Explorations of Apulia’s White City!
Ostuni is located in Apulia in Italy’s “heel”. Nicknamed the White City (La Città Bianca), Ostuni’s Old Town is known for its whitewashed buildings.
Early Ostuni was built on a fortified hill. People heading to the city would see a bright white city in the distance. The city towered over the local landscape.
I’m glad I went on a cloudy day, because a lot of the buildings in the city are bright white.
Jana Irving A road/piazza flanks the entire fortified city today. The ramp on the right leads to Porta Nova (New Gate). There are a few buildings in Ostuni that have not been whitewashed. The local stone color is gorgeous.
Jana Irving This is what you would have seen coming to the city.
Jana Irving Just a whole wall of white. I’m so glad I came on a cloudy day. Just imagine snow on a bright winter day.
Jana Irving Santa Maria della Stella, one of the many churches in the old city.
Jana Irving I love how the walls were incorporated into buildings.
Jana Irving A little sunlight poking through.
Jana Irving I finally went into the old city via the Porta San Demetrio.
Jana Irving It’s a very white city.
Jana Irving There were also a lot of stairs.
Jana Irving Cute little street.
Jana Irving Lots and lots of stairs.
Jana Irving I love that balcony.
Jana Irving Lots and lots of white.
Jana Irving Some plants for color.
Jana Irving Soooo many stairs.
Jana Irving Lots of little tunnels as well. Every space is valuable in a walled city.
Jana Irving I adore that balcony.
Jana Irving Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta. The city was so densely packed that it was hard to fit the entire church in one photo.
Jana Irving The Arco Scoppa, a cool walkway in front of the cathedral.
Jana Irving I love narrow streets.
Jana Irving A more “modern” area was seamlessly blended into the old city.
Jana Irving The very baroque San Francesco d’Assisi.
Jana Irving Very pretty.
Jana Irving A view of the White City. I had to walk a ways to get to this spot.
Ostuni is a gem of a little city. It doesn’t take that long to explore, which gave me unexpected time to visit another town in the area nearby. It is a bit trickier to get to Ostuni. The train station is outside of town and a local bus is required. Ostuni is definitely worth the hassle to get to it.
Tune in for my next update where I explore a town I only visited because of its name but was pleasantly surprised!Tune in for my next update where I explore a town I only visited because of its name but was pleasantly surprised!
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