Ostuni

Ostuni, town of the Alto Salento, is located in a panoramic site on three hills which view on the coastal Murgia. Its name come from the greek “Astu–neon”, new town, built by the Messapi in the early 1000 a.C., on the remaining of more ancient ruins. Today it is known as the “White City”, for the shine of its houses of the old town centre and it is an important and unique example of the south Italian architecture. On the top of the hill is the Cattedrale the most important monument of Ostuni. Built in the XV century, in the late gothic style, it has a huge variety of decorations. The interior of the church is dated back 1700 and the square in front of the church hosts the elegant palazzo Vescovile built between the XVI and XVIII centuries.

I dintorni di Ostuni

Ostuni territory is 22.368 hectares large and is located on the Murge Hills in front of the Adriatic coast. Very important site to visit are two sanctuaries built on the rocks: the Sanctuary of Sant. Oronzo, built on the XVII century on the saint caves; the Sanctuary of San Biagio built in the XI century; the Sanctuary of Santa Maria d’Agnano, where in the 1991 were found a skeleton of a young pregnant women leaved during the paleolitic period.
A Dolmen is located near the village of Montealbano. It is 1.7 meter high and is composed of two big stone posed in vertical and one used as roof.
The countryside of Ostuni is very rich in trees: secular olives trees, oaks, and the Macchia Mediterranea. The characteristic Trulli can be found all around the area.
The colour of the sky, the secular olive trees, the red land and the stone walls give the visitor the possibility to live all the emotions which Ostuni can offers.