Ostuni

Ostuni is the most typical and most representative Apulian town. The brilliance of its whitewashed houses set against the green landscape provide extraordinary views.

The beauty of Ostuni is in a particular mix of characteristics: the architecture in harmony with surrounding landscape; its stratification is in accordance with the various periods of its historical growth; its surrounding walls built by the Messapi and redesigned during the Aragonese period; its white houses indicative of a Oriental modelling of the town. The happy combination has made Ostuni one of the must see town in Puglia.

The Cathedral is the best known landmark of the town. It was built between 1435 and 1495 in the Gothic style with a tripartite façade. Above the central portal there is a magnificent rose window, which symbolizes the Cristo Sole. The interior of the church is divided into three naves and has a level ceiling and Baroque side chapels.

The obelisk of S. Oronzo, located in piazza della Libertà, is a perfect expression of the Baroque style and it was built in 1771 on an idea of Giuseppe Greco. It has a pyramidal shape and is more than 20 metres high, with a statue of S. Oronzo on the top.

Alongside the obelisk a small church with a magnificent portal, the church of S. Spirito. Its portal is older than the church and it is the most elaborate and expressive portal in Ostuni in the classic Gothic style.

The surrounding walls of Ostuni date back of the Messapians, the Byzantines, the Normans, the Angevines and the Aragonese. The latter, probably after the earthquake of the 1456, reinforced the walls and the towers of the previous period and enlarged the defensive boundary on the south side. There are two main portals of the town: Porta Nova and Porta S. Demetrio.