April 11, 2025, 8:50 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Ostuni is one of the most beautiful towns in the southern Italian region of Apulia. Perched on a total of three hills, the town of around 30,000 inhabitants with its almost entirely white facades is just a few kilometers from the coast of the Adriatic Sea. TRAVELBOOK reveals what there is to discover there.
Ostuni is also known as “La Città Bianca,” or the white city, because of its houses. And indeed, in keeping with the title, almost all the buildings here really are white. This panorama is particularly impressive from a distance, as the old town of Ostuni is located on a mountain that once served to protect the city from enemies.
Overview
A Turbulent History
Ostuni has an eventful history. People had already settled here in the Stone Age, as evidenced by archaeological finds. The city was destroyed for the first time around 200 BC by the Carthaginian Hannibal.
Rebuilt by the Greeks, the city was quickly subjugated by the Romans. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Romans in Ostuni were, in turn, driven out by the Normans. The Normans had numerous houses, palaces, churches, and squares built in the city.
Under the rule of the Duchess of Bari, Isabella, the Renaissance came to Ostuni. Under her rule, at the beginning of the 16th century, many works of art were created. Following Isabella, the Sforza family from Milan built watchtowers and fortresses on the coast, which was only separated from Ostuni by olive groves as protection against the Turks and Saracens. Nevertheless, as almost everywhere on the coasts of Italy, there were repeated raids.
Sights of Ostuni
The picturesque old town attracts thousands of tourists every year. The most important meeting point is the Piazza della Libertà. There, visitors can see the medieval town hall and the Oronzo Column from the Baroque period.
Ostuni’s most famous churches are the cathedral, built in the 15th century and an Italian national monument since 1902, and the Baroque-style Church of the Holy Spirit, built in the 17th century.
Places of Interest in the Surrounding Area
Not far from Ostuni is the extraordinary “Smurf village” of Alberobello with its trulli. The interesting city of Lecce, around 50 kilometers to the south, is around 45 minutes away by car. The route also leads via Brindisi — a stop in the beautiful port city is worthwhile. You should also take a day trip to the coastal town of Taranto on the other side of the boot heel.
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Text contribution: Jasch Zacharias