Bosco Di Bitonto to Foresta Mercadante and the Apulian Aqueduct

This almost 60 km track connects 2 small forests between Altamura and Bitonto.

A considerable part of the track is on dirt track, so not suitable for road/speed bikes, but should be fine for most regular bikes and very suitable for mountain bikes.

The track starts in a small town called Quasano. As you head west, you'll be on the Apulian Aqueduct. Although the sign might indicate differently, you are most welcome to take your bike and drive on this dirt road. But the track is private land. More info on the Apulia Aqueduct track can be found here: http://www.aqp.bike/

After 5 km, you'll leave the track. But you'll be back on this nice track near the end of the day.

As you've left the Apulian Aqueduct, you'll cross through the Bitonto forest ("Bosco di Bitonto"). This track follows the larger unpaved road through the forest, but you'll find many other smaller tracks if you want to enjoy this forest longer.

If you like geocaching, you'll find a number of geocaches hidden in this forest.

After another 5 km, you'll leave the forest and come to the open farm land. Depending on the season, the view changes. In the winter period it's quite brown and dull, but especially in the spring time, you'll find beautiful green colours.

Once you've cycled 25 km, you'll cross the highway. This road has been upgraded to a highway recently, so there are now fever places where you can safely cross this road. This viaduct is one such a safe place, although there might be some local traffic too.

5 km after crossing the highway, you'll leave the provincial road and you're back in the forest. This time in the Forests Mercadante. This forest is quite a bit larger than the first one and you'll find many more tracks and most likely also more bikers, hikers, horses and anyone else that enjoys the forest.

When you've biked in total 37 km, you'll cross by a water fountain. However, you could decide to wait 5 more km and take a break at one of the 2 restaurants. If you are outside the main season, they might be closed, but luckily there is another water fountain 400 meters after the restaurants.

Soon after passing that second water fountain, you'll leave the forest behind you, but you'll be back on the Apulian Aqueduct track for the next 7 km.

Once you've cycled about 52 km, you'll cross under the highway for the last 6 km back to the starting point on the provincial road. I hope that they'll open up the Aqueduct track between the highway and Quasano, but for now there is big gate on the Quasano side that forces us to use the provincial road.

Make sure to check the way points. It will give you the option for some shortcuts.

Enjoy the track and leave a comment.