E-Bike, Olive Mill And Wine

E-Bike, Olive Mill and Wine, rated 5 across 61 traveller reviews.

Overview

This half-day ride covers 28 km (17 miles) of flat Salento countryside on a premium e-bike, starting from a shop on Via G.Argento in Lecce at 08:15. The route sticks to quiet rural roads and passes ancient villages before finishing in Galatina, so you spend the morning pedalling rather than sitting in a car. A private taxi brings you back to Lecce at 1 PM, a ride of about 20 minutes.

The centrepiece is Sternatia, in the Grecìa Salentina, where a local named Gaetano leads you into a 15th-century underground olive oil mill. He speaks Griko, the ancient Greek dialect still tied to this area, and part of the visit involves hearing a poem in that language along with stories of lamp-oil traders and village life. From there the route continues through two more villages of the Griko-speaking community before reaching Galatina, where the stops include the Basilica of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria with its 14th-century Giotto-style frescoes and Pasticceria Ascalone, the pastry shop that claims to have created the pasticciotto.

It suits travellers who want countryside, history and food stops rolled into one morning. The full outing runs 4 hours 30 minutes, groups are capped at a maximum of 14 travellers, and the flat terrain plus electric assist means the distance is manageable for most people. Reviewers frequently single out the guide's knowledge and the quality of the bikes.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet in LecceMeet at Via G.Argento, 3, Lecce, at 08:15, where the guide waits with the bikes outside the shop.
2. Ride to SternatiaCycle roughly 28 km (17 miles) in total along flat, quiet rural roads through the Salento countryside, with Sternatia as the key stop.
3. Sternatia (1 hour)Spend 1 hour here with Gaetano, who shows you a 15th-century underground olive oil mill, recites a poem in Griko and shares stories of the Grecìa Salentina. Admission is free.
4. Villages of the Grecìa SalentinaContinue by e-bike through two villages of the Griko-speaking community.
5. Centro storico di Galatina (1 hour)Spend 1 hour in Galatina's historic centre, including the Basilica of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria with its Giotto-style frescoes and a stop at Pasticceria Ascalone, birthplace of the pasticciotto.
6. Taxi back to LecceAt 1 PM a private taxi, included in the tour, returns you to Lecce in about 20 minutes, with drop-off at your hotel.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points worth knowing before booking this ride.

• Fitness and pace. The route is easy and flat, and the e-bikes do much of the work, so most travellers can participate. Reviewers described the bikes as high quality and very easy to use. Still, you are in the saddle for a good stretch of a 4 hour 30 minute morning.
• Start time. The tour leaves at 08:15 sharp from Via G.Argento, 3 in Lecce. Plan to arrive ready to ride.
• Kit provided. The tour supplies a HiBike premium e-bike, a helmet, a 25-liter Ortlieb rear pannier bag, a free water bottle and a phone holder. Reviews mention extra thoughtfulness such as snacks and electrolytes on the road.
• Lunch and wine. A Primitivo wine tasting and a traditional Puglian lunch are optional extras at additional cost, available only to private groups and on request a week in advance. Without that add-on, food and drink are not included. One reviewer who did stop for lunch at a local restaurant called it the best food of their trip.
• Group size. The maximum group size is 14 travellers. Reviews describe an attentive guide who adjusts to each rider's needs, and several mention learning a great deal about the region along the way.
• Photos. Reviewers highlight villages and country roads you would miss in a car, plus the underground olive mill, which one called a once-in-a-lifetime sight. Bring a camera or phone; the mount on the bike helps keep it handy while riding.

Common issues. The tour needs a minimum number of travellers to run, and if that minimum is not met you will be offered a different date, a different experience or a full refund. Poor weather can also cause cancellation, with the same options. It is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for travellers with back problems, pregnant travellers or anyone with serious heart conditions. Note the lunch and wine tasting cost extra, require a private group and a week's advance notice, so most bookings finish with the 1 PM taxi back without a meal.

Common Questions