an invitation, we hope irresistible, to go beyond the Near the centre you can rent bikes and go on guided tours in the park. To reach rists. Many big masserie are nowadays abandoned (as is the case of Specchia, Via Appia (Appian Way) in front of the port of Brindisi 38 , you reach Sant’Elia medieval costumes and evocative contests. Worth visiting is the “Cripta delle Mummie”, where the mummified remains of the “pillars of Hercules” of the usual routes and explore the remote the area of coastal dunes you must cross SS379 and follow the signs for Pilone. which is located along “via dei Colli” near Ostuni); others have been converted quarter and take the SP 80 which leads towards San Donaci; having covered a From the Lido Morelli service area follow the cycle path that allows you to visit into restaurants, guest houses and bed&breakfast (as is the case of Monte d’Oro little more than 1,5 km, you turn right onto a smaller road; after a short portion of “Arciconfraternita della Morte” brothers are preserved. A few kilometres from he side of this land. 78 the protected area. From the sea looking inland one can observe the rich vege- 30, along the Acqueduct); some of them are still keeping their original productive non-asphalted road you reach a crossroads where you go straight on, strada vici- town we find the rupestran church, “Madonna della Scala” , and small old tation of the sandy dunes, which are covered with lentisk and phillypia. Immedia- functions (as for Circiello, which is not far from Ceglie Messapica, and Satìa nale Gonella. Once you have covered 4 km of that, you turn right onto a very short byzantine church, Santa Maria di Gallana 61 and the sanctuary of “San Cosimo tely behind the dunes there is a wetland environment with ponds and reed beds beside the surprising “Trullo Sovrano” 21 ). non-asphalted portion, crossing a slightly larger road and heading to the west. alla Macchia” 83 . followed by an area of maquis, juniper and fossil dunes. Coming down towards In Mesagne 52 follow the bicycle path on Via Marconi, then take the tourist cycle From Oria one continues on to Erchie 90 , founded by the Messapians around Brindisi one finds the two protected wetlands of Torre Guaceto 18 and Canale path from the SP (provincial road) Mesagne - Latiano 150 metres after crossing the 6th century B.C. In the centre of the town we find the Palazzo Ducale, the Giancola which support rare plant and animal species and provide a breeding the external ring road. Chiesa Madre and the Chiesa di Santa Lucia, built over a Basilian crypt where a area for migratory birds. At Villanova you will find another coastal tower built by miraculous spring flows. Carlo V to defend the limits of his kingdom from the attacks of the Turks. These A few kilometes from Erchie there is the Torre Santa Susanna 92 . This ancient towers encircle the entire Salento peninsula from Ostuni to Taranto to form a habitation, called “Turris Messapiorum” was built between the 5th and 6th centuri- security barrier.