Location:
Salento Bike Tour is located in the area known “Malapezza”, where field surveys have revealed instruments (stone chisels, scraping tools, tips and blades) dating to the Mousterian Age (70.000 years ago), the epi – Gravettian Age (18. – 12.000 years ago) and in some cases the Neolithic Age (VI – IV millennium B.C.), (sourses by Archaeological Area of Roca Vecchia). The Bike Service has th
e head office at “Masseria Malapezza”, one of the 18 ancient fortified farmhouses that , with the old Coastal Tower of Sant’ Andrea and Petraroli’s Castle of Borgagne, represented a complex and efficient defence system for the coastal populations from the frequent Saracen pirates raids between the 16th and 17th centuries AD. The Italian known saying “mamma li Turchi”(Oh my, Turks) testifies the sense of terror impressed in people’s souls. In the hearth of the “Alimini Lakes Valley”, along the ancient road that once connected Lecce to Otranto. Borders in the North with the “ Oasi delle Cesine” natural WWF reserve”, to the South the “Regional Natural Park of Alimini Lakes”, to the West with“ Torcito Forest” and to the East skirts with the Adriatic Sea. For its profusion of natural resources and settlements of historical and artistic relevance, the Aliminy Valley has a great deal to offer in terms of entertainment, and places for trekking, horse riding, or cycling. Suffice it to say that two of the first suburban bike trails realized by the Province of Lecce, for a length of 50 miles, “From Acaya to Cesine and Roca”, and “Around the Alimini Lakes” are enclosed in this area.
3 Sites of Community Interest are located in this variegated and unique landscape such as “Torre dell’Orso” with its sandy and rocky coast, scenic underwater and sea view, “Tamari Wetland” with its relevant coastal pond and the rich flora, and the “Regional Natural Park of Alimini Lakes” with its coastal lagoon, a paradise for the two-wheeler travellers and bird-watchers. The myriad of back roads, surrounded by olive trees and miles of dry stone walls, which will let you explore several villages of Salentine Greek with its historic centres, stories and legends. Riding among “specchie”(very ancient stone mounds used as watching posts), “furneddhi” or “pajare” (typical forms of rural dry stone buildings) and rocky churches you will discover the unique rural architecture. Prehistoric settlements, visible in the archaeological complex of “Giurdignano” such as dolmens and menhirs, historic sites such as sanctuaries, votive niches, crypts and old caves, once inhabited by Basilian Monks, all set in this wonderful landscape. Coastal paths and passages of enchanting natural beauty will make you breath the scents of aromatics plants which are typical of the Mediterranean scrub. Territorio:
Salento Bike Tour, ha sede operativa in Masseria Malapezza, una delle 18 massserie che facevano parte del Feudo di Borgagne che insieme alla Torre Costiera di Sant’Andrea ed al Castello Petraroli formavano una complessa rete difensiva per arginare i continui assalti dei pirati turchi. Il complesso (Bike Service) si trova a ridosso della “Vallata dei Laghi di Limini”, lungo una strada di antica frequentazione che passando dal villaggio medioevale di Roca Nuova univa Lecce a Otranto. Dal punto di vista naturalistico sono presenti in quest’area 3 S.I.C. istituiti da ReteNatura2000 quali“Torre dell’Orso”, “Palude dei Tamari” e “Laghi Alimini”. Forte è la presenza delle emergenze storico – culturali tipiche del paesaggio rurale salentino (grotte basiliane, cripte bizantine, chiese e santuari rupestri, trulli e pajare, dolmen e menhir) e fitta è la rete di strade secondarie, comunali e vicinali costeggiate da chilometri di muretti a secco, un paradiso per gli amanti del cicloturismo e della mountain – bike. Basti pensare che i primi 2 itinerari ciclabili extraurbani realizzati dalla Provincia di Lecce: “Da Acaya alle Cesine ed a Roca”, ed “Intorno ai Laghi Alimini”, per una lunghezza di 80 km, sono localizzati in quest’ area.
