OSTUNI

Ostuni, known as the Città Bianca because of its shining white walls, is a stunning small town situated about 25 miles north-west of Brindisi. It is built on three hills and seems to grow out of the rocks high above the Adriatic, a dazzling stretch of turquoise ocean which can be seen across the plains below, which are studded with thousands of ancient olive trees.. It was an important Greco-Roman city in the first century AD and has a wonderful variety of architecture, from the maze of narrow medieval streets of the Centro Storico to the lovely baroque arched doorways of the 18th century area. Local guide books will tell you all about the cathedral with its beautiful rose window and the many lovely churches.

There is lots to see and enjoy in Ostuni and you can happily spend a week or two there without travelling anywhere else. The main square, the Piazza della Libertà, is dominated by a 21m high column, topped by a statue of San Oronzo, the patron saint of the town, who smiles benignly down at locals and tourists as they mill around for the evening passegiata. In summer the place is buzzing with people until late at night.

Please view this locally made tourist video of Ostuni. It has lots of information about the town, its history and the surrounding area. © Commune di Ostuni - Assessorato al Turismo