Ruvo di Puglia to Bitonto – 25th June
Distance: 19.0 km – Elevation +20 m -180 m
Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 29 degrees
I slept well. I decided on a lateish breakfast at 8.00 am and was told by my host that a Scottish pilgrim had stayed here a few weeks ago. With just 19 kilometres to walk to Bitonto, I started at a leisurely pace walking through the town outskirts to find the Via Appia Traiana – the route of the old Roman road – nothing of the original at all – just straight to Bitonto. All olive groves and a few fig trees – no vineyards. It was not too hot around 28 degrees as I passed a few workers in the olive groves. Some of the olive groves are immaculately kept but a few seem old and forgotten. I enjoyed a fruit lunch in the cool shade of an olive tree. I came across more Furnieddhu, the stone domed structures that are unique to Puglia, hundreds of years old and built to provide warehousing for the olives and perhaps shelter to the workers during the olive harvest.
I arrived in Bitonto too early for my B&B so sat enjoying coffee and a snack in a bar in the main square. The B&B is not too far away and is well located in the historic centre of the town.
My B&B is in the historic centre of Bitonto and it is just humming with life – I have just returned to my B&B after a supper of bruschetta and pizza which I enjoyed at a table in the main square as I sat watching the town come to life. In Italy eating late is normal and I as I left to return to the B&B people were just starting to eat at 10 pm!
I have an early start tomorrow for my last day’s walk in Italy.
