Ostuni
The 'White City,' an entire old town painted white and perched on a hilltop, with views over olive groves and the Adriatic Sea.
The old town of Ostuni is built on three small hills. Its house walls were historically whitewashed with lime, which reflects sunlight and also acts as a disinfectant. From afar, it appears pure white, which is how it earned the name 'La Città Bianca' (the White City). Inside the old town, the lanes wind and the staircases cross. At the highest point stands a 15th-century Gothic-Romanesque cathedral with a beautiful rose window. Piazza della Libertà marks the boundary between the new and old towns and features the Column of Sant'Oronzo. Outside the town are large groves of centuries-old olive trees, and on clear days you can see the sea. For the best photo of the whole White City, go to a viewpoint by the road outside the town in the evening. After sunset, the restaurant terraces in the old town have a lovely atmosphere. From Bari, the train takes about 1 hour, and the station is about 2.5 kilometers from the old town, so you need a bus or taxi. If you drive, park in the lot outside the old town.
Opening hours
Open all day; cathedral about 09:00–19:00
Nearby sights
- Cisternino
- Torre Guaceto Nature Reserve
- Martina Franca
- Egnazia Archaeological Park
- Locorotondo
- Zoosafari Fasanolandia
- Trulli of Alberobello
- Monopoli Old Port