An Overture
Ostuni — the "White City" (Città Bianca) — is a dazzling hilltop maze of lime-washed houses spread across three hills above silvery olive groves and the Adriatic plain. Its tangle of stepped lanes, Gothic cathedral, flower-draped corners, and cliff-edge belvederes make it one of Puglia's most photogenic towns, and a stylish base flanked by some of Italy's best masseria (fortified-farmhouse) hotels. It pairs the white old town with easy reach to the coast and the Itria Valley.
Top Things to Do
The Whitewashed Centro Storico
Lose yourself in the maze of white lanes, archways, flowers and cats; the climb to the top rewards with panoramas.
Ostuni Cathedral
A late-Gothic cathedral with a Spanish-influenced rose-window façade crowning the town's summit.
Archaeological & Civic Museum
Holds Paleolithic finds including "Delia," the ~28,000-year-old "pregnant mother of the world."
The Belvederes
Belvedere Santa Lucia and the Terrace of Sant'Oronzo open over the olive plain to the sea.
Walking Tours
White City Climb
Start at the Belvedere Santa Lucia, then climb the stepped white lanes to the late-Gothic cathedral at the summit, dropping past the Civic Museum and the Terrace of Sant'Oronzo for the olive-plain panorama. Wear good shoes — it is relentlessly steep and maze-like.
Day Trips & Beyond
Monopoli & Polignano a Mare
The working port and cliff coves up the coast. Getting there — ~30–40 min by car; car-free via the Bari–Lecce rail line (change/shuttle at Ostuni station).
SearchAlberobello & the Itria Valley
Trulli Alberobello plus Locorotondo, Cisternino and Martina Franca. Getting there — ~30 min by car inland; FSE rail connects the valley towns.
SearchAdriatic Beaches
The sandy strands below town around Rosa Marina and Costa Merlata. Getting there — a short drive (~10–15 min) toward the coast; seasonal local buses run from Ostuni to the marina.
SearchLecce
The Baroque "Florence of the South." Getting there — ~1 hr by car or direct on the Bari–Lecce rail line.
SearchHidden Gems
Sleeping at a Masseria
Staying at a converted masseria in the surrounding countryside is a defining Puglian experience — some rank among the world's best small luxury hotels.
Getting there — The masserie sit in the olive country a few km out — most are car-access only; many offer transfers, or take a taxi from Ostuni.
SearchDining Under White Vaults
Atmospheric dinners beneath whitewashed vaulted ceilings inside the old town — the maze at its most romantic.
SearchFood & Dining
Signature Dishes
Restaurants
Where to Stay
- Luxury · €€€€
- Boutique · €€€
- Luxury · €€€€
- Luxury · €€€€
- Luxury · €€€€
Practical Notes
Getting In
- By car: Easiest by car.
- By rail: Ostuni has a station on the Bari–Lecce line ~2.5 km below the old town, linked by shuttle/taxi.
Getting Around
- On foot: Explore the centro storico on foot — it is steep and maze-like.
- Parking: Don't drive into the old town; use perimeter parking.
Practical Tips
- Shoes: Wear good shoes for the relentless steps; the maze is part of the fun but disorienting.
- ZTL: Don't attempt to drive into the centro storico — narrow, ZTL-restricted lanes.
When to Visit
- Season: May–June and September; Ostuni is among Puglia's "increasingly crowded" towns in peak summer.
Notable Insights
Critic Voices
- Masseria country: The Geographical Cure treats Ostuni as a 1–2 night base and stresses its masseria hotels (San Domenico, Il Melograno) as a Puglia highlight in their own right.
Don't Miss
- Don't drive in: The "don't drive into the centro storico" warning is common to all the white towns — heed it here especially.