(The first 4 days are the same as the basic program)

5. DAY: FROM VIESTE TO VICO DEL GARGANO (45 km, 600 meters ascent)

You will leave Vieste and ride along the stunning coastline from Vieste to Peschici, taking your time to see the lonely bays and the trabucchi historical fishing machines. You can have lunch in Peschici and walk in the center until the castle’s balcony, where you can extend the gaze to your next photo-stops: Monte Pucci and Baia di Calenella. After Peschici, you will have to climb once more the mountain. On a narrow road, you’ll reach the hills where the town of Vico del Gargano (462 meters a.s.l.) lays. Here you have a few interesting things to do, like visiting the underground old olive oil mill, Maria’s ancient loom and going for a stroll in the middle-aged alleys.

Accommodation in the town of Vico.

6. DAY: FROM VICO TO CAGNANO VARANO (45 km, 200 meters ascent)

Leaving St. Valentine’s town Vico del Gargano won’t be easy, there’s so much to discover, but the ride must go on! Today you will head in the direction of the Varano Lake. Only a narrow stripe mainland divides this lagoon from the sea, almost an osmosis. On the lake shore, you’ll meet miraculous sources of water coming from the bowels of the mountain valleys and an old fisher village. If you like seafood, don’t miss eating at one of the restaurants here. Once reached the town of Cagnano Varano, go for a stroll in the Cavuto, the picturesque old town and have a drink at the old cafè beside the gate of the baron’s palace.

Accommodation in the town of Cagnano.

7. DAY: FROM CAGNANO VARANO TO MONTE SANT’ANGELO (45 km, 500 meters ascent)

We leave Cagnano Varano not before visiting the cave, one of the few original … St’ Michael. On today’s track, we will cross the second biggest forest of the Gargano National Park. Along the Umbra Forest, Bosco Quarto is the second green lung of the Park. Split by a terrific valley immersed in the reflexes of the emerald light filtrating through the crown of thousand-years old trees. Neither the locals know it exists such an incredible place: it’s called Valle Ragusa. Moreover, on the route you have the opportunity to visit two of the best masserie: the first is the Masseria Didattica Facenna in Carpino and the second is the Sitizzo Cooperative down Monte Sant’Angelo. You’re now crossing the Valle Carbonara, a geological fault dividing the nord from the south of the Gargano promontory. Staring up, you will see the profile of the castle of Monte Sant’Angelo, shrouded in mystery and cloud the highest city in Gargano with almost 800 meters above the sea level. You’ll climb the Angel’s mountain to get to your destination.

Accommodation in the town of Monte Sant’Angelo.

8.  DAY: DEPARTURE

End of services after breakfast and departure

(The first 4 days are the same as the basic program)

5. VIESTE AND VICO DEL GARGANO (45 km, 600 meters ascent)

You will leave Vieste and ride along the stunning coastline from Vieste to Peschici, taking your time to see the lonely bays and the trabucchi historical fishing machines. You can have lunch in Peschici and walk in the center until the castle’s balcony, where you can extend the gaze to your next photo-stops: Monte Pucci and Baia di Calenella. After Peschici, you will have to climb once more the mountain. On a narrow road, you’ll reach the hills where the town of Vico del Gargano (462 meters a.s.l.) lays. Here you have a few interesting things to do, like visiting the underground old olive oil mill, Maria’s ancient loom and going for a stroll in the middle-aged alleys.

Accommodation in the town of Vico.

6. FROM VICO TO CAGNANO VARANO (45 km, 200 meters ascent)

Leaving St. Valentine’s town Vico del Gargano won’t be easy, there’s so much to discover, but the ride must go on! Today you will head in the direction of the Varano Lake. Only a narrow stripe mainland divides this lagoon from the sea, almost an osmosis. On the lake shore, you’ll meet miraculous sources of water coming from the bowels of the mountain valleys and an old fisher village. If you like seafood, don’t miss eating at one of the restaurants here. Once in the town of Cagnano Varano, go for a stroll in the Cavuto, the picturesque old town and have a drink at the vintage cafè beside the gate of the baron’s palace.

Accommodation in the town of Cagnano.

7. FROM CAGNANO V. TO RIGNANO GARGANICO (45 km, 600 meters ascent)

Today you will cross a mount dividing the Lake of Lesina and the Varano’s one, Monte Delio or, Devio, sometimes also called: it literally deviates the waters. After that, you will follow the track of an old railway, operated until 2010 by Ferrovie del Gargano, and then dismantled. We love to call this stretch Transgarganica, and btw this gives the name to the whole Transgargano route, that’s why this daily section is for us a special one. Castel Pagano is one of the most beautiful castles in Apulia, it dominates the Tavoliere of Puglia, the flat land all around Foggia, from the heights of the mountain. You continue following the itinerary connecting the Dolina Pozzatina and the Dolina Centepozzi, two impressive example of the karst geology, and finally reached the small town of Rignano Gargano, standing like a balcony overlooking the rest of Puglia. Rignano is also famous as the town of one of the most important prehistorical caverne in Italy.

Accommodation in Rignano.

8. FROM RIGNANO G. TO SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO (45 km, 500 meters ascent)

The Via Francigena is the missing link connecting the beginning and the end of the Transgargano. From Rignano you head first in the direction of the Stignano Valley, where you visit the first historical shrine along the route. Also San Francesco d’Assisi may have been there about 80o years ago. You ride past the city of San Marco in Lamis and meet another shrine full of history, still active as a convent: San Matteo. After a hour ride, you’ll find a third shrine: the sanctuary of Saint Pio. An extraordinary temple designed by the world-renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano: made only of local limestone, it stands together like drystone walls in the apulian countryside do, without any massive use of steel and cement.

Accommodation in San Giovanni.

9. FROM SAN GIOVANNI R. TO MONTE SANT’ANGELO (50 km, 600 meters ascent)

Leaving San Giovanni Rotondo you will ride through the marshes (pantano) of Sant’Egidio, the Sammichelari (t.i., the pilgrims to St. Michael) used the wash themselves in a water dwell here before getting closer to their destination. In Ruggiano you will find a picnic area with a fountain, there you can have a packed lunch, or at the abbey of Pulsano, an absolute gem of the Sacred Gargano.  Today is the last day and you are climbing to Monte Sant’Angelo, where you gonna leave your bikes and go down the 86 stairs into the holy cave of Saint Michael, a UNESCO site. The yellow, red and blue feathers are the symbol of the Via Francigena del Sud, like the shell for the Santiago’s Camino, Petrus’ keys and Jerusalem Palms. You’ll discover the anecdote behind this colored icon and have an evening stroll in this fantastic atmosphere of a town that seems to come out directly from the annals of the Middle Ages.

Accommodation in Monte Sant’Angelo.

10. DEPARTURE

End of services after breakfast and departure