“Learning Italian by Bicycle” Guided Tour

Today, our first bicycle excursion on the soundings of Otranto.
Riding along the little river “Idro” (“water” in Latin), that gives the city its name, we visit an ancient Byzantine crypt from the 13th century and then we arrive in Casamassela, where ancient looms are still being used nowadays at “Le Costantine” foundation. In Giurdignano, we cross a Bronze age megalithic garden, where to observe closely its “dolmen” and “menhir” -  prehistorical monuments.
Among huge stones and majestic olive trees, we do the first test for the division of the group into levels.
For lunch, visit and food tasting in one of the most characteristic bakeries in the region, where a farming family has decided to transform ancient grains into baked goods with an ancient flavor.
Return to Otranto and free afternoon to visit the city. Possibility of a horse ride at sunset.

This day is dedicated to one of the most fascinating sides of the Italian coast: remarkable beauty is the Palascía lighthouse, extreme east of Italy, and a unique lake emerged in a disused bauxite quarry of considerable beauty.
We are at the most eastern spot of the peninsula: when the sky is clear you can see the mountains of Albania and Greece across the bay.
We ride just in the morning. In the afternoon we have Italian classes on the roof of our hotel.

We carry on through the Otranto-Leuca coast, where different fortified towers, dating back to the XVI century, rise to face the sea.
Upon our arrival in Marina Serra, an Italian lesson takes place in a coastline pine forest and we have the opportunity to chat with our friends of Coppula Tisa - an association of active citizenship.
In the early afternoon, we rest by a picturesque bay (where it will be also possible to swim), told by the writer Mario Desiati in this nice podcast: https://www.raiplayradio.it/audio/2019/01/LE-MERAVIGLIE---Marina-Serra-raccontata-da-Mario-Desiati-e177c80f-e380-48e9-80ff-30ab3e311432.html). In the late afternoon we reach Santa Maria di Leuca, enjoying the sunset over the Ionian Sea.

Today is a relaxing day, without bicycles.
After breakfast, Italian lessons in an ancient villa from the early twentieth century, which hosts our group.
In the late morning sailing trip with lunch on board!

Today will be jam-packed with Italian lessons while you cycle across the villages around the astonishing area known as “Capo di Leuca”.
We visit ancient towers, underground oil mills, the ruin of a pre-Roman city, a Mausoleum that holds traces of Byzantine frescoes, a semi-abandoned castle, and an ancient pilgrims station with its incredible immense underground, used by the pilgrims to rest...; all while having a continuous Italian lesson with our teachers!
For lunch, we reach the Pescoluse beach, better known as "the Maldives of Salento". We have time for a long break at sea.
Before reaching our final destination Capilungo, we stop at the best ice cream shop in Torre San Giovanni for a refreshing break.

Today, the Italian lesson takes place in a coastline pine forest, next to one of the most famous beaches in Italy.
After lunch, we will visit Gallipoli, an ancient city from the Roman era, that stands on an island, which is, currently populated by fishermen. Towards sunset, we ride towards Santa Caterina, where we will stop for the night, in a B&B with a view of the sea.

Today is the final test of our Italian course: cooking lesson and family lunch in a local farmhouse, where the mother of one of our partners teaches us (in Italian, of course!) to cook some of the typical specialties of this region.
In the afternoon we go (on foot or by kayak) to the natural reserve of Porto Selvaggio: a wood by the sea.

Today is a day entirely dedicated to cycling.
We go up towards Lecce through the cultivated countryside and admire the numerous fortified farmhouses and nineteenth-century villas that characterize the landscape of this area until we reach Nardò to visit its remarkable Baroque-style historic center.
On the way back, we stop at a renovated farm for an olive oil tasting.
Then, stop in Copertino to discover its imposing Norman Castle and the stories of the patron saint: St. Joseph, "the saint of flights".
In the late afternoon, arrive in Lecce and return the bikes.

In the morning, guided visit of Lecce on foot and departure.