Cycling From The Hinterland To The Sea

For cycle touring enthusiasts this is a beautiful route that allows you to embrace the whole land
around Minervino, passing from the beauties of the hinterland to the beautiful panoramas of the coastal road overlooks the Adriatic Sea. This bike tour longs approximately 50 km, so for good legs, on an asphalt road, therefore for those who are also trained to pedal on mixed roads, which also involve climbs.
You start from the center of Minervino and ride towards Giuggianello, passing by the old oil mill and Palazzo Lubelli, where there the Museum of Rural Civilization is. Leaving the town you go up the hill where it was built crypt dedicated to San Giovanni and where you can enjoy a beautiful overview over surrounding area.
You proceed towards Palmariggi, with its beautiful Aragonese castle. The small votive shrine encountered on the street announces our arrival towards a suggestive place: the Sanctuary of Monte Vergine, immersed in a pine forest which gives the place greatness spirituality.
You set off again, leaving this mystical place towards Otranto (a tip is to get off the bike to walk in the small streets of the historic center). After that you descend towards the small port for a nice view of the old city from the port.
Leaving Otranto for reaching the coast road it is possible to overlook what was once a bauxite quarry, but now is it a small natural lake with bright green waters, set in the red earth.
This leads to the coast road that goes down from Otranto to Leuca, perhaps the most beautiful views of all of Salento. Descending you arrive at a small group of fisherman houses, Porto Badisco and then Santa Cesarea Terme with a nice up and down riding. Before return to Minervino, you cross small villages as Cerfignano, Cocumola and Specchia Gallone.