Ostuni

This most popular and stunning whitewashed hilltop old town is the most beautiful of communes with breathtaking views of olive groves and vineyards stretching to the glimmering sea beyond

The white city of Puglia perched on a hilltop overlooking the olive groves of Trulli country. A town filled with little passages, narrow back streets and never ending flights of shallow steps, ensuring visitors are easily fooled into losing their bearings.

The views from Ostuni are reason enough to make a trip there. Wonderful 360-degree panoramas of the surrounding countryside and the Adriatic sea. The nearby coastline approximately 8km boasts some of Puglia's best beaches that have been awarded blue flags status in recent years.

The historic center has a medieval atmosphere with endless alleys opening into piazzas. Proudly sitting at the crest is the 15th century Gothic Cathedral. The Baroque church of San Vito Martire is a decorative temple with fanciful frills just down the street.

The Cavalcata di Sant'Oronzo, a celebration of the town's patron saint, takes place between the 24th-27th August. The high point, on the penultimate day, is a knightly, costumed procession on horseback. Usually on 15th August, when the Sagra dei Vecchi Tempi comes to town, there is the offering to visitors the chance to try some of the area's most traditional dishes.

The hub of the city is the Piazza della Liberta', a popular and charming public space. There are plenty of good standard restaurants, smart cafes, and piazza-side tables for sipping local wine. The cuisine is excellent, given its position in the vegetable garden of Italy. Seafood and grilled meats are the regional specialties, to be accompanied by the regions excellent olives oils and wines.

La Città Bianca, the white city of Ostuni, is one of Puglia's highlights and shouldn't be missed on a trip to this beautiful region of Italy.

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