{"id":20775,"date":"2024-10-23T20:11:38","date_gmt":"2024-10-23T20:11:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/historic-center-of-ostuni\/"},"modified":"2024-10-23T20:11:38","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T20:11:38","slug":"historic-center-of-ostuni","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/historic-center-of-ostuni\/","title":{"rendered":"Historic center of Ostuni"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>historic center of Ostuni<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, also known as the<em>White City<\/em>, is one of the most evocative and fascinating places in Puglia. With its whitewashed houses perched on the hills and the blue sea as a backdrop, Ostuni offers a unique experience, suspended between time and beauty.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Walking through its narrow and winding streets, where the blinding white of the walls contrasts with the imposing architecture of the churches and ancient buildings, will make you feel as if you were exploring an enchanted city, a place where every detail is not there by chance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>historic center of Ostuni<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a true jewel to be discovered calmly, letting yourself be guided by the curiosity and charm of a village that has managed to keep its authenticity intact.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-18558 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ostuni-centro.jpg\" alt=\"ostuni centro\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ostuni-centro.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ostuni-centro-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ostuni-centro-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ostuni-centro-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General information\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>historic center of Ostuni<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a labyrinth of cobbled streets, arches and climbs that lead to breathtaking views. The predominant feature is white, which illuminates every facade, every corner, in a harmony that seems to have been sculpted by the sun itself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ostuni is an ancient city and its medieval core has Norman and Swabian origins. Walking through its streets you will notice how the city has been able to combine Arab, Byzantine and Romanesque influences in a unique architectural synthesis.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The choice to make the houses all the same color is easily explained: since the Middle Ages <\/span><b>lime was an easily available material<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it gave light to the streets and, above all, it was used as an antiseptic and sanitizer, a way to protect oneself from the epidemics and plague that raged in Puglia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The city spreads over 3 hills north of Brindisi and the historic center is perched on a 218 meter high promontory. The distance from the sea, however, is approximately 7 km.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you explore <\/span><b>Ostuni historic centre<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you are immediately struck by the tranquility that pervades the place, especially in the early hours of the morning or at sunset, when the streets empty and the white of the houses seems to intensify.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is not uncommon to come across <\/span><b>small artisan shops or hidden courtyards, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">which invite you to stop and enjoy the silence. But the beauty of Ostuni is not only in its walls but also in the details: in the flowers that adorn the balconies, in the small votive shrines that testify to the profound spirituality of the Ostuni people.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fUZ_l1RYtMg?si=Eqs5o7J7WGec94NR\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What to see in the historic center of Ostuni<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One \u200b\u200bof the starting points for exploring the <\/span><b>historic center of Ostuni<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is certainly the <\/span><b>Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a magnificent example of Apulian Gothic architecture. The fa\u00e7ade, with its characteristic finely chiselled 24-ray rosette, leaves you speechless.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>Do you want some local advice?<\/em> Visit it at sunset, when the light filtering through the rose window creates plays of reflections on the internal walls. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From here you are free to lose yourself in the narrow streets that wind around the cathedral and each offers an unexpected glimpse.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The historic center is surrounded by the ancient <\/span><b>Aragonese walls<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which, together with the city gates (Porta Nova and Porta San Demetrio), are clear testimonies of the different dominations that reigned in the White City.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not far from the Cathedral is the <\/span><b>Piazza della Libert\u00e0<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the beating heart of city life. Here the <\/span><b>Column of Sant&#8217;Oronzo<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, patron saint of Ostuni, stands majestically to protect the city. The baroque column is 20 meters high and was erected in 1771. The square is surrounded by cafes and restaurants, an invitation for the many travelers to stop for an aperitif or a meal based on local products.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Walking through the alleys of the centre, you cannot miss the <\/span><b>Palazzo Vescovile<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which houses the <\/span><b>Diocesan Museum<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with its precious 14th century frescoes. A few steps away, the <\/span><b>Church of San Vito Martire<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will surprise you with its richly decorated baroque fa\u00e7ade.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Continuing your walk you will come across the <\/span><b>Church of San Francesco<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, another architectural jewel that testifies to the historical and religious importance of the White City over the centuries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A little-known corner not to be missed is certainly <\/span><b>the Scoppa arch<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a covered passage that connects two of the main streets of the centre. Inspired by the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, it is a gem to see for its romantic atmosphere, especially on summer evenings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-18550 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/arco-stoppa-ostuni.jpg\" alt=\"arco stoppa ostuni\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/arco-stoppa-ostuni.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/arco-stoppa-ostuni-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/arco-stoppa-ostuni-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/arco-stoppa-ostuni-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Not far from Arco Scoppa you will find the iconic <strong>house with the blue door<\/strong>, now an iconic point of the village, where it is mandatory to take some photos!<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the end of the day, go up to the <\/span><b>Belvedere<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a wonderful panoramic point from which you can admire the entire expanse of olive trees that extends to the sea.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>What to see in Ostuni historic center in brief:<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Antiche mura Aragonesi<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Porte della citt\u00e0: Porta Nova e Porta San Demetrio<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Piazza della Libert\u00e0 con la Colonna di Sant&#8217;Oronzo<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Palazzo Vescovile e Museo Diocesano<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Chiesa di San Vito Martire<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Chiesa di San Francesco<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Arco Scoppa<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>La casa con la porta blu<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Belvedere\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Useful tips for visiting the historic center of Ostuni<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>historic center of Ostuni<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a pedestrian area, which makes the experience even more pleasant as it allows you to walk without having to slalom between cars!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This, however, also means that you will have to plan in advance where to park. The most convenient car parks are found at the beginning of the old city, such as the <\/span><b>Parcheggio Via Giosu\u00e8 Pinto or the Foro Boario<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, from which you can reach the historic center with a short uphill walk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>In the summer months it is advisable to arrive early to find a seat<\/strong>, especially in July and August, when Ostuni is full of tourists.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another valuable tip is to <strong>visit Ostuni away from peak times<\/strong>. The early hours of the morning or late afternoon are suggestive moments, when the sunlight warms the city and there are few people around.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you visit the historic center in summer, take advantage of the cool evenings for a walk: the soft lights create a truly evocative atmosphere.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember to wear comfortable shoes: the frequent climbs and stone paving stones make the walk not exactly easy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-18552 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/centro-storico-ostuni.jpg\" alt=\"centro storico di ostuni\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/centro-storico-ostuni.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/centro-storico-ostuni-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/centro-storico-ostuni-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/centro-storico-ostuni-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prices and times<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Access to the historic center of Ostuni<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is free, but some attractions, such as the <\/span><b>Ostuni Cathedral<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the <\/span><b>Church of San Francesco<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, require a small contribution for entry, detail:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cathedral: 1 euro\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diocesan Museum: 5 euro<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Palazzo San Francesco (temporary exhibitions): variable prices<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most churches and museums follow fixed hours, opening from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00, especially during the summer season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In any case, it is always advisable to check the opening hours of the sites of interest, especially out of season, when some attractions may observe reduced opening hours.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-18556 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ostuni-centro-storico.jpg\" alt=\"ostuni centro Storico\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ostuni-centro-storico.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ostuni-centro-storico-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ostuni-centro-storico-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ostuni-centro-storico-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Where it is and how to get there<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Ostuni<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is located in the province of Brindisi, about 15 km from the Adriatic coast, and its privileged position offers spectacular views of the surrounding countryside and the sea.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The historic center of Ostuni is easily <strong>reachable by car<\/strong> from the A14 Bologna-Taranto motorway, exit Ostuni\/Fasano. If <a href=\"https:\/\/www.trenitalia.com\/it.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>travel by train<\/strong><\/a>, Ostuni train station is on the Bari-Brindisi-Lecce line, with frequent connections and located about 2 km from the centre. From here local buses take you to the historic center every 30 minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>If you arrive by plane<\/strong>, the closest airports are those of Brindisi and Bari, approximately 35 and 80 km away respectively. From there, you can reach Ostuni by car, following the SS379<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or by train.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once in Ostuni, follow the signs for &#8220;Centro Storico&#8221; or &#8220;La Terra&#8221; as the locals call it. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ideal starting point for the visit is Piazza della Libert\u00e0, from which the climb towards the ancient heart of the city begins.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A final piece of advice from those who know the area well: don&#8217;t just follow the most popular and crowded routes. Lose yourself in the back alleys, discover the small flowered balconies, stop to chat with the locals. This is how you will discover the true heart of the historic center of Ostuni, made up not only of monuments but above all of stories, scents and that warm Apulian hospitality that makes every visit unique.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-18554 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/la-casa-con-la-porta-blu-ostuni.jpg\" alt=\"la casa con la porta blu centro storico di ostuni\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/la-casa-con-la-porta-blu-ostuni.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/la-casa-con-la-porta-blu-ostuni-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/la-casa-con-la-porta-blu-ostuni-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/la-casa-con-la-porta-blu-ostuni-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The historic center of Ostuni, also known as theWhite City, is one of the most evocative and fascinating places in Puglia. With its whitewashed houses perched on the hills and the blue sea as a backdrop, Ostuni offers a unique experience, suspended between time and beauty.\u00a0 Walking through its narrow and winding streets, where the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":18559,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_glsr_average":0,"_glsr_ranking":0,"_glsr_reviews":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attractions"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20775","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20775"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20775\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18559"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20775"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20775"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/villeinsalento.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}