ITALY.
Via Ellenica hike (Brindisi to Matera),
1st Section : Brindisi to Cisternino (4 days).
1st Section : Brindisi to Cisternino (4 days).
22/Nov/2022 to 26/Nov/2022.
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| "From our travels we know we are surrounded by a wonderful world, still to visit". |
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| After having finished the Via Peuceta, I'll hike the Via Ellenica, a lesser known "Camino Materano". |
Il primo cammino è quello della Terra degli Ulivi: ha inizio a Brindisi e termina a Martina Franca; comprende 7 tappe durante le quali si attraversa la Valle d'Itria, celebre per i suoi trulli e gli incantevoli borghi dipinti di bianco come Serranova, Carovigno, Ostuni, Cisternino, Locorotondo e Alberobello, fino ad arrivare alla nobile Martina Franca (137km).
Da Martina Franca parte la Via Ellenica nella Terra delle Gravine, che in 8 tappe raggiunge Matera, attraversando un territorio segnato da Canyon emozionanti e impresiozito da affascinanti paesini come Massafra, Mottola, Castellaneta, Palagianello, Laterza, Ginosa e Montescaglioso (151km).
CLICK HERE for the 2nd part of the Via Ellenica (Cisternino to Castellaneta, April 2023)
CLICK HERE for the 2nd part of the Via Ellenica (Cisternino to Castellaneta, April 2023)
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| Weather forecast four these four days. |
Monday 21/Nov/2022.
Lippstadt (D) to Bari (I) journey.
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| A coffee break at bar Bellagio, Duisburg. |
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| Announcement for the Dusseldorf-Weeze to Bari flight. |
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| Boarding an on-time flight. |
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| Bari-Centrale train station. |
Transportation:
---- City bus C4 from Patricia's house to Lippstadt Hbf, 08:43-09:00, 0h17, 2.20€.
---- DB Train RE11 26712 from Lippstadt to Duisburg Hbf, 09:25-10:59, 1h34, 30.60€ (for all land transportation until the airport).
---- Transit 0h24.
---- Bus SB30 from Duisburg Hbf (Osteingang) to Geldern Bahnhof 11:23-12:47, 1h24.
---- Transit 0h51.
---- Bus 73 from Geldern Bf to Dusseldorf-Weeze Airport, 13:38-14:11, 0h33.
---- Transit 3h59.
---- Ryanair flight FR7506 from Dusseldorf-Weeze to Bari, 18:10-20:30, 2h20, 41.99€ incl bags.
---- Shuttle bus from Bari Airport to Bari Centrale Train Station, 4€.
|---| Hotel Costa, Bari, 65€ without breakfast (same hotel as in May, at the end of the Via Peuceta).
Tuesday 22/Nov/2022.
Bari to Brindisi journey and
HIKE 1 : Brindisi to Serranova (26.0km).
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| Bari to Brindisi (start of the hike) journey with the 7:32 train for Lecce, also on-time. |
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| Caffè and Cornetto breakfast at Bari's train station. |
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| Collecting the "Credencial" from the local Camino Materano commitee. |
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| The Camino Materano Credential, proof of good practice along trail. |
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| Trapped for a presentation about the various Italian long distance trails I made. |
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| Published on "social media" by the local Camino Materano commitee. |
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| The roman columns, marking the end of the Via Appia (ancient road from Rome to Brindisi). |
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| View from the terrace with the columns. |
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| 10:30 Ferry crossing. |
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| Monument to the Italian Sailor. |
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| Via Francigena (white/red) waymarking and Via Hellenica (yellow/green). CLICK HERE for the Via Francigena |
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| Via Francigena meeting Camino Materano. |
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| Land art (Tonino Giostizieri). |
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| Torre Penne. |
(Video)
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| Torre Testa. |
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| Stranded plastic. |
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| People playing with the stranded plastic nets. |
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| Little Prince of my wallet found a plastic rose on the beach. |
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| Railway crossing (crossed by my Bari-Brindisi train of this morning). |
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| Village supermarkt found to be closed. |
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| Moorish-looking village church. |
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| Trullo housing for tonight. |
Transportation:
---- Trenitalia train from Bari to Brindisi, 07:32-08:44, 1h12, 9.20€.
|---| Trullo Alessandro B&B, Serranova - San Vito dei Normanni, 57.22€ without breakfast.
Wednesday 23/Nov/2022.
HIKE 2 - Serranova to Carovigno (12.8km).
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| Leaving the B&B. |
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| After 2km, back in Serranova. Now the shop is open for a coffee. |
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| Excellent sunny spot for a picnic at a trulli. |
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| Picnic. |
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| Olive trunk micro treatment against the devastating Xylelle disease. |
Carovigno.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carovigno
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| Carovigno's main street, Via Vittorio Emanuele II. |
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| Carovigno castle, Castello Dentice di Grasso. |
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| Carovigno. |
Thursday 24/Nov/2022.
HIKE 3 : Carovigno to Ostuni (20.3km).
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| Leaving Carovigno. |
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| Another beautiful trullo. |
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| A nice picnic spot. |
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| Excellent picnic and wine. |
Ostuni.
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| Ostuni. |
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| Ostuni inhabitants are expected to paint their houses each year. |
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| Ostuni, Sant'Oronzo monument. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orontius_of_Lecce |
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| Ostuni. |
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| Ostuni, Cathedral, a side rosette. |
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| A welcome Campari-Spritz. |
|---| Casa Flami, Ostuni, 46€ without breakfast.
Friday 25/Nov/2022.
HIKE 4 : Ostuni to Cisternino (19.8km).
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| Leaving the old town of Ostuni. |
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| Ostuni, Town Hall. |
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| Picnic panini being assembled. |
Cisternino.
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| Cisternino. |
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| Cisternino. |
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| For famous Zio Pietro restaurant, the meat must be chosen at the local butchery. |
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| Night view from the B&B. |
|---| B&B La Casa dei Nonni, Cisternino, 40€ incl breakfast (Via Ellenica conventioned).
Saturday 26/Nov/2022.
Cisternino (I) to Gent (B) journey.
Transportation:
---- Bus 319 from Cisternino (Piazza dei Navigatori) to Brindisi, 09:35-10:50, 1h15, 4.40€.
---- Brindisi visit.
---- Airport shuttle bus, 13:58-14:08, 0h10, 1.10€.
---- Ryanair flight FR7738 from Brindisi to Brussels-Charleroi, 16:10-18:40, 2h30, 53.59€ incl bags. One hour late however.
---- Shuttle bus from Brussels-Charleroi airport to Brussels South train station, 20:00-20:55, 0h55, 17.50€.
---- Train from Brussels South to Gent St Pieters, 21:03-21:46, 0h43.
---- Tram ride to Gent Rabot.
|---| Patricia's house, Gent.
LATER-ON COMPLETED UNTIL MATERA...
