The attractive whitewashed metropolis of Ostuni ought to be on everybody’s Puglia itinerary. Perched on high of a hill and overlooking the glowing Adriatic Sea, its charming white homes, slender cobblestone streets, historic church buildings, and atmospheric little squares give it a novel and magical environment.
On this put up, I’ll share a number of the finest issues to do in Ostuni, Puglia. It’s considered one of my favourite cities in southern Italy and has one thing to supply each traveler.
From exploring the traditional Centro Storico to visiting close by seashores, olive groves, and vineyards, it’s exhausting to not be captivated by this gorgeous historic metropolis. Nevertheless lengthy you must spend sightseeing in Ostuni, I’m positive you’ll love your time there.
Greatest Issues To Do in Ostuni
Listed here are 15 of one of the best issues to do and locations to go to in Ostuni and its environment.
1. Discover the Centro Storico (Outdated City)
Strolling the cobblestone streets of Ostuni’s Centro Storico is like being transported to a different period. This stunningly preserved, whitewashed medieval city is perched on the high of a hill and is called the “White Metropolis”.
From right here, you may absorb unbelievable views of the rolling hills surrounding Ostuni and the turquoise Adriatic Sea that sparkles within the distance. The full of life eating places and cafes, boutique outlets, church buildings, historic buildings, and slender alleyways make it a great place to discover.
Wander by the backstreets and linger for some time in one of many many engaging piazzas. One among my favourite free issues to do in Ostuni is to sit in considered one of these squares and simply watch the world go by.
2. Do a Strolling Tour
A fantastic factor to do in any new place is to hitch a strolling tour. There are a number of totally different excursions to select from in Ostuni – this one is especially well-reviewed and takes you to all the high locations to see in Ostuni.
It is a implausible solution to familiarise your self with the city, go to its most well-known and delightful landmarks, uncover its wealth of fascinating structure, and find out about its wealthy historical past and traditions.
Alternatively, you may see all the high locations to go to in Ostuni by taking a non-public tour of Ostuni by tuk-tuk!
3. Go to Ostuni Cathedral
The Catholic Cattedrale Santa Maria Assunta is a crucial landmark within the metropolis and one of many high Ostuni sights. It was constructed across the eleventh century on the stays of a earlier Orthodox church, with some elements courting again to the fifth century.
Make sure to take your time exploring this majestic constructing, admiring its intricate architectural particulars resembling its Romanesque façade, Gothic portal, and Baroque bell tower. The ceiling of the cathedral is adorned with a lot of lovely work depicting scenes from the Bible.
The cathedral additionally accommodates a gorgeous flooring mosaic and an archive of Twelfth-century parchments.
4. Style the Native Olive Oil (One of many High Issues To Do in Ostuni, Italy)
The Puglia area is thought for its scrumptious olive oil and you need to undoubtedly style some throughout your time there. It’s mild and delicate but extremely wealthy and aromatic – excellent for dressing salads, drizzling over recent pasta, or having fun with with a slice of freshly-baked focaccia bread.
This guided tour takes you to go to an historic olive grove and Masseria (a standard farmhouse) on the outskirts of Ostuni. Among the bushes listed here are believed to be over a thousand years previous!
You’ll be taught in regards to the course of of creating olive oil, all the way in which from planting seeds to urgent the ultimate product. In fact, you’ll additionally get to style totally different varieties, and your information will train you in regards to the varied well being advantages of olive oil, and why it’s so essential in southern Italian cooking.
5. Have a Seashore Day
Ostuni is positioned a mere 8 kilometers from the glowing Adriatic Sea, near a few of Puglia’s finest seashores. Spending a day (and even an hour or two) on the seashore is likely one of the most enjoyable issues to do in Ostuni for households.
Whereas the seashores in Puglia aren’t as undiscovered or untouched as these simply throughout the Adriatic on the Albanian Riviera, they’re typically quieter and nicer than the seashores in lots of different elements of Italy.
One of the crucial fashionable seashores close to Ostuni is Spiaggia di Pilone, an extended stretch of golden sand and crystal-clear waters. In the event you’re on the lookout for one thing a bit quieter, head to Spiaggia di Torre Pozzelle, which is wilder and has fewer services.
6. Examine Out the Museums
Get an perception into Ostuni’s fascinating historical past and wealthy tradition by visiting one of many many native museums.
The Museo Diocesano di Ostuni (Diocesan Museum of Ostuni) is housed inside an historic Episcopal Corridor, the previous residence of the city’s bishops. It accommodates a variety of paintings, archaeological finds, and different native artifacts and treasures, and is likely one of the most attention-grabbing locations to go to in Ostuni.
The Museo di Civiltà Preclassiche (Museum of Pre-Classical Civilizations) is positioned inside a former monastery and accommodates varied archaeological stays, ornaments, and ceramics courting again to the Paleolithic period.
For lovers of latest artwork, the Orizzonti Arte Contemporanea gallery can be nicely value a go to. This wonderful gallery options gorgeous works by native artists and hosts common occasions and exhibitions, that are marketed on its web site.
7. Take a Conventional Puglian Cooking Class
I really like the meals in Puglia. Typical Puglian meals is easy, hearty, and scrumptious, showcasing the area’s high-quality recent native produce.
Discover ways to make a number of the finest and hottest native dishes by taking this conventional Puglian cooking class. Knowledgeable chef will train you to make Puglian classics resembling orecchiette pasta from scratch, eggplant parmigiana, tiramisù, and different treasured native recipes.
On the finish of the category, you’ll take pleasure in a 4-course meal of the dishes you’ve ready. Observe: this class takes place within the neighboring city of Cisternino, one other good spot to go to close to Ostuni, which is simply 20 minutes away from Ostuni by automobile (or half-hour by bus).
8. Pattern the Native Wines
The Puglia area is residence to a number of the finest wines in Italy, and there are quite a few wineries and vineyards within the space the place you may style native wines and be taught in regards to the manufacturing course of from educated guides
On this wine-focused tour, you’ll go to a Sixteenth-century Masseria wine property and a contemporary wine cellar and style a variety of their finest wines. You’ll additionally get to go to a number of different locations within the Valle d’Itria, together with Alberobello and Locorotondo, so that is undoubtedly among the finest issues to do close to Ostuni.
9. Go to Alberobello
The UNESCO-listed city of Alberobello is simply an hour away from Ostuni and is known for its trulli – historic homes constructed from limestone with conical roofs. Alberobello has lots of of those fascinating buildings, and you’ll go inside a few of them to get a greater look.
Top-of-the-line methods to be taught extra about these iconic buildings and to see a variety of essentially the most spectacular ones is to take this 2-hour guided trulli tour.
The city additionally presents loads of different issues to do, together with wine tastings and cooking lessons. Make sure to find time for a day journey to discover this distinctive vacation spot!
10. Store at Native Markets
Take residence some souvenirs out of your journey by procuring at one of many native markets. The Mercato del Sabato (Saturday market) is particularly value visiting in case you are on the town on a Saturday.
Locals come right here to purchase all the pieces from recent meals and kitchenware to garments and even antiques. You may decide up a variety of recent produce and handmade items made by native artisans. Come early within the morning to snag one of the best objects!
11. Get pleasure from a Gelato in Piazza della Libertà
This vibrant sq. is the bustling coronary heart of Ostuni and a terrific place to calm down and take pleasure in some genuine Puglian gelato.
There are a number of gelaterias on this space, however Cremeria La Scala is especially good and presents a variety of scrumptious flavors of gelato, granita, and sorbet with basic & seasonal flavors. Additionally they have a stunning shaded patio to flee from the highly effective noon solar.
This space of the Centro Storico can be residence to a number of nice cafes and eating places.
12. Stroll the Metropolis Partitions
Ostuni was an historic fortified metropolis, and the stays of its previous defensive partitions are nonetheless largely intact.
You may stroll alongside a number of sections of those partitions, which supply a novel perspective of town and its environment. I’d suggest packing a cushty pair of sneakers for this, as there are fairly a number of steps, but it surely’s greater than well worth the effort.
Gazing out from Ostuni’s hilltop place, it’s straightforward to see why its founders selected this as the situation for his or her metropolis. You may see for a good distance in every path, together with out to sea.
13. Get pleasure from a Personal Eating Expertise
In the event you’re staying in an residence with self-catering services, one of the particular issues to do in Ostuni at night time is to take pleasure in an at-home non-public eating expertise.
An professional chef will come to your residence and prepare dinner up a feast for you of Puglian specialties utilizing a variety of top-quality native elements. The meal features a vary of appetizers, first and second programs, and a scrumptious dessert.
This expertise will be custom-made to account for explicit dietary necessities – see right here for extra info.
14. Discover Martina Franca
The quaint hilltop city of Martina Franca is simply 23 kilometers away from Ostuni and a great spot for a day journey. The city is thought for its baroque-style buildings and slender, cobbled streets lined with stylish cafes and boutiques.
Martina Franca is residence to the spectacular baroque Basilica di San Martino cathedral which homes some lovely work from the Sixteenth century.
Wander round its slender streets, take pleasure in a espresso or an aperitivo in considered one of its many cafes and bars, and take in the environment. You may take a strolling tour of Martina Franca, or style a lot of native wines and different delicacies as a part of this tasting expertise.
15. Savor an Unimaginable Sundown
Ostuni’s sunsets are merely breathtaking, so be sure to take a while each night you’re there to take pleasure in them from one of many many viewpoints round city.
My favourite place to observe the sundown in Ostuni is from the terrace of Dish Restaurant (see under). Nevertheless, even in the event you don’t eat there, you may nonetheless take pleasure in an unbelievable view of town from right here.
The southern Mediterranean sundown paints the whitewashed Centro Storico with gold, orange, and pink rays. It’s actually magical and an ideal factor to do in Ostuni for {couples}.
Fast Journey Itineraries For Ostuni
Listed here are a number of urged journey itineraries to assist resolve what stuff to do in Ostuni so that you just get essentially the most out of your time there.
1 Day in Ostuni Itinerary
You may see most of Ostuni’s high sights in at some point. Start the day by taking a strolling tour and exploring the Centro Storico, earlier than stopping for a leisurely lunch in one of many many conventional eating places within the middle.
Within the afternoon, both head to the seashore or to one of many native vineyards for a spot of wine tasting. Again on the town, have gelato in Piazza della Liberta, then end your day having fun with a world-class sundown and dinner at Dish Restaurant (see under).
2-3 Days in Ostuni Itinerary
Spend the primary day exploring town and visiting its varied sights, as above.
On day two, make a journey to Alberobello to see the wonderful trulli. From right here, you may be part of this 2-hour guided trulli tour.
Lastly, in your last day, head to the coast for some seashore time. Within the afternoon, do a conventional Puglian cooking class. End off your time within the metropolis with a number of drinks, and benefit from the sundown.
1 Week in Ostuni Itinerary
Ostuni is a reasonably small metropolis and in a single week you may comfortably see and do all the pieces I’ve described on this put up. You’ll have the ability to actually take your time with every of those actions and benefit from the splendidly relaxed tempo of life that this a part of the world is known for.
The order you do issues is completely as much as you, however I might recommend beginning with at the very least at some point exploring town (as per the above) that will help you get your bearings.
After that, you may spend a full day every in each Alberobello and Martina Franca, and one other one on the seashore. Use your remaining three days to tick off the remaining actions on this checklist.
Don’t neglect to go to Ostuni’s principal market on Saturday, and permit your self loads of time to take a seat and people-watch within the metropolis’s engaging squares and plazas.
The place to Keep in Ostuni
These are a number of of one of the best neighborhoods in Ostuni for vacationers.
Outdated City – Greatest for First-time Guests
The Centro Storico of Ostuni is the perfect alternative for first-time guests, as most of the city’s hottest historic websites and sights are positioned right here. With its charming cobblestone streets and full of life environment, it’s the proper place to get a really feel for town.
It is a nice resort near the middle.
Outskirts of Ostuni – Greatest for Funds Vacationers
In the event you’re on the lookout for finances lodging, this will principally be discovered on the outskirts of city. It’s not a very massive place, so that you’ll seemingly have the ability to stroll out of your resort or residence to a lot of the principal vacationer sights in Ostuni, Italy.
Try this implausible finances residence.
Masserias Close to Ostuni – Greatest for a Peaceable Rural Retreat
The world round Ostuni is residence to quite a few Masserias (conventional farmhouses), nestled among the many historic olive groves. A number of have been transformed into guesthouses and opulent resorts that make for an ideal rural southern Italian retreat.
This one is beautiful.
Greatest Eating places in Ostuni
Don’t miss these nice locations to eat in Ostuni.
Dish Restaurant
Upmarket Dish Restaurant has a terrace with among the finest views within the metropolis. The meals can be implausible, providing a variety of ingenious and scrumptious dishes which might be expertly introduced.
Osteria Madre
Osteria Madre is a standard Puglian restaurant simply south of the historic middle of Ostuni. It’s mid-priced and serves a lot of native specialties, together with recent pasta and seafood.
Ristorante La Vecchia Terrazza
The factor I really like most about Ristorante La Vecchia Terrazza is its spacious out of doors terrace with sweeping views out to the Adriatic coast and throughout to the Outdated City. Their blended seafood platter is especially good, they usually have a terrific collection of native wines to take pleasure in together with your meal.
Impasto Napoletano Pizzeria Napoletana
In the event you’re within the temper for good worth, high-quality Neapolitan pizza in Ostuni, look no additional than Impasto Napoletano Pizzeria Napoletana. They’ve an outside terrace that’s full of life and buzzing within the evenings.
Getting To Ostuni
For a lot of guests, the simplest solution to get to Ostuni is through Bari, the capital of Puglia.
Bari has a global airport with flights from a wide range of locations all through Europe. In the event you’re coming from additional away, you’ll in all probability need to fly to both Rome or Milan first after which take a connecting flight (or prepare) to Bari.
From Bari, you may attain Ostuni by prepare or bus. The prepare is faster than the bus, though keep in mind that Ostuni prepare station is positioned about 2 kilometers away from the middle of city. You may both stroll, take a neighborhood bus, or hail a taxi to take you into city.
It’s additionally potential to journey to Puglia by ferry from varied nations within the Balkans, together with Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, and Greece. Most ferries arrive in both Bari or Brindisi.
When you’ve arrived in Ostuni, town middle is small and finest explored on foot.
Issues To Do in Ostuni: FAQs
Listed here are some solutions to generally requested questions on what to see and do in Ostuni.
Ostuni is called the “White Metropolis” attributable to its lovely whitewashed homes, which make for gorgeous views from many factors within the metropolis.
Ostuni is a good vacation spot year-round. I feel one of the best time to go to is throughout the spring or early summer time months when temperatures are heat, however not too scorching, and the times are lengthy.
Sure! There are many issues to do in Ostuni, from exploring its cobbled streets and having fun with nice meals and wine to absorbing the solar on its close by seashores.
I like to recommend staying at the very least two or three days to take advantage of your go to. You may simply fill a day exploring Ostuni’s charming middle, one other day stress-free on the seashore, after which a 3rd day visiting native vineyards and olive groves.
Ostuni is usually a very protected place to go to. Nevertheless, as with every vacation spot, it’s at all times finest to pay attention to your environment and take the standard precautions.
Exploring the attractive whitewashed Outdated City is likely one of the hottest issues to do in Ostuni.
The perfect seashore near Ostuni is Spiaggia di Torre Pozzelle. It’s quiet and unspoiled, with crystal-clear waters excellent for swimming and snorkeling.
Ostuni is famend for its scrumptious delicacies, with a hearty mixture of seafood, greens, cheeses, and pasta. A few of my favourite dishes embrace seafood pasta, focaccia, and grilled freshly-caught native fish.
In Closing
As you may see, there are many issues to see in Ostuni, Italy. Regardless of its magnificence, town additionally receives fewer vacationers than most of the nation’s different well-known locations. It’s an ideal place to get away from all of it and actually expertise southern Italian life.
Ostuni is an extremely lovely vacation spot and a implausible place to base your self when exploring extra of the broader Puglia area. I couldn’t suggest it extra.