BIKE ACROSS SOUTHERN CLASSICO Ability Level: Advanced / Duration: 12 days / 11 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION

Bike Across Southern Italy ITINERARY OUTLINE Trip Essence / Page 2

Traverse Italy from heel to toe Daily Itinerary / Page 3-6

Fueled by the success of our most popular bicycle tour – Bike Across Italy Arrival & Departure / Page 7 – which crosses central Italy from Fano to Porto Ercole, director Lauren Hefferon designed the perfect complement: Bike Across Southern Italy, a Bike Information / Page 7 12-day adventure traversing the Italian peninsula east to west through the Terms & Conditions / Page 8 enchanting regions of Puglia, , and . See and experience an Italy you never imagined, as our bike trip takes us from Puglia Reserve Your Space! / Page 8 into the trulli region with its captivating clusters of conical “trulli” structures, and across the Basilicata region to Matera, the famous city of stone. We’ll ride through Castelmezzano’s vast cultivated fields, natural preserves, lava formations, and tiny ancient towns, and pedal the breathtaking coastline of Campania’s peninsula, rivalling the striking and natural beauty of the Coast, but unknown to all.

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 1 BIKE ACROSS SOUTHERN ITALY CLASSICO Ability Level: Advanced / Duration: 12 days / 11 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION

TRIP ESSENCE TRIP DETAILS Ability Level • The charming fishing village of Polignano • Advanced

• Captivating clusters of conical Trulli structures, the region’s typical Summary of Daily Distances architecture • Day 1: 16 miles • Day 2: 35/55 miles • The constant perfume of orange and eucalyptus • Day 3: 53/62 miles • Day 4: 23 miles (optional rest • Amazing guided visits of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites day) • Day 5: 37/64 miles • Experience “Old World” hospitality from Italian natives • Day 6: 53/62 miles • Day 7: 59 miles • Breathtaking rides along the cliffs of the Cilento Coast • Day 8: 27 miles (optional rest day) • Sampling freshly-made Mozzarella and fresh peperoncini • Day 9: 45/54 miles • Day 10: 27/57 miles • Day 11: 60 miles • Day 12: Cittadella del Capo Total: 385 miles (minimum); 539 miles (maximum)

WHAT’S INCLUDED Optional extra loops available • Use of a carbon road bike (see page 7 for details)

• Service of local, professional guides throughout the program

• Ciclismo jersey and water bottle Have something else in mind? • All accommodations • Itinerary available as a private tour or... • All breakfasts, 1 lunch & 2 picnic lunches, and 9 dinners • Create a custom itinerary with help from our experienced • Guided walking tours of the Trulli of Alberobello, the Sassi of Matera travel consultants! and the “Certosa” monastery in Contact Us 1-800-866-7314 • Wine tasting and visit to Cantina [email protected]

• Cycling clinics and Coaching

• Group shuttle at the end of tour

“The tour was like a treasure hunt. Follow the path to find treasures waiting around every corner.” - Judy C. Santa Fe, NM

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 2 BIKE ACROSS SOUTHERN ITALY CLASSICO Ability Level: Advanced / Duration: 12 days / 11 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION DAY 1 Highlights Benvenuti to Southern Italy! POLIGNANO AL MARE Daily Mileage - 16 miles Welcome to magic Polignano al Mare, a beautiful seaside town on the Adriatic coast. You’ll see why so many Italians choose to take their holiday Riding Terrain - Gentle climb here! From Bari Airport or Bari train station reach the first hotel in Polignano to Conversano with descent to meet the group at 12:30 in the hotel lobby for intros and a light lunch. back to Polignano; Elevation After lunch we will have time to change into cycling gear for a bike fitting gain 700 ft and short safety talk before our warm-up spin along the stunning Adriatic Coast and up to the Murgia. We conclude our evening with cocktails, dinner, Hotel - Hotel Covo dei Saraceni and a leisurely walk around this lovely seaside town. • Location: Polignano • Duration: 1 Night The 4-star Hotel Covo dei Saraceni overlooks a spectacular coastal stretch • www.covodeisaraceni.com atop golden cliffs that overhang cobalt-blue sea. Rooms are typical Puglia style with a balcony or terrace overlooking the sea.

DAY 2 Highlights We’ll ride on rolling, narrow roads lined with stone walls as we travel POLIGNANO AL MARE through a strange fantasyland of conical-shaped houses called trulli. We’ll TO ALBEROBELLO stop for lunch in Locorotondo and then continue to Alberobello, a UNESCO Daily Mileage - 35/55 miles World Heritage site that is home to over 1,000 trulli. We’ll also visit the Cantina Albea for a wine tasting. This winery is located just a short walk Riding Terrain - Rolling, leaving from the center of Alberobello and hosts a wine museum that explains the sea level up onto the “Murge” winemaking traditions of the local farmers. Dinner is a great feast of typical, and Alberobello at 787 ft; seasonal dishes. Elevation gain 1,500 ft Peacefully positioned on a hillside, but still within a short walking distance Hotel - La Corte Dell’Astore of downtown Alberobello, La Corte Dell’Astore is a magic combination of Luxury Resort and Falconry Past and Present, Competence and Passion, Dream and Reality that you will • Location: Alberobello experience in the Trulli town. • Duration: 1 Night • www.lacortedellastore.com/en

DAY 3 Highlights Today’s ride is one of the flattest, but with several long stretches of very ALBEROBELLO TO straight road. We continue to see more of the dry stacked stone walls, and MATERA they are also far more manicured than the tiny farms we passed in the Trulli land between Alberobello and Martina Franca. We stop in Mottola for views 53/62 miles Daily Mileage - of the Ionian sea and a Ciclismo picnic at an Agriturismo where our friend Giaccomina runs her family’s farm and prepares for us a lunch made with Riding Terrain - Rolling through vast farmlands and isolated ingredients produced on her farm. The afternoon ride presents vast, less roads; Elevation gain 2,540 ft inhabited lands where you can imagine some of the spaghetti westerns being filmed. Finally we arrive in Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site Hotel - Hotel Locanda di San and a truly unique experience. Martino • Location: Matera A truly special place booked specifically for this tour. The hotel lies in the • Duration: 2 Nights heart of Matera’s “Sassi” historical district, and rooms and suites are in large • http://www. caves that feature stone floors and antique furniture. The panoramic terrace locandadisanmartino.it/en/ overlooks the Murgia National Park. All rooms are air-conditioned and home/ uniquely decorated.

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 3 BIKE ACROSS SOUTHERN ITALY CLASSICO Ability Level: Advanced / Duration: 12 days / 11 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION DAY 4 Highlights A good day to rest and explore Matera or take a short spin to REST DAY OR LOOP RIDE Montescaglioso, a hilltop town with an important ancient abbey where TO MONTESCAGLIOSO we’ll take a quick visit to the Monastery. This ride provides a preview of the climbs to come during the next days of the tour. We’ll be back in Matera for 23 miles or Daily Mileage - lunch. In the afternoon we’ll meet with a local guide for a walking tour of optional rest day this unique 8,000-year-old city. Starting with Riding Terrain - Tonight, dinner is on your own. a 3.7 mi descent then a 3.1 mi climb to Montescaglioso, and back through the wheatfields of Basilicata

Hotel - See Day 3

DAY 5 Highlights Today is a spectacular roller coaster ride which rolls through the hilly MATERA TO basilicata landscape. We start with a descent to the Bradano River Valley CASTELMEZZANO to Lago di Giuliano. We’ll ride through this World Wildlife Foundation- Daily Mileage - 37/64 miles protected forest of pine and eucalyptus trees. Here we enjoy breathtaking views of the Lago di Giuliano and several of the hilltop villages written about Riding Terrain - Long descent by Carlo Levi in his historic novel Christ Stopped at . We pass through from Matera, then rolling, one of the once important Roman outposts Tricarico, where we’ll have followed by some significant lunch. We then descend with great views of the Piccolo Dolomiti and finish climbing in the afternoon; the day climbing to the mountain of Castelmezzano. This is considered Elevation gain 5,900 ft by many to be the most difficult climb of the trip. Pace yourself as it gets steeper towards the top. Hotel - Locanda di Castromediano Nestled in the rocks of the Piccoli Dolomiti (Little ) and in the • Location: Castelmezzano midst of a beautiful park, Locanda di Castromediano offers mountain style • Duration: 1 Night hospitality. Our host, Antonietta, is well known in Italy as a one of the most important Chefs who represent “La Cucina Lucane”. She will treat us to an unforgettable feast of Local Culinary delights as we recover from today’s ride. DAY 6 Highlights Starting at approximately 3,200 feet we will actually continue climbing as CASTELMEZZANO TO we leave Castelmezzano. Most of today’s ride follows virtually un-trafficked PADULA roads. We encounter a spectacular descent to our lunch spot in Viggiano. Then again we continue to descend until we arrive at the base of our “Cima 53/62 miles Daily Mileage - Coppi”, the most challenging climb of the tour, but oh what a climb and what a view. We will descend through a sweet-smelling pine forest to the Riding Terrain - Rolling through vast farmlands and isolated town of Padula. roads; Elevation gain 5,400 ft The 4-star Villa Cosilinum is an archeo-hotel. An historical building with views of the center and the Diano Valley. This is the perfect facility to relax Hotel - Villa Cosilinum • Location: Padula and enjoy your stay in Padula. • Duration: 1 Night • www.villacosilinum.com

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 4 BIKE ACROSS SOUTHERN ITALY CLASSICO Ability Level: Advanced / Duration: 12 days / 11 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION DAY 7 Highlights Today’s ride starts out rolling and without significant elevation gains in the PADULA TO PALINURO Tangaro Valley. From Sanza we enter the Cilento Park and we start with a climb Daily Mileage - 59 miles that begins gently but finishes a bit steeper as we arrive at the top of Passo Inferno “Hell Pass.” After Passo Inferno, we enjoy a long cruising descent Riding Terrain - Rolling with gentle- to followed by another climb passing through Chestnut forests to to-steep climbs and descents; our lunch spot in . From here we start to see, more olive Elevation gain 4,200 ft trees again—from which comes the prestigious Cilentano olive oil—and the Tyrrhenian Sea! The end of today’s ride rewards us with an incredibly blissful 12- Hotel - Grand Hotel San Pietro mile descent to the coast. • Location: Palinuro • Duration: 2 Nights Grand Hotel San Pietro is a 4 stars hotel bordering with Capo Palinuro on one • http://www.grandhotelsanpietro. end and Capo d’Arena on the other; the embrace of the Gulf will pamper you com/en/ from the early dawn to bedtime, in its rooms looking onto the sea. DAY 8 Highlights Optional rest or ride day! The hotel has a private beach and the crystal clear REST DAY waters are certainly inviting. Lunch and dinner are on your own so you may PALINURO MARINA DI choose to eat at the beach or there are several places in town to go to. Or you LOOP RIDE can get a small boat to pick you up at the beach and take you to the famous Daily Mileage - 27 miles “grottos” of the area.

Riding Terrain - Gentle climbing Rest Day Suggestions: along the coast to Pisciotta, then steep and narrow descent to Marina Take a boat ride in the crystal -clear water of the Tyrrhenian along the rocky di Pisciotta. Then it’s mostly a cruise coast and visit some beautiful Grotte back to Palinuro. We’ll be back in Enjoy a rejuvenating massage at the hotel’s “Centro Benessere” Palinuro for lunch Relax on the hotel’s beautiful private beach “La Spiagga di Boun Dorrmire,” Hotel - See Day 7 “The beach of good sleep” DAY 9 Highlights Today’s ride is beautiful and scenic, as we travel along “the other Amalfi Coast,” PALINURO TO MARATEA the stretches of beach that Italians prefer to the more famous and touristy ones farther north. First we head towards Marina di Camarota and . Then in the Daily Mileage - MAIN: 45 miles; LONG: 54 miles with extra loop afternoon we ride along the narrow cliffs of Cersuta, and just a couple of miles before Maratea we come to a narrow stretch of road known as “Passeggiata Riding Terrain - Flat along the coast, Apprezzamo L’asino.” Legend has it that the road used to be so narrow that two with a challenging but scenic climb donkeys could not pass at the same time. The owners would have to decide and amazing descent before lunch. which donkey was worth more and the less valuable one would be thrown off The afternoon is a spectacular coastal the cliff! The owner of this donkey would be paid. Once in Maratea, a charming ride which gradually climbs to high place known as the “town with 44 churches,” we head to the center for a tasting cliffs overlooking the sea, and ends of local products. with a bit more challenging climbing; th Elevation gain 3,190 ft La Locanda Delle Donne Monache is a restored 18 -century convent originally occupied by the Visitadine nuns set in the heart of Maratea’s ancient center. Hotel - La Locanda Delle Donne There is a large panoramic pool with solarium and jacuzzi. Monache • Location: Maratea • Duration: 1 Night • www.locandamonache.com

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 5 BIKE ACROSS SOUTHERN ITALY CLASSICO Ability Level: Advanced / Duration: 12 days / 11 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION DAY 10 Highlights Today’s route starts with some climbing from the sea. We have a second MARATEA TO MORANO climb to Lauria, where the 1989 Giro d’Italia started. After Lauria, we CALABRO continue to climb and eventually enter the National Park, in Calabria. You’ll notice the elevation change as the lush, green landscape turns 27/57 miles Daily Mileage - stark and mountainous. In the evening we’ll be entertained by Bruzi. This Riding Terrain - Long, beautiful, Calabrese folk group travels the world to folk festivals and the full ensemble and hilly; Elevation gain 6,500 ft is composed of more than 100 people! Their performance for us will contain fewer people, but fun and cultural immersion are guaranteed. Bruzi is the Hotel - Villa San Domenico ancient name of the Calabrese people. This evening we’ll also be treated to • Location: Morano Calbro a mozzarella-making demonstration and tasting. • Duration: 1 Night • www.albergovillasandomenico.it The hotel is situated in the heart of the historic center of Morano Calbro and boasts a broad terrace with views of the Pollino mountains. Our host Tonino is maestro of an important school of hotel and restaurant management in nearby . He will see to it that our dinner is exquisitely prepared with all local and traditional ingredients. He will provide for us an unforgettable evening of authentic Calabrese food, song and dance. DAY 11 Highlights Today’s route is extremely curvy with some difficult climbs as we continue to TO travel on the periphery of the Pollino National Park. The riding is great fun CITTADELLA DEL CAPO though! We will pass through some of the small towns settled by Albanians Daily Mileage - 60 miles who fled from the Turks over 500 years ago. Many of these communities maintain their own language and traditional dress. We’ll pass through Firmo, Riding Terrain - Winding roads , and Acquaformosa, all of which are examples of characteristic with some challenging climbs and Albanian villages. In each of these towns, you will notice the monuments spectacular but technical descents; to the Viking-looking Albanian hero Georges Skenderberg who headed Elevation gain 5,065 ft the resistance against the Turks. The ride finishes with a truly spectacular descent from Passo Scalone, at 2,500 ft all the way to the sea! Hotel - Hotel Palazzo del Capo • Location: Cittadella del Capo We’ll enjoy a final cocktail celebration toast on the beautiful hotel grounds • Duration: 1 Night overlooking the the sun setting over the Mediterranean sea. • www.palazzodelcapo.it The 5-star Palazzo del Capo had been a summer residence of the same family for more than two centuries before it opened to the public in 1991 after careful restoration work. Eleven charming rooms feature great views of the crystal clear waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

DAY 12 Highlights After breakfast, the hotel provides free taxi service to the Capo Bonifati CITTADELLA DEL CAPO train station (2 minutes from hotel, however tickets must be purchased in advance from www.trenitalia.com).

We provide one group shuttle around 9 am that will take you to Lamezia airport (2 hours from hotel, airport code SUF). Expect to arrive at the airport around 11 am. From there, you can make connections to Rome or Milan.

Please inform the office if you plan on taking the scheduled group shuttle at least one month in advance via this form: www.ciclismoclassico.com/travel- plans. If you are not planning to take the scheduled shuttle, please let us know.

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 6 BIKE ACROSS SOUTHERN ITALY CLASSICO Ability Level: Advanced / Duration: 12 days / 11 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE OTHER INFORMATION GETTING TO POLIGNANO For Flight Reservations Valerie Wilson Travel Fly to Rome (FCO) and take a one-way domestic flight to Bari Airport (BRI), making Call: 1-855-780-2022 or sure your flight arrives by 11:30 am. From Bari, take a taxi to the Bari train station (20 E-mail: [email protected] min), and then the train (www.trenitalia.com) to Polignano a Mare (30 min, 3-5 Euro). Travel Insurance From Polignano a Mare call the hotel to send a taxi: 080 424 0677. From Bari Airport you can also take a taxi to the first hotel, which costs around 100 Euro. World Nomads Call: 1-816-905-3963 (Direct/ Collect) DEPARTING FROM CITTADELLA DEL CAPO 1-844-207-1930 (Toll-Free within USA) On Day 12 after breakfast, the hotel provides free taxi service to the Capo Bonifati https://www.worldnomads.com/ train station (2 minutes from hotel, however tickets must be purchased in advance travel-insurance/ from ). We provide one group shuttle around 9 am that will www.trenitalia.com Transportation take you to Lamezia airport (2 hours from hotel, airport code SUF). Expect to arrive Rome2rio at the airport around 11 am. From there, you can make connections to Rome or http://www.rome2rio.com Milan.

Please inform the office if you plan on taking the scheduled group shuttle at least one month in advance via this form: www.ciclismoclassico.com/travel-plans. If you ON THE BIKE are not planning to take the scheduled shuttle, please let us know. Included: • Ciclismo Classico water bottle • Two water bottle holders BIKE INFORMATION • Map holder on handlebars and a Bianchi Intenso and Vertigo Garmin Edge GPS • The carbon frame guarantees maximum performance with minimum stress • Handlebar bag for the riders, thanks to Bianchi’s special C2C (Coast to Coast) frame design/ • Tire pump geometry and different material combination. Carbon bikes are equipped • Combination bike lock with compact crank and 11/32 cassette. • Gel-padded saddle • Bianchi Vertigo included free on all Easy and Athletic Beginner tours. • Choice of pedals • Bianchi Intenso included on all Intermediate and Advanced tours. • Card with your tour leaders’ mobile phone numbers Bianchi C-Sport 2.5 • More relaxed riding at a look-around-you pace, this is a high-performance Pedal Options: • Flat pedals aluminum hybrid bicycle with straight handlebars. It has a sloping design for • Half-toe pedals (without straps) superior comfort and bigger tires and hydraulic disc brakes. Included on all • Toe cage pedals tours.

Things to Bring: Tandems • Helmet Racing position with 700 c wheels. Available for $400, • Cannondale RT 2: • Optional: clipless pedals with shoes limited availability. • Optional: your own saddle • Honey bicycles: Racing position with 700 c wheels. Available for $400, limited availability. • Co-motion Periscope: Racing position with 700 c wheels. Accommodates smaller team or even children. Available for $400. • Cannondale Hybrid MT800: Upright position with 26 c wheels and straight handlebars. Available for $400.

E-Bike: Bianchi Manhattan • Available on all Easy and Athletic Beginner tours, and some Intermediate and Advanced tours. Please contact us for more information. Available for $400.

Bike type outside of Europe may vary, please contact us at 800-866-7314 for more information.

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 7 BIKE ACROSS SOUTHERN ITALY CLASSICO Ability Level: Advanced / Duration: 12 days / 11 nights PEDAL YOUR PASSION INSURANCE, TERMS & CONDITIONS

Insurance Ciclismo Classico will not assume responsibility or liability for any loss or damage of personal effects or for any injury or loss during the duration of the tour. Therefore, we highly recommend that you obtain travel insurance. Information on travel insurance will be sent to you via email once trip deposit is received. We recommend MH Ross, but travelers may choose the insurance carrier of their choice.

Cancellations and Refunds All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing as soon as possible to Ciclismo Classico. Exceptions to their cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including weather or personal emergencies. There is no refund for unexpectedly leaving a trip early or arriving late. The purchase of short-term travel insurance policy is strongly recommended. Cancellation fees are determined as follows:

Days before departure – Cancellation fee 121+ days - 50% of the deposit* 91-120 days - 100% of the deposit* 61-90 days - 30% of the trip price 31-60 days - 60% of the trip price 0-30 days - 100% of the trip price

*You may transfer your trip deposit to another departure in the same tour season up to 90 days before your original departure with payment of a $100 per person transfer fee. Prices quoted are subject to adjustment without prior notification. OR your deposit (currently $600) may be carried forward to the following year as a credit toward the final balance of a tour. At the time of booking, we will ask for another $600 deposit to secure your spot. Carried-forward credits expire at the end of the year to which they are applied.

Alterations to the tour itinerary Sometimes modifications may be made to the itinerary. We will notify you of any changes that may affect your arrival, departure or lodging. Any changes to the program are made in the best interest and safety of the group.

To review our policies, please visit http://www.ciclismoclassico.com/plan-your-trip/policies/

RESERVE YOUR SPACE!

To reserve a space, call Ciclismo Classico at 800-866-7314. Or, mail your deposit and contact information to:

Ciclismo Classico 30 Marathon St Arlington, MA 02474

At the time of registration, a deposit of $600 per person is due, payable by Visa, MasterCard, American Express or check, made payable to Ciclismo Classico, along with your full name, mailing address, phone number(s) and email address. We cannot confirm reservations without a deposit. Final payment is due 90 days before departure payable by check, credit card, wire transfer or money order. All travelers must review and sign a terms and conditions statement and a waiver form.

Ciclismo Classico 1-800-866-7314 | [email protected] | www.ciclismoclassico.com 8