Apulia on the road

After a long silence, I would like to report about my first motorcycle tour. You probably know that motorbike riding is one of my countless passions. Unfortunately, I don’t own a motorcycle, a choice I’ve made that is not likely to change, as long as I’m living in Netherlands or in similar regions that are so ungenerous… in terms of sun! Nevertheless, it is still possible to rent a motorbike. Yes, even in those remote whereabouts of southern Italy!

Next time someone tells you that southern Italy is poor, disorganised and not tourist- friendly, please tell them to visit Apulia (Puglia). One thing above all surprised me about this region, and that was the organisation. I was able to rent the motorcycle in Molfetta through the internet, I got a brand new Honda CBF 600, the price was not exaggerated and the service was perfect.

This astonishment kept haunting us throughout the holiday. For instance, as we reached a beautiful agriturismo (organic farm - green B&B) in the middle of nowhere, we were received by this old farmer who literally gave us a lecture on his fossil findings from the Cretaceous Period. One sentence he said will always be fixed in my mind:

“Con i libri, puoi acquisire il sapere. Ma è solo toccando con mano che potrai conoscere”.

It’s difficult to translate to English, but it sounds like this: “With books, you can acquire knowledge. But it is only by touching with your own hands that you will really know things”.

After long rides with heavy motorcycle jackets at forty degrees in the shade, and after getting lost several times (why the hell did I forget my GPS?), we arrived to Gallipoli, where we stayed four days. From there we visited several places in the Salento (southern Apulia), as you can see in the map. The sea was clean and blue and most places were not overcrowded by tourists.

We visited Lecce during the city feast of Patron S. Oronzo, and enjoyed its incredible baroque churches and buildings. The city is near to perfection, tidy and fully renovated. In my humble opinion, it has nothing to envy to Florence or any other famous Italian art cities.

The holiday went on across the Salento, between seaside, cities and hills, down to S. Maria di Leuca, the southernmost city of Apulia. Then we sadly decide to move on, and headed towards Matera, in Basilicata. There would be too much to say about this city and about its ancient town called “i sassi di Matera” (litterally “the stones of Matera”). It is believed to be one of the most ancient settlements in Italy, going back to prehistoric times. The houses are a magic merge between “Tufo” white stone constructions and ancient caverns. The “Sassi” are listed in the UNESCO world heritage list, and represent in my opinion one of the most special and marvellous places in Italy.

First part: from Barletta to the Salento
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Second part: the Adriatic Coast and Matera
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