Ostuni - The White City of Southern Italy

Hello friends. Today I want to tell you about our trip to the city of Ostuni, located in the Puglia region of southern Italy. It’s the end of July and the weather is extremely hot. The temperature reaches 40 degrees every day. Although the weather forecasts say 35-36 degrees, it feels much hotter. This is especially challenging due to the abundance of stone (stone pavements, stone buildings) and the lack of greenery in the cities.

Dolce & Gabbana held a show in this city recently. They hosted a party at a hotel called Borgo Antica in Puglia and organized shows in Ostuni, Alberobello and a nearby masseria. This year, many tourists came to Puglia. Both Italians and foreigners prefer this region. Puglia a UNESCO heritage site with access to the sea, is surrounded by two seas: the Adriatic and the Ionian. Both seas have interesting beaches and tourists love this region. And prices in Puglia are still lower compared to central and northern Italy, which is another reason for its popularity.

I walked around the city with my friends. I entered an antique shop in Ostuni, which has many interesting items. Now I will show you my favorite ones. This shop also has an Instagram account where they display some of their items. Here are a few things that caught my attention immediately: A gold-plated copper vase. This vase is truly magnificent and large. I love such things.

There are also dolls, fans, paintings and an interesting icon here. Every corner of the shop is filled. For example, there are tiles from churches in Naples dating back to the 1700s. There’s even an erotic collection from Pompeii. I had mentioned Pompeii in my previous posts. In Pompeii such symbols were found everywhere and were symbols of wealth and prosperity.

Ostuni is known as the White city and is one of the jewels of the Puglia region. It is one of my favorite places to walk. The city is rich in history and architecture. The old town center is painted white, a tradition that started after the great plague of 1656 to disinfect the walls. Ostuni situated on a hill, can be seen from afar and is known as the white city. Many other white cities that continue this tradition are found in Puglia, each with its own unique beauty.

We came here by car and the journey took about 50 minutes. You can also reach the city by train or bus. It is about 80 km from Bari airport and 15 km from Brindisi airport. The train station is 4 km from the city center. By train it takes about 50 minutes and the ticket price is around 7 euros. Trains and buses run every hour, one and a half hours or two hours. There are many options available throughout the day to reach here.

Walking around the historical part of Ostuni is very interesting. The city is located on different levels and has stairs, restaurants and bars. The old town is painted white and surrounded by an ancient city wall with cylindrical watchtowers. There are two main gates in the city: Porta Nova and Porta San Demetrio.

Ostuni a city renowned among archaeologists and anthropologists, is famous for the remains of the Ostuni Woman. These remains were discovered in 1991 in the Santa Maria di Agnano cave located in the suburbs of Ostuni. The skeleton of this woman approximately 28,000 years old, along with well-preserved fetal bones are exhibited in a museum. Scientists have named her Delia and it is believed that she died around the 33rd week of pregnancy due to a severe infection.

Delia's skeleton and reconstruction are displayed in the Preclassical Civilizations Museum of Southern Murgia, next to the Church of Saint Vito the Martyr. This museum also exhibits other archaeological finds from the region. The city is a popular venue for many festivals and events. For example, this summer Dolce & Gabbana held a fashion show here.

The White city pays special attention to the festival in honor of Saint Oronzo, Ostuni's patron saint. This celebration lasts four days from August 24 to 27. The traditional Cavalcade of Saint Oronzo is an event where the saint’s silver statue is paraded through the city accompanied by horses and riders. Ostuni believes it was saved from the plague of 1656 thanks to Saint Oronzo. The same belief is held in the city of Lecce.

In winter and spring two significant events take place in Ostuni: the live nativity scene - Presepe Vivente at Christmas and the Passion of Christ during Easter. These costumed events are very interesting. While walking around Ostuni, you can see handmade jewelry in the shop windows. These pieces are made by the shop owner's children and are sold online.

You can reach the sea in 15 minutes by car from this city. The Adriatic Sea's stunning beaches are located in this area. Many of these beaches have received the Blue Flag indicating their high quality. I plan to write a post showcasing the beaches in Puglia, such as Pilone Beach, which is not far from Ostuni.

One of the most famous squares in the city is Largo Trinchera, also known as the Church Power Square. Around this square, you can find church buildings: the Bishop’s Palace, the Seminary Palace and Arco Scoppa. Arco Scoppa is an arch initially made of wood but later constructed from stone.

Ostuni is loved by foreign tourists. Italians also prefer it for walking and dining out. The local cuisine is famous for seafood and typical Puglian dishes. Here you can find delicious anchovies, various beans and Puglia’s famous focaccia. And seafood and fresh herbs are staples of the local cuisine.

Ecology and ecological conservation are significant topics here. They make large, shiny jewelry from recycled aluminum, all handmade. For example, during our trip to Matera, we saw a woman making handmade jewelry from recycled aluminum. Italian women love big, shiny jewelry. This trend has gained popularity here and found its own customers. It’s a very fashionable topic. Do you wear such things? Who would have thought that recycled jewelry would become fashionable?

I love this city. 😍 It is a place that attracts visitors with its historical and natural beauties. If you happen to be in the area, I recommend visiting.