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Slow Lane Magazine, May 2019
Insights and stories from across Europe and beyond
  • favourite (but oft-forgotten) festivals
  • Nepal's secret valley
  • boutique beauty in Drôme Provençale
  • carving out a future in southern Italy
  • Inntravellers' Tales – our new writing competition
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Vineyards & Castles of the South

Unspoiled Basilicata & Puglia
 
Cycle self-guided through idyllic countryside, past wonderful vineyards and fascinating medieval fortifications, while your luggage is transported from hotel to hotel. Enjoy a final night in spectacular, UNESCO-protected Matera, famous for its houses built into the rock.
Vineyards & Castles of the South. 7 nights
Vineyards & Castles of the South. 7 nights
 

Holiday information

 

A cycling holiday in southern Italy

Situated at the northern end of Italy’s ‘heel’, the rural provinces of Basilicata and Puglia are largely unspoiled and unknown to many, although they hide a truly astonishing wealth of artistic and historic treasures. From the coast at Bari, the undulating countryside of Puglia, dotted with the historical remains of myriad invaders, gradually climbs up into the hills of Basilicata, where local customs and traditions have survived for centuries in seemingly timeless hill-top towns protected by spectacular fortresses.
Starting from Puglia, you cycle to the Castel del Monte, an octagonal and enigmatic hill-top fortress, and Venosa, the ancient Roman town where Horace, the Latin poet of Carpe Diem, was born. Having passed through the vineyards of Vulture, you cycle south through rolling hills of wheat until you reach your final destination, UNESCO-protected Matera, with its unique sassi  houses built into the rocks. There is a noticeably slower rhythm to daily life here and you are encouraged to immerse yourself in the charm and peacefulness of Italy’s ‘deep south’.
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 12 13 15 18 23 26 29 29 26 21 17 13
    mm 54 59 55 40 38 32 27 34 56 64 60 65
  • Arrival in Trani
    Night 1: at Hotel San Paolo al Convento (where you spend one night).
    As your first night's accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of cycling.
  • Trani to Montegrosso: 54km
    Leaving historic Trani, you head through countryside planted with grapes, figs, cereals, olive and almond trees. It is worth pausing in Andria, a busy market town famous for its wine, olive oil and almonds, to take in the ducal palace and cathedral, complete with a 7th-century crypt. Back in the saddle, you continue uphill to Castel del Monte, which is visible for miles around. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the most important medieval castles in Italy, famed for its octagonal towers. Take time to visit before cycling the last leg to the Masseria Lama di Luna, Montegrosso, in the La Murgia National Park.
  • Montegrosso to Venosa: 51km
    The highlight of today’s cycle ride is reaching the historic town of Minervino, which perches on an escarpment, earning it the name the ‘balcony of Puglia’. The views are remarkable, and there are several other sights worth seeking out, namely the Norman cathedral, the castle and, just outside the town, St Michael’s Cave. From here, you head south-west, ascending into the higher Basilicata region, where you find your hotel for the next two nights, Hotel Orazio, in the centre of Venosa.
    Venosa
  • Choice of routes from Venosa: 30km or 51km
    You could spend today exploring the many archaeological remains in Venosa, a Roman hill-town famed as the birthplace of Horace. Alternatively, we provide notes for two circular cycling routes:

    Circular route from Venosa via Maschito: 30km
    For some cycling, we suggest a leisurely circular ride which offers an opportunity for wine tasting (you will need to pre-book), before continuing via the intriguing town of Maschito back to your hotel. 

    Circular route from Venosa via Melfi: 51km
    A second, much hillier option takes you through rolling countryside to the historic town of Melfi, complete with a castle, lying in the shadow of Mount Vulture.
    Melfi on the circular route around Venosa
  • Venosa to Grottole: 87km; shorter option: 35km
    After an initial descent from Venosa, you rise through rolling countryside and past a lake to the town of Genzano, from where it's downhill nearly all the way to the Agriturismo Bufalara, near Grottole. For a shorter day, you can choose to be transferred with your bikes from Genzano to the agriturismo.
  • Grottole to Matera: 41km
    You cycle alongside tranquil Lake San Giuliano, a protected oasis that is home to great white egrets, purple herons, cormorants and storks, among other species. From here, you make a gentle ascent into amazing Matera, where alleys, houses and churches all blend into the hillside. Among them you will find your fascinating hotel, the Locanda di San Martino, where you stay for two nights.
    Matera
  • Circular route from Matera: 43km; longer option: 54km
    If you can tear yourself away from Matera and its iconic sassi  district, we suggest a peaceful circular ride into the surrounding countryside. You could choose to detour uphill to the hill-top town of Montescaglioso, dominated by its enchanting 11th-century Benedictine abbey, before returning to Matera.
 

Accommodation

Your accommodation ranges from stylish 4-star hotels to comfortable agriturismi. 

Occasionally, due to availability, we may offer an alternative hotel, as shown below. You will be informed of any change to the usual hotel (along with any price implication) prior to us confirming your holiday to you. Wherever you stay in Matera, we recommend adding an extra night, as there is much to see and explore.
 

Options to extend or shorten your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter.
Currency converter
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NB: this should be used as a guide only. Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in significant variation by the time you come to pay.

  • 7 nights: 01 April - 30 June 2019 & 25 August - 31 October 2019

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 30 April £945 £230
    1 - 23 May £970 £235
    24 May - 23 June £995 £240
    25 August - 30 September £995 £240
    1 - 24 October £970 £235
    3rd & 4th person discount -£175
    Single traveller supplement £175

    Includes accommodation, meals, bike hire, luggage transfers and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus cycling notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Electric bikes available: add £90 per person

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Hotel San Paolo al Convento
    Superior with harbour view: 01 Apr - 30 Jun 2019 £6
    Superior with harbour view: 25 Aug - 31 Oct 2019 £6
    Masseria Lama di Luna
    Superior: 01 Apr - 30 Jun 2019 £15
    Superior: 25 Aug - 31 Oct 2019 £15
    Superior Murgia: 01 Apr - 30 Jun 2019 £15
    Superior Murgia: 25 Aug - 31 Oct 2019 £15
    Locanda di San Martino
    Junior suite: 01 Apr - 30 Jun 2019 £24
    Junior suite: 25 Aug - 31 Oct 2019 £24

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Prices include an extra day’s hire of a standard bike and of an e-bike.
    Hotel San Paolo al Convento (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 30 Jun 2019 £80 £124
    25 Aug - 31 Oct 2019 £80 £124
    Locanda di San Martino (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Apr - 30 Jun 2019 £95 £138
    25 Aug - 31 Oct 2019 £95 £138
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Bari, Brindisi

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly to an airport not listed. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Bari (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Glasgow - Bari (via Munich) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Bari Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Bari British Airways,  easyJet 
    Gatwick - Brindisi easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Brindisi British Airways 
    Heathrow - Brindisi (via Milan Linate) Alitalia 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Bari Wizz Air 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Bari Ryanair 
    Stansted - Brindisi Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Bari easyJet 
    Manchester - Brindisi Ryanair 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly to an airport not listed. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you. We charge £30 per person for our flight booking service (£50 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Bari

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    direct taxi Bari airport to hotel (0h45) £33 flexible
    direct taxi Bari airport to hotel (0h45) £33 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    direct taxi hotel to Bari airport (1h15) £45 flexible

    Connecting travel options - flying via Brindisi

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    direct taxi Brindisi airport to hotel (1h) £55 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    direct taxi hotel to Brindisi airport (0h45) £65 flexible
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 1 dinner
    7 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • high-quality bicycle
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 8 reviews
  • Dr N Pexton
    Glasgow
    15 June 2019

    Matera is stunning, worth extending the stay here for a couple of days. Lots of excellent cafes, bars and restaurants, but two particular recommendations for dinner are the Taverna Re Manfredi (owned by the vineyard outside Venosa which is recommended in the cycling notes - visit that too!) and Dimora Ulmo, more expensive tasting menus, but the food, staff and the setting make it an evening to remember.

  • Mr L Kempton
    Leamington Spa
    17 June 2018

    This was a fabulous holiday in a really beautiful part of Italy. The well-maintained bikes were perfect for the terrain and pace of the holiday. I loved my ebike very much and looked forward to riding it each day, especially on the long hills, when I could overtake the boys easily if I tried.

  • Mr J Wilkinson
    Leamington Spa
    16 June 2018

    There is a sparcity of places to eat and drink on the routes - a little more information on available lunch/ drink/ coffee stops en route or small detours off route would be welcome. The holiday was excellent and the last two nights at Locanda de San Martino were magical and so different to most hotels.

  • Mrs NJ Craine
    Leeds
    31 March 2018

    We thoroughly enjoyed our journey on two wheels through Puglia and Basilicata. Great selection of quality accommodation in lovely locations, each one different from the previous one, and each one with its own charm. Nice combination of small hotels in interesting and picturesque towns, and agriturismo B&Bs in beautiful rural locations. Smooth and efficient airport and luggage transfers. Good-quality bikes and well-devised itineraries on relatively quiet roads, with courteous drivers and friendly local cyclists. Beautiful landscape and scenery - unexpectedly green and lush. We received a particularly warm welcome at the two agriturismo B&Bs, where the evening meals provided were excellent.

    So many memorable moments - particular highlights include: The amazing view of the harbour and seaside cathedral from our room in Hotel San Paolo al Convento in Trani; Pedalling through torrential rain one afternoon, to find that our lovely hosts at Masseria Lama di Luna had been worried about us and had switched the heater on in our room, so that it would be nice and toasty when we arrived; Pedalling through the lovely countryside on Easter Monday, past families enjoying BBQs in the sunshine; Pedalling through Minervino Murge, feeling ever-so-slightly conspicuous in our lycra amongst all the chic ragazzi, enjoying their bank holiday passeggiata; Having a chat with a supermarket assistant in Venosa, who was keen to practise his English, and who was very interested to hear about our cycling holiday; Spending a lovely evening with Hilde, our very hospitable host at Agriturismo Bufalara, and making friends with her lovely dog, Tommy; Our first glimpse of the Matera 'sassi' as we navigated our way through the modern part of the town, turned a corner, and arrived at the viewpoint next to Convento di Sant'Agostino - most definitely a 'Wow!' moment; Saturday night passeggiata in Matera - so civilised! Matera is such a special place - it's well worth spending an extra night there to explore on foot.

    I think it's a sign of a really good cycling holiday when you actually feel sad when you have to hand back the bikes on your final day!    

  • Mrs C Poulter
    Keswick
    29 September 2017

    Lovely cycling, generally little traffic and the hills all manageable.

    We were lucky with the weather and had no rain, some of the higher more exposed sections are probably awful if it does rain!

    we cycled the whole way to Bufalara from Venosa, be aware that although it looks downhill all the way, with a headwind you are pedalling most of it! No idea how common this is.

  • Mr M Smith
    Gloucester
    16 September 2017

    We experienced a sense of achievement at the end of our rides and this was delightfully rewarded in almost all cases by a lovely welcome and then stylish service and accommodation at the hotels provided for us. Once away from the coast there was a wonderful feeling of tranquility on the routes and the hill top towns. Venosa and Matera were well chosen destinations (indeed more could have been made of Venosa's castle museum.) The hostess at Grottole was so lovely, being so keen that we should enjoy our brief stay, even introducing us to her dogs. If anything we had expected prices in local bars and restaurants to be higher and so that was a bonus. They compared pretty much with UK.

  • Mrs L Freedman
    Potters Bar
    06 June 2017

    The ride from La Bufalara by the lake was wonderful.

  • Anon
    11 May 2017

    We did enjoy the Ebikes which made this trip a pleasure. Matera is a very special place, even though a big climb to get to it. Host advised us on excellent restaurants "Soul Kitchen" and "Osteria L'arco". The thermal baths in the hotel in Matera were very welcome to ease aching legs.
 

FAQs


If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help.
  • Our cycle supplier will provide you with a hybrid bike with 27 gears; a waterproof map case on handlebars; panniers/saddlebags; pump; puncture repair kit; and a lock. Electric bikes are available as an upgrade (see price panel), subject to availability, and must be requested at the time of booking. The bike shop also has a limited number of tandems.
  • While we would always recommend that you take your own well-fitting helmet, they can be hired locally for a small fee. Please let us know at the time of booking if you would like to hire a helmet.
  • Yes, we will provide GPX tracks for this holiday prior to departure so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. (We also provide maps and our tried-and-tested route notes.)
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. On mornings when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation so that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.
  • You do need to make sure you’re covered, because it’s you who is responsible for any damage to or loss of the bike during the holiday. You should always lock it (preferably to an immovable object) and remove any easy-to-steal accessories when leaving it unattended. The travel insurance policy that we offer covers you for loss and damage (provided you’ve locked or stored it appropriately). If you are arranging your own insurance, but it doesn’t cover bikes, we can provide bike-only cover for £19 per person. More details >
  • We can book a wide range of airlines and routes from the UK. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. For Europe and Morocco, there’s a £30 booking fee per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). For India and Nepal, the booking fee is £50 per person. More information on flights >
  • Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact Abi to discuss your plans.
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to buy our policy (if you live outside Europe you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK and EU residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Italy, but not a visa (if you are travelling after 31 October 2019, see the Brexit question below for more information). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found through the following NHS link: www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/ You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). UK citizens should also obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) by applying at a Post Office or at www.ehic.org.uk. The EHIC allows reciprocal health care but should not be seen as a substitute for travel insurance. EHICs may cease to be valid in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
  • The principal official language is Italian, though some regions have a second official language, such as South Tyrol, where German is widely spoken. The currency is the Euro. Italian time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • Even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, it’s been confirmed that flights will continue as normal and that you won’t need a visa to go on holiday (the limit on stays is 90 days). What you will need if there’s no deal is a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your arrival (extra months added because you renewed your passport early do not count) and adequate travel insurance to cover you for accidents and illness in case reciprocal health deals are suspended. If you are driving while on holiday, you will probably need an International Driving Permit (plus a Green Card if you are taking your own car to Europe). More information >
  • The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.
    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Last fetch time is : 7/18/2019 4:08:55 PM