Called “the white town” for its buildings inside the historic center-all upholstered with white plaster- Ostuni is the pearl of Apulian hinterland that will surprise you, as soon as you visit it. The white of its walls, thus, stands out on the deep blue of the sky and the sea, that is a few kilometers far from the town: the result is amazing! Therefore, if you are in Apulia, you could not miss a visit to this surprising city. Ostuni boasts a thousand-year old past, returning the primitive men: as numerous finds show and that were discovered among its walls, it seems that this town was inhabited since the Paleolithic. In the following years, as it emerges, the city was conquered by Greeks: Ostuni was an important center of Magna Grecia, thanks to its strategic location, a few kilometers far from the sea and- in the same time- sheltered enough in the hinterland; in this way, this town maintained numerous commercial exchanges in the Mediterranean Sea. Century later, finally, seems that Ostuni were a land long disputed between Saracens and Byzantine, who aimed to have it as their own property, in the Medieval age.
The recent history of Ostuni is linked, not only to the beauty of its ancient town and to all other attractions, that worth a visit, but also to the many rewards that it won for the good looking of the sea and the tidiness of its coast: so if you are around, taking a swim will be a must!
Sightseeing in Ostuni
We suggest you-once you arrived in Ostuni- to leave your car outside the historic center, where you can easily find a parking lot in apposite areas, or on blue stripes: Ostuni, indeed, is essentially a little town, with a medieval shape, that deserves to be discovered alleys, after alleys, slowly, enjoying the pleasure of losing oneself through each little street. For this reason, a walk in the ancient town is unmissable, where houses, workshops and little bars are the masters. Let yourself be guided by the beauty of its alleys and by the care with which every door and every small balcony is enriched, through plants and flowers. It will be as if you were in a typical Greek lane, characterized by white walls with vases and flowers, that give an explosion of colors!
Continuing your walk through the historic center, you will reach the main crossroad, that is Cathedral Street, where a majestic basilica dated back to XV century A.C- is waiting for you: this beautiful church is characteristic for its facade, upon which Apulian gothic and Romanesque are perfectly mixed. To admire this Cathedral in all its magnificence, it is necessary to take some steps backwards. On the principal facade there is a wonderful rose window, with 24 rays: below, there is the main portal, leading inside the church, that can be visited paying 1,00 euro. Going on, it is impossible for you not to see the awesome stone bridges all over your heads and that join buildings one another.
LThe wonders do not end
The main square of Ostuni, called Liberty Square, is surely the most important attraction in town, it is made up of many staircases, full of bars and clubs, where you can eat a good ice-cream, to refresh during a summer walk. In the middle of the square, rises the Obelisk of Sant’Oronzo: this structure with its 21m of height is quite majestic so, eyes on the sky! Once the visit at the ancient town is finished, a jump to the beautiful beaches of Ostuni- that are only 8 km far-has not to be missed: here, you will be surprised by the diversity of its 20km of coasts. You can choose – among dunes, wide beaches and rocky cliffs-the right place for you to relax and enjoy a dive in the crystal-clear water of Ostuni!