The fourth stage of the 2025 Giro d’Italia winds almost entirely through Salento, one of the most enchanting regions of southern Italy. In Putignano, home to one of Italy’s most lavish carnivals, visitors can sample one of the jewels of Apulia’s renowned dairy production: caciocavallo, also made from buffalo milk.
More than a thousand trulli make Alberobello a truly unique town, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Before setting off to follow the riders along the route, it’s worth exploring the sloping streets of the Monti e Aia Piccola district: here, one can find trulli of all kinds, from religious buildings to private homes, usually one story high, with the notable exception of the grandiose Trullo Sovrano.
Also unique is the architectural complex that houses the “Casa Pezzolla” Museum of the Territory, made up of 15 interconnected trulli located on the eastern side of Piazza XXVII Maggio. Inside, visitors can admire traditional furnishings, while some rooms illustrate the main productive activities of the area, from viticulture to wheat cultivation.
Castellana Grotte offers the chance for a journey to the center of the Earth, with a three-kilometer route inside a magnificent karst complex adorned with spectacular stalactites and stalagmites.
Upon reaching the coast, the first must-see stop is Ostuni, the White City. A single glance is enough to understand the origin of its nickname. One is immersed in a dazzling whiteness when venturing into the historic center, protected by the Aragonese city walls: this labyrinth of courtyards, alleyways, small squares, and staircases features only one color: the bright white of lime used for centuries to plaster the facades. Strolling around also reveals workshops of master ceramicists and olive wood sculptors, who continue a centuries-old tradition and today represent the skill of Apulian artisans.
In Francavilla Fontana, visitors can admire the impressive Imperial Castle (15th century), but it’s hard to resist the lure of one of the many sweet shops offering typical artisanal desserts such as copeta (a crunchy, glazed almond treat) and confetti ricci(toasted almonds coated in sugar).
The local vineyards, cradle of Negramaro wine, accompany the journey to Novoli, a town that is part of the “Città del Vino” (Wine Cities) network. Shortly thereafter, the route leads to Lecce, the sumptuous Baroque capital where the day’s finish line is located.
The sparkle of Baroque architecture, more radiant here than anywhere else, has made Lecce one of the must-visit art cities. If time is limited, and painful choices must be made, start at Piazza Sant’Oronzo, the heart of the city, and admire the Roman Amphitheater carved into the tuff rock, which once seated 25,000 spectators. Then move on to Piazza del Duomo, surprising in its vastness and stunning for the Baroque spectacle offered by its complex of buildings, starting with the Cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. Finally, the powerful 16th-century Castle awaits. Just outside its walls is the Fountain of Harmony, featuring a precious bronze sculpture symbolizing youth and love. No place is better for refilling your water bottle.
The Stage
A flat stage with just one short kick up in Putignano, touching the main towns in the area on wide and essentially straight roads. As the stage passes through urban areas, roundabouts, traffic dividers, pedestrian islands and the like will be the most common impediments. In Lecce, the route enters the closing circuit just past the line. The circuit (approx. 12 km) will be covered almost entirely, before passing over the finish and taking a full lap.
Final kilometres
The last 3 km are flat, with just one sharp bend some 1,200 m from the line. The roads are wide, bending slightly to the left in the last kilometre until the home straight.
Ron is the chief cook and bottlewasher at Bike World News, doing everything from website design to bike reviews.
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