Learning Italian by bike
Duration: 10 days
Departure: 19/04 - 28/04 ; 06/09 - 15/09
Price: 1950,00 eur per person in dbl room
- 20 hours intensive Italian course, (with professional teachers)
- 9 nights in 3***/4**** B&B, hotels or farmhouses
- 9 lunches or dinners
- Wine, cheese and other typical product tasting
- 1 sailing trip
- guide for the tour
- bicycle rent
- luggage transportation
- the costs of transportation for getting to the destination
- upgrade to e-bike 130,00 eur
- insurance
- anything not mentioned under ‘the price includes’
**The itinerary is only indicative, detailed description and any other information will be available at the moment of confirmation.
Itinerary
surroundings of Otranto

8.30/10.30: Italian entry-level test in the school “Porta d’Oriente”
13.00: Lunch
14.30: Cycling tour in the surrounding area of Otranto
20.30: Dinner
On our first cycling tour we will visit a traditional craftsman fabric workshop, a few pre-historical monuments spread across the area, a marvelous botanical garden in Giuggianello, with a unique collection of Cactaceae, and to conclude the tour, a “Masseria”, (a historic fortified farmhouse that produces cheese) in Uggiano la Chiesa.
from Otranto to Castro

8.30: Departure from Otranto
10.30: Arrival in Castro
11.00/12.30: Italian lesson
13.00: Swim in the sea and packed-lunch
15.00: Departure with the bicycle towards the Zinzulusa cave and Aquaviva beach
18.00/19.30: Italian lesson
20.30: Dinner
This day is dedicated to one of the most fascinating portions of the Italian coast, where different towers of the XVI century, rise facing the sea. It is the most eastern spot of the peninsula; when the sky is clear you can see the mountains of Albania and Greece across the bay. In the afternoon we will visit the Grotta Zinzulusa, a cave proceeding for metres and metres towards the heart of the earth, and the splendid Aquaviva creek, characterised by the underground fresh water river that flows towards the sea.
from Castro to Leuca

8.30/9.45: Departure from Castro and arrival at Marina Serra
10.30/12.00: Italian lesson
12.30: Swim in the sea and packed lunch
15.00/16.30 Italian lesson
17.00: Departure towards Tricase
17.30: Guided tour on foot across the historical town centre of Tricase
19.00: Departure towards Leuca
20.30: Arrival in Leuca and dinner
We cycle along Otranto-Leuca coast, the so called “park-road”, with an stunning panorama. At the arrival in Marina Serra, an Italian lesson will take place in a coastline pine forest, and then we will rest by a picturesque inlet where it will be possible to take a bath. In the afternoon we will visit the small town of Tricase, famous for its churches and small lanes, then we will proceed towards Leuca, following secondary roads characterized by their century-old olive trees.
Leuca

8.30/13.00: Itinerating Italian lesson cycling around villages in the area.
13.30/19.30: Sailing trip, lunch served on board, and a swim in the sea.
20.00: Return to the port for a free evening
Today will be jam-packed; with an Italian lesson while you cycle across the villages around Capo Leuca. We will see ancient towers, underground oil mills, the ruin of a pre-Roman city, a Mausoleum that holds traces of Byzantinian frescoes, a semi-abandoned castle and an ancient church with incredibly vast sub terrains…; all while having a continuous Italian lesson with our teachers! In the afternoon, we will have a sailing trip with lunch provided on board!
Leuca - Torre Suda

8.30/10.30: Departure from Leuca and arrival at the Sarruni Guest Farm.
11.00/12.30: snack and Italian lesson
13.00: Lunch
15.00/16.30: Italian lesson
17.00/19.00: Departure from Sarruni and arrival at Alliste
20.00: Free evening
The day is dedicated to the Salentinian countryside, one of the best-kept secrets of the region defined by its olive trees and the Mediterranean vegetation. The Italian lesson will take place in the wood of an organic guest farm, where we are going to have lunch. In the afternoon, after the second lesson, we will depart once again across the countryside, where we will see the “Trulli” and the “Pajare” (ancient buildings made with dry stone) and the Tu’rat garden, of Arabian origin.
from Torre Suda to Santa Caterina

8.30/9.30: Departure from Torre Suda and arrival at the park of Punta Pizzo
10.00/12.00: Italian Lesson in the pine-forest of Punta Della Suina
13.00: Packed lunch and swim
15.00: Depart for Gallipoli
15.30: Guided walking tour of Gallipoli
18.00/19.00: Depart from Gallipoli and arrive in Santa Caterina
20.00: Dinner
The Italian lesson will take place in a coastline pine forest, next to one of the most famous beaches of Italy. After lunch we will visit Gallipoli, an ancient city from the Roman era on an island, which is currently populated by fisherman. Towards sunset we will travel to Santa Caterina, where we will stop for the night in a B&B with sea view.
Santa Caterina - cooking class and final test

8.30-10.30: Cycling tour towards Nardó and the “masserie” (fortified farm-houses) in the region of Porto Selvaggio
11.00: Snack
11.30-13.30: Italian lesson
14.00: Packed lunch and excursion on foot (or by canoe) in Porto Selvaggio
17.00-19.00: Italian lesson in a pine forest
21.00: Dinner
Another full day today! In the morning a short cycle: we will visit the city of Nardó and some of the nearby “masserie”. Then we will go back to our B&B for the Italian lesson. In the early afternoon we will go (on foot or by canoe) to the natural park of Porto Selvaggio where we are going to have our second lesson of the day and then a nice swim. Return by sunset.
from Santa Caterina to Lecce

8.30-11.30: Final Italian language test
13.00: Lunch
15.30: Departure towards Galatina, visiting the historical town centre of Galatone en-route
17.30: Arrival at Galatina and guided tour of the historical town centre
19.30-20.30: Return to Lecce by train and dinner
Morning dedicated to the final test of our Italian course. After lunch we will travel towards Galatone, where we will visit the historical centre of the town and the town castle, and then Galatina with its church of Santa Caterina D’Alessandria, one of the most beautiful masterpieces of medieval art in the south of Europe. We will visit a local wine cellar, to observe the process of winemaking, ending with a wine and cheese tasting. In the late afternoon we will get the train for Lecce and we will reach the city in the evening.
free morning for individual visits and departure

















