Ostuni: Guide, Hotels, Map & Photos
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EUR 116 - 235 Masseria Cervarolo
 Masseria Cervarolo provides unique accommodation in typical Apulian trulli, stone buildings of the 16th century. The farm offers free parking, and is … MoreEUR 152 - 550 La Sommità Relais
 La Sommità Relais is a very exclusive and charming hotel. Located in the historical centre of Ostuni, it features a spa, historical architecture and … MoreEUR 69 - 190 Hotel Rione Antico La Terra
 Get a feel of times gone by at this completely renovated hotel and restaurant, dating back to the 13th century and set in La Terra, the old quarter of… MoreEUR 99 - 690 Masseria Il Frantoio
 Masseria Il Frantoio is an organic farm set in the countryside of Puglia, a 10-minute drive from Ostuni and the sea. It offers free parking, rustic ro… MoreEUR 30 - 170 Masseria Pugliese
 Masseria Pugliese is a historic farmhouse of 2 floors, surrounded by a white-stone wall and an extensive olive grove. It offers free parking and spaci… MoreEUR 99 - 350 Tenuta Le Taverne
 Tenuta Le Taverne is an old manor farm set in the Puglia countryside just 4 km from the Mediterranean Sea. Its extensive gardens include a large swimm… MoreEUR 80 - 260 Ostuni Palace
 The modern Ostuni Palace boasts a fantastic view across the picturesque White Town. Enjoy delicious, regional cuisine at the restaurant and choose fro… MoreEUR 57 - 310 Masseria Salinola
 Masseria Salinola dates back to the 18th century. Enjoy spacious rooms and self-catering apartments in the heart of Apulia.
The rustic feel of the ro… MoreEUR 90 - 170 Hotel Park Novecento Resort
 Located 5 minutes´ drive from the white-washed centre of Ostuni, Hotel Park Novecento Resort dates back to 1840 and offers landscaped gardens wi… MoreEUR 79 - 220 Hotel Monte Sarago
 Hotel Monte Sarago offers air conditioned rooms with free wired internet and satellite TV, a 5-minute walk from Ostuni´s historic centre. Puglia… MoreEUR 40 - 309 Blumarine Residence Club
 Just 500 metres from the beach in the small seaside town of Villanova, Blumarine Residence Club is a 10-minute drive from Ostuni. It offers a garden w… MoreEUR 60 - 125 B&B Dimora Celeste
 Set just outside the historic town of Ostuni, B&B Dimora Celeste boasts panoramic views across the Puglia countryside. It features a large garden with… MoreEUR 45 - 230 Albergo Masseria l´Ovile
 Hotel Masseria l´Ovile offers an ancient, peaceful atmosphere, a familiar housing, and delicious food in the sunny province of Brindisi.
LOvile… MoreEUR 87 - 182 Grand Hotel Masseria Santa Lucia
 Masseria Santa Lucia is a refurbished Apulian masseria, a fortified rural complex 500 metres from its private beach. All rooms offer a balcony, free W… MoreEUR 35 - 250 Hotel Città Bianca
 Enjoy good food and relaxing in the pleasant grounds with a swimming pool at Hotel Città Bianca. Set between Ostuni and Cisternino, it is a great bas… MoreEUR 50 - 258 Hotel Masseria Tutosa
 Masseria Tutosa is set in a 17th-century farmhouse, overlooking the blue Adriatic and the green Murgia Plains. It offers an outdoor pool surrounded by… MoreEUR 72 - 170 Hotel Incanto
 Located on a hill in the White City of Ostuni, Hotel Incanto features an outdoor pool and a terrace offering panoramic views of the Puglia countryside… MoreEUR 50 - 360 Agriturismo Salinola
 Set in the green hills of Ostuni, Agriturismo Salinola offers a swimming pool with jacuzzi and a restaurant serving homemade products. This farmhouse … More | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ostuni: Guide
Ostuni is a small city in the province of Brindisi (Puglia, Italy), with a population of about 32,000 situated about 8 km from the coast. Its main economic activities include tourism, known for its nearby pristine beaches, as well as a vibrant olive and grape agribusiness.
History Culture & Monuments
Ostuni area has been inhabitated since the stone age. The town is reputed to have been originally established by the Messapii, a pre-classic tribe, and destroyed by Hannibal during the Punic Wars. It was then re-build by Greek colons, since the current name derives from ""Astu néon"" ("new town").
Sacked after the fall of the Roman Empire, in 996 A.D. the town became part of the Norman County of Lecce, although from 1300 to 1463 was part of the Principality of Taranto and from 1507 (together with Villanova and Grottaglie) passed to the Dukedom of Bari of Isabella, wife to Gian Galeazzo Sforza, Duke of Milan. Under the lordship of Isabella, Ostuni enjoyed a golden-age within the wider panorama of the Italian Renaissance age. In this period Isabella took under her protection humanists and people of art and letters, including bishop Giovanni Bovio. Her daughter's, Bona Sforza's, education was tutored by the most famous humanist of Terra d’Otranto, Antonio de Ferrariis called Galateo. Isabella died in 1524 and Ostuni passed as dowry to her daughter Bona Sforza, wife-to-be of Sigismund II Augustus King of Poland. Also during Bona Sforza's government, Ostuni enjoyed a liberal and magnanimous regimen. In particular in 1539, she made coastal towers build along all the shoreline, in order to prevent eventual attacks from the Turks controlling the Balkans. These towers (still existing, incl. Pozzella Tower, the Pylon, Villanova and much more), were permanently garrisoned and communicated through ignited bonfire.
The so-called "Old Town" is Ostuni's citadel build on the top of a hill and still fortified with the ancient walls. Ostuni is reputed an architectural jewel, and is commonly referred to as "the White Town" ("La Città Bianca", in Italian language|Italian) for its white walls and its typically white-painted architecture. A monument on its own, the town's largest buildings are the Cathedral and the Bishop's Palace, alongside with a few palazzi of some of the aristocratic families of the region: Aurisicchio, Ayroldi, Bisantizzi, Falghieri, Ghionda, Giovine, Jurleo, Marseglia, Palmieri, Petrarolo, Siccoda, Urselli, Zaccaria.
Outside the town, in the country's landscape there is the typical presence of the Pugliese "masserie", fortified large estate-farms, among which San Domenico, a masseria once held by the Knights of Malta.
The city's patron Saint is Saint Oronzo. Each year a three day festival is held from the 25th to the 27th of August in his name.
External links
This "Travel Guide" section is drawn from the Wikipedia article "Ostuni". We hope you will edit and improve it. It is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.