Ostuni: the “white city”

Called the “White City” due to its characteristic historic center entirely painted with white lime, Ostuni is located in the province of Brindisi in Puglia.

Since 2009 it has received the Blue Flag and the 5 Sails of Legambiente for the cleanliness of the waters of its coast and for the quality of the services offered.

The historic center

Picturesque and renowned tourist destination, it boasts a medieval village with winding streets and whitewashed houses. Divided between the old city known as the “land” and the more recent “marina” one, it offers evocative views of stairways, alleys and small squares overlooked by shops, small shops and typical restaurants.

The fascinating city stands on three hills in the Itria Valley, at whose center stands the fifteenth-century Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral and the Bishop’s Palace.

In the historic centre, among alleys and intricate streets, there are numerous churches and stately homes.

Masserie of Ostuni

The most dynamic economic activities are tourism and agriculture. In fact, there are numerous “farms”, i.e. ancient fortified farms, present in the forest and on the coast, many of which have been transformed into luxurious resorts or farmhouses (masserie).

Since the early 1900s, Ostuni has been the tourist hub of the province of Brindisi, as well as one of the tourist destinations par excellence, being an integral part of the Itria valley and upper Salento.

Here, along the coast of the area, sandy beaches stand out in a play of colors among the Mediterranean scrub; among all Costa Merlata for its line of extremely jagged coasts, which form unusual and intimate sandy coves.

Naturally, hotels, B&Bs and tourist villages cannot be missing, as well as numerous restaurants and pubs.

Among the typical dishes, originating from the White City, there is the famous dish Broad Beans and Chicories; Focaccia Ostunese is also famous, which differs from the Bari one due to the addition of mozzarella.