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Places of interest
The B&B La Villa is situated in an ideal position as point of departure, to be able to visit big part of the tourist places and historical and architectural interest of the central Puglia and in only 45 minutes from the splendid and famous Matera.
Bari Vecchia
Bari Vecchia dates back to Byzantine town planning and is made up of buildings from different eras. From reports and documents known in Bari from the twelfth to the nineteenth century. Towards the sea it was fortified by the characteristic wall which is still present today, albeit to a lesser extent due to the construction of the promenade in the early 1900s. On the ground it was fortified by large walls surrounded by a moat full of water, with the castle the defensive part ends in the west. The surrounding walls were majestic and fortified by 4 towers: the two to the north still present, the tower of Sant'Antonio and that of Santa Scolastica; a tower of San domenico and the Torre del Vento.
It's nice to walk in the morning, when Bari's nightlife is closed. Going a little beyond the ancient walls, you can enjoy the magnificent view of the sea and the port.
Old Bari seems almost a city, where it is easy to find old ladies who work the typical Apulian pasta (orecchiette). You are struck by intense aromas such as those of coffee, or ciambotto (famous fish soup from a mix of various fish specialties, typical dish of the area).
BARI VECCHIA: WHAT TO SEE
Old Port
Ferrarese square
Mercantile square
Via Venezia and Lungomare Imperatore Augusto
Corte di Catapano Basilica of S. Nicola
Nicolaiano Museum
Complex of Santa Scolastica
Cathedral of S. Sabino and Diocesan Museum
It's nice to walk in the morning, when Bari's nightlife is closed. Going a little beyond the ancient walls, you can enjoy the magnificent view of the sea and the port.
Old Bari seems almost a city, where it is easy to find old ladies who work the typical Apulian pasta (orecchiette). You are struck by intense aromas such as those of coffee, or ciambotto (famous fish soup from a mix of various fish specialties, typical dish of the area).
BARI VECCHIA: WHAT TO SEE
Old Port
Ferrarese square
Mercantile square
Via Venezia and Lungomare Imperatore Augusto
Corte di Catapano Basilica of S. Nicola
Nicolaiano Museum
Complex of Santa Scolastica
Cathedral of S. Sabino and Diocesan Museum
Giovinazzo
A charming seaside village with an ancient heart, with the dolmen of San Silvestro, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Arco di Traiano.
Giovinazzo is a delightful medieval village on the Adriatic, with the characteristic harbor and the splendid fortified promenade, between Molfetta and Bari, which is less than 20 km away.
The Arch of Trajan is the elegant welcome to the ancient center, where the Palazzo del Marchese di Rende, the sixteenth-century Palazzo Saraceno, home of the Town Hall, the Church of San Domenico and the Church of the Holy Spirit with "trullo" domes parade.
The splendid Fontana dei Tritoni dominates Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, the center of city life together with Piazza Costantinopoli. Going beyond the arches of via Cattedrale you reach the Romanesque Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which houses the Byzantine icon of the Madonna di Corsignano, the patron saint celebrated for the entire month of August.
The promenade offers clean beaches and, at dusk, lights up with clubs and restaurants. In the coastal Murgia, not far from the town, stands the dolmen of San Silvestro.
Giovinazzo is a delightful medieval village on the Adriatic, with the characteristic harbor and the splendid fortified promenade, between Molfetta and Bari, which is less than 20 km away.
The Arch of Trajan is the elegant welcome to the ancient center, where the Palazzo del Marchese di Rende, the sixteenth-century Palazzo Saraceno, home of the Town Hall, the Church of San Domenico and the Church of the Holy Spirit with "trullo" domes parade.
The splendid Fontana dei Tritoni dominates Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, the center of city life together with Piazza Costantinopoli. Going beyond the arches of via Cattedrale you reach the Romanesque Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which houses the Byzantine icon of the Madonna di Corsignano, the patron saint celebrated for the entire month of August.
The promenade offers clean beaches and, at dusk, lights up with clubs and restaurants. In the coastal Murgia, not far from the town, stands the dolmen of San Silvestro.
Trani
The historic center of the city is very characteristic and in excellent condition.
Its famous cathedral is built on a promontory overlooking the sea and its shape is visible even to those who are out of the harbor.
Not far away is the castle, built by Frederick II of Swabia in 1233.
Behind the cathedral and the castle, there is the church of S. Giacomo.
To be seen:
Cathedral
Diocesan Museum
Castle
Church of S.Giacomo
Abbey of S. Maria di Colonna
Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo
Via Ognissanti
Palazzo Caccetta
Jewish quarter
Its famous cathedral is built on a promontory overlooking the sea and its shape is visible even to those who are out of the harbor.
Not far away is the castle, built by Frederick II of Swabia in 1233.
Behind the cathedral and the castle, there is the church of S. Giacomo.
To be seen:
Cathedral
Diocesan Museum
Castle
Church of S.Giacomo
Abbey of S. Maria di Colonna
Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo
Via Ognissanti
Palazzo Caccetta
Jewish quarter
Castel del Monte
Castel del Monte has an exceptional universal value for the perfection of its forms, the harmony and fusion of cultural elements from Northern Europe, the Muslim world and classical antiquity. It is a unique masterpiece of medieval architecture, which reflects the humanism of its founder: Federico II of Svevia. "
These are the words used by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in 1996 as a motivation for the inclusion of the castle in the World Heritage List (the list of places declared World Heritage).
There is only one document of the Federician age in which there is a reference to the castle, in which the emperor ordered Riccardo di Montefuscolo to buy building materials, to be used in the castle of the abbey of Santa Maria del Monte, abbey now not more exists more time The function of the castle has always been discussed by historians, for some it was erected as a hunting lodge and subsequently it was occasionally frequented by Federico II. For others it is military work and therefore part of the complex network of castles located in the area. In favor of this hypothesis there is the particular position, Castel del Monte is located at 540 meters above sea level. on one of the highest hills of the Murgia and therefore allows a very wide view. To question this hypothesis, however, there are some structural characteristics of the castle, in fact there is no moat, there are no sewers and there is no drawbridge. Its function is only one of the mysteries that hovers around the castle.
The biggest mystery is surely given by the fact that Castel del Monte was built with an almost obsessive repetition of the number 8. In reality it has an octagonal plan with eight towers which are also octagonal. The interior houses eight rooms and in the center there is an octagonal courtyard with an obviously octagonal swimming pool in the middle.
In addition to the functions already mentioned, over the centuries the hypotheses on why this construction was the most disparate, among many thought an initiatory path, others have advanced the hypothesis that it was the coffin of the Holy Grail, others that represented the crown of Federico II and therefore its magnificence, another hypothesis is that it was an astronomical observatory or even a huge mathematical device. The last hypothesis in chronological order is that it was a large thermal complex.
Beyond the hypotheses and more or less imaginative interpretations of the symbols and forms that make up what we might call the most mysterious construction in Italy, the only certainty is that there are no documents attesting the passage or presence of the emperor in the castle. This of course only feeds the fantasies of those who admire observing this powerful structure.
These are the words used by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in 1996 as a motivation for the inclusion of the castle in the World Heritage List (the list of places declared World Heritage).
There is only one document of the Federician age in which there is a reference to the castle, in which the emperor ordered Riccardo di Montefuscolo to buy building materials, to be used in the castle of the abbey of Santa Maria del Monte, abbey now not more exists more time The function of the castle has always been discussed by historians, for some it was erected as a hunting lodge and subsequently it was occasionally frequented by Federico II. For others it is military work and therefore part of the complex network of castles located in the area. In favor of this hypothesis there is the particular position, Castel del Monte is located at 540 meters above sea level. on one of the highest hills of the Murgia and therefore allows a very wide view. To question this hypothesis, however, there are some structural characteristics of the castle, in fact there is no moat, there are no sewers and there is no drawbridge. Its function is only one of the mysteries that hovers around the castle.
The biggest mystery is surely given by the fact that Castel del Monte was built with an almost obsessive repetition of the number 8. In reality it has an octagonal plan with eight towers which are also octagonal. The interior houses eight rooms and in the center there is an octagonal courtyard with an obviously octagonal swimming pool in the middle.
In addition to the functions already mentioned, over the centuries the hypotheses on why this construction was the most disparate, among many thought an initiatory path, others have advanced the hypothesis that it was the coffin of the Holy Grail, others that represented the crown of Federico II and therefore its magnificence, another hypothesis is that it was an astronomical observatory or even a huge mathematical device. The last hypothesis in chronological order is that it was a large thermal complex.
Beyond the hypotheses and more or less imaginative interpretations of the symbols and forms that make up what we might call the most mysterious construction in Italy, the only certainty is that there are no documents attesting the passage or presence of the emperor in the castle. This of course only feeds the fantasies of those who admire observing this powerful structure.
Polignano a mare
One of the most famous seaside resorts on the Bari coast. Polignano a Mare is the city that gave birth to Domenico Modugno who, looking at his rocky promontory overlooking the sea, wrote the famous song "Nel blu painted di blu".
The historic center is mandatory, characterized by being on the sea; breathtaking scenery with numerous panoramic views.
Beyond the Marchesale arch, the only way to access the medieval village, there is a strong feeling of protection, almost like a hug. Not far from the entrance of the ancient village is the Matrice church, dedicated to the Madonna dell'Assunta, remodeled several times over the centuries and mainly Renaissance. Another noteworthy cult building is the church of S. Antonio which houses an 18th century Venetian wooden choir and some important paintings.
In the buildings of the former slaughterhouse, there is the only permanent museum of contemporary art in Puglia, the Pino Pascali museum, inside it is possible to see some works by Pascali (artist from Polignano) and temporary exhibitions are set up.
There are numerous beaches along the Polignano a Mare coast. 12 kilometers long, the coast alternates with pebbles with small beaches of fine sand, there are many beaches but there are also stretches of free beach. The characteristic of the Polignanese seafront is the presence of numerous caves dug by the erosive action of the sea, the most famous being the Palazzese Grotto currently home to a hotel restaurant; also visit the other with a boat trip.
Lama Monachile, also known as Cala Porto, is the symbolic beach of Polignano and can be easily reached on foot from the historic center via the Monachile bridge. Since Roman times, the bridge is located on the road of what was once the Via Traiana. One of the most famous beaches is Cala Paura, just outside the city, it is divided into two small bays, one with services and the other free. Ponte dei Lapilli is also very beautiful, a free beach accessible after a short walk along the rocks. Porto Cavallo and Lido San Giovanni instead have sandy beaches ideal for families and are located in the village of S. Vito. Just outside the village of Polignano is Cala Portalga, characterized by a small arch which gives access to the pebble beach; from here it is possible to admire the Scoglio dell'Eremita.
The historic center is mandatory, characterized by being on the sea; breathtaking scenery with numerous panoramic views.
Beyond the Marchesale arch, the only way to access the medieval village, there is a strong feeling of protection, almost like a hug. Not far from the entrance of the ancient village is the Matrice church, dedicated to the Madonna dell'Assunta, remodeled several times over the centuries and mainly Renaissance. Another noteworthy cult building is the church of S. Antonio which houses an 18th century Venetian wooden choir and some important paintings.
In the buildings of the former slaughterhouse, there is the only permanent museum of contemporary art in Puglia, the Pino Pascali museum, inside it is possible to see some works by Pascali (artist from Polignano) and temporary exhibitions are set up.
There are numerous beaches along the Polignano a Mare coast. 12 kilometers long, the coast alternates with pebbles with small beaches of fine sand, there are many beaches but there are also stretches of free beach. The characteristic of the Polignanese seafront is the presence of numerous caves dug by the erosive action of the sea, the most famous being the Palazzese Grotto currently home to a hotel restaurant; also visit the other with a boat trip.
Lama Monachile, also known as Cala Porto, is the symbolic beach of Polignano and can be easily reached on foot from the historic center via the Monachile bridge. Since Roman times, the bridge is located on the road of what was once the Via Traiana. One of the most famous beaches is Cala Paura, just outside the city, it is divided into two small bays, one with services and the other free. Ponte dei Lapilli is also very beautiful, a free beach accessible after a short walk along the rocks. Porto Cavallo and Lido San Giovanni instead have sandy beaches ideal for families and are located in the village of S. Vito. Just outside the village of Polignano is Cala Portalga, characterized by a small arch which gives access to the pebble beach; from here it is possible to admire the Scoglio dell'Eremita.
Monopoli
Since its construction the city of Monopoli has had an elective relationship with the sea, the port, integrated into the urban fabric is in fact one of the most important and active in the region and the city played an important role during the Spanish domination of the 16th century like a fortress against the Turks.
There are numerous churches and prestigious buildings in the historic center overlooking the sea and close to the ancient walls built to defend the city since the times of the Messapi. Among the most beautiful Apulian churches, in the historic center of Monopoli, the cathedral Maria Santissima della Madia; with the facade and bell tower in Baroque style, built on the pre-existing Romanesque church built on a previous pagan temple. In the immediate vicinity of the cathedral, there are two other splendid examples of Baroque - Renaissance architecture, the churches of San Domenico and San Francesco.
Much more sober, in Romanesque style, the Church of Santa Maria Amalfitana. This was erected on a pre-existing crypt, following a vow made by the Amalfi sailors during a shipwreck. Once they escaped the danger, they wanted to dedicate the crypt to the Madonna and then the current church was built.
To protect the port there is the pentagonal castle of Charles V, typical form of fortified sixteenth-century buildings, built by incorporating an ancient Roman fortified tower. The castle was used as a prison for the middle of the last century.
Monopoli is certainly famous for its beaches and coves with crystal clear waters. There are fifteen kilometers of coast between Torre Incina and Capitolo that start south of Polignano a Mare lapping the city and arriving at the border with nearby Savelletri. Other bays and well-known bays are: Cala Porta Vecchia, with a sandy beach, is very accessible being at the foot of the historic center; the beautiful Porto Nero also called "the black pearl" and Porto Verde. Very popular among young people is Copacabana beach, often animated by night parties.
Moving slightly south, towards Brindisi, before the Chapter, on a peninsula, the abbey - the castle of Santo Stefano stands out in the eyes of the visitor. This fortified structure was initially used by the Benedictines and later by the Knights of Malta. The abbey is located between two natural harbors, currently two very popular beaches: Porto Ghiacciolo and Lido Santo Stefano.
There are numerous churches and prestigious buildings in the historic center overlooking the sea and close to the ancient walls built to defend the city since the times of the Messapi. Among the most beautiful Apulian churches, in the historic center of Monopoli, the cathedral Maria Santissima della Madia; with the facade and bell tower in Baroque style, built on the pre-existing Romanesque church built on a previous pagan temple. In the immediate vicinity of the cathedral, there are two other splendid examples of Baroque - Renaissance architecture, the churches of San Domenico and San Francesco.
Much more sober, in Romanesque style, the Church of Santa Maria Amalfitana. This was erected on a pre-existing crypt, following a vow made by the Amalfi sailors during a shipwreck. Once they escaped the danger, they wanted to dedicate the crypt to the Madonna and then the current church was built.
To protect the port there is the pentagonal castle of Charles V, typical form of fortified sixteenth-century buildings, built by incorporating an ancient Roman fortified tower. The castle was used as a prison for the middle of the last century.
Monopoli is certainly famous for its beaches and coves with crystal clear waters. There are fifteen kilometers of coast between Torre Incina and Capitolo that start south of Polignano a Mare lapping the city and arriving at the border with nearby Savelletri. Other bays and well-known bays are: Cala Porta Vecchia, with a sandy beach, is very accessible being at the foot of the historic center; the beautiful Porto Nero also called "the black pearl" and Porto Verde. Very popular among young people is Copacabana beach, often animated by night parties.
Moving slightly south, towards Brindisi, before the Chapter, on a peninsula, the abbey - the castle of Santo Stefano stands out in the eyes of the visitor. This fortified structure was initially used by the Benedictines and later by the Knights of Malta. The abbey is located between two natural harbors, currently two very popular beaches: Porto Ghiacciolo and Lido Santo Stefano.
Grotte di Castellana
Castellana Grotte hides the most important speleological complex in Italy in its subsoil. Caving is the science that studies caves, their genesis and their nature.
The caves of Castellana Grotte were discovered in 1938 and have so far been explored for about 3 km, at an average depth of 70 meters. The first cave that starts the underground system is "La Grave" and is the only environment connected to the outside. Immediately afterwards we find the "Black Cave", covered with dark microscopic mushrooms. Then proceed to the "Cavernone dei Monumenti", about 40 meters high, where large stalagmites rise. Immediately afterwards we find "The Cathedral", a large square cave, one of the largest. Continuing are other numerous caves and characteristic natural "monuments" such as the "Madonnina delle Grotte", a small stalagmite contained in a lateral niche inside the "passage of the Nativity scene", so called because of its obvious resemblance to the Virgin Mary. The itinerary ends with the last and most beautiful cave of the underground system, the "White Grotto", so defined for the richness and whiteness of alabaster, is the most splendid cave in the world.
Looking at the map of Castellana Grotte, the ancient part, of an urban-medieval type, is clearly distinct from the rest of the center developed from the 17th to the 19th century, located outside the old walls and towers, characterized by long and parallel streets. The narrow streets of the historic center converge in Largo Leone Magno, which overlooks the church of the same name. The same streets are still paved with local limestone paving, and many of them retain the characteristic curbs. In the other numerous streets of the historic center we find churches, palaces, arches and white houses.
Among the archaeological remains of the historic center of considerable importance we find the ancient access gates to the city. Among the oldest and most famous was "Porta Grande" with the "Torre delle Armi", located in the homonymous Largo. Largo Portagrande coincides with the most depressed point of a large basin of rainwater where the gravinelle open, natural incisions of the limestone rock carved by rainwater, typical of the Murgia.
Other access doors existed until the eighteenth century: "Porta della Gabella", "Porta delle Olive", "Porta Pèntini" and "Porta Caroseno". Over time, additional gates have been added and moved due to the expansion of the city.
The caves of Castellana Grotte were discovered in 1938 and have so far been explored for about 3 km, at an average depth of 70 meters. The first cave that starts the underground system is "La Grave" and is the only environment connected to the outside. Immediately afterwards we find the "Black Cave", covered with dark microscopic mushrooms. Then proceed to the "Cavernone dei Monumenti", about 40 meters high, where large stalagmites rise. Immediately afterwards we find "The Cathedral", a large square cave, one of the largest. Continuing are other numerous caves and characteristic natural "monuments" such as the "Madonnina delle Grotte", a small stalagmite contained in a lateral niche inside the "passage of the Nativity scene", so called because of its obvious resemblance to the Virgin Mary. The itinerary ends with the last and most beautiful cave of the underground system, the "White Grotto", so defined for the richness and whiteness of alabaster, is the most splendid cave in the world.
Looking at the map of Castellana Grotte, the ancient part, of an urban-medieval type, is clearly distinct from the rest of the center developed from the 17th to the 19th century, located outside the old walls and towers, characterized by long and parallel streets. The narrow streets of the historic center converge in Largo Leone Magno, which overlooks the church of the same name. The same streets are still paved with local limestone paving, and many of them retain the characteristic curbs. In the other numerous streets of the historic center we find churches, palaces, arches and white houses.
Among the archaeological remains of the historic center of considerable importance we find the ancient access gates to the city. Among the oldest and most famous was "Porta Grande" with the "Torre delle Armi", located in the homonymous Largo. Largo Portagrande coincides with the most depressed point of a large basin of rainwater where the gravinelle open, natural incisions of the limestone rock carved by rainwater, typical of the Murgia.
Other access doors existed until the eighteenth century: "Porta della Gabella", "Porta delle Olive", "Porta Pèntini" and "Porta Caroseno". Over time, additional gates have been added and moved due to the expansion of the city.
Alberobello
Alberobello, the city of trulli, Unesco World Heritage Site since 1996
It has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1996 with its thousand trulli that sprout among steep streets. The local gastronomy offers almond sweets, pettole, cartellate and amaretti.
The Monti district has been declared a National Monument since 1910, it is here that most of the city trulli are located, in the neighborhood the ancient buildings are mainly used for commercial use and are arranged on 8 parallel streets. The Siamese Trullo is among the oldest in the city, its construction should date back to 1400, the peculiarity of this house is that it is a double trullo, with two cones and two entrances from different streets, the legend linked to this construction says that it was inhabited by two brothers who, however, in love with the same woman, had to divide the house as coexistence between the two had become impossible.
At the edge of the Monti district there is a very particular construction, the Church of S. Antonio, a trullo-shaped building of worship. The church of S. Antonio was built in 1927 with a monumental entrance surmounted by a rose window.
The other district consisting of trulli is the Aia Piccola district, this is much more collected since there are no commercial activities inside. Close to Aia Piccola and Piazza del Popolo there is an agglomeration of trulli called Casa Pezzolla, here the Territory Museum has been set up, where tools of the peasant tradition are exhibited and the use of stone in local society is illustrated.
Among the many buildings, Casa d’Amore stands out, the first house built using mortar, a single-storey trullo building with a small balcony; Casa d’Amore has been a national monument since 1930.
The Basilica of Saints Medici Cosma and Damiano was built in the eighteenth century near a previous rural church; you enter by climbing a staircase and through a beautiful bronze portal richly embellished with bas-reliefs. Inside there are numerous paintings, the Madonna of Loreto on the main altar, and the frescoes on the apse; the church also preserves important relics of the Saints to whom it is dedicated.
Behind the Basilica of the Medici Saints, the Sovereign Trullo stands 14 meters high. The Sovereign Trullo is the largest structure in the country and the only one with two floors, it was built in the mid-18th century and represents the highest point of the dry construction technique. It can currently be visited and is furnished with traditional furniture.
What see:
Rione Monti
Siamese trullo
Church of S.Antonio
Rione Aia Piccola Casa
Pezzolla and Territory Museum
House of Love
Sanctuary of Ss. Medici
Cosma and Damiano
Sovereign trullo
It has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1996 with its thousand trulli that sprout among steep streets. The local gastronomy offers almond sweets, pettole, cartellate and amaretti.
The Monti district has been declared a National Monument since 1910, it is here that most of the city trulli are located, in the neighborhood the ancient buildings are mainly used for commercial use and are arranged on 8 parallel streets. The Siamese Trullo is among the oldest in the city, its construction should date back to 1400, the peculiarity of this house is that it is a double trullo, with two cones and two entrances from different streets, the legend linked to this construction says that it was inhabited by two brothers who, however, in love with the same woman, had to divide the house as coexistence between the two had become impossible.
At the edge of the Monti district there is a very particular construction, the Church of S. Antonio, a trullo-shaped building of worship. The church of S. Antonio was built in 1927 with a monumental entrance surmounted by a rose window.
The other district consisting of trulli is the Aia Piccola district, this is much more collected since there are no commercial activities inside. Close to Aia Piccola and Piazza del Popolo there is an agglomeration of trulli called Casa Pezzolla, here the Territory Museum has been set up, where tools of the peasant tradition are exhibited and the use of stone in local society is illustrated.
Among the many buildings, Casa d’Amore stands out, the first house built using mortar, a single-storey trullo building with a small balcony; Casa d’Amore has been a national monument since 1930.
The Basilica of Saints Medici Cosma and Damiano was built in the eighteenth century near a previous rural church; you enter by climbing a staircase and through a beautiful bronze portal richly embellished with bas-reliefs. Inside there are numerous paintings, the Madonna of Loreto on the main altar, and the frescoes on the apse; the church also preserves important relics of the Saints to whom it is dedicated.
Behind the Basilica of the Medici Saints, the Sovereign Trullo stands 14 meters high. The Sovereign Trullo is the largest structure in the country and the only one with two floors, it was built in the mid-18th century and represents the highest point of the dry construction technique. It can currently be visited and is furnished with traditional furniture.
What see:
Rione Monti
Siamese trullo
Church of S.Antonio
Rione Aia Piccola Casa
Pezzolla and Territory Museum
House of Love
Sanctuary of Ss. Medici
Cosma and Damiano
Sovereign trullo
Ostuni
Crossed houses color the hill on which the cathedral of Ostuni stands bright white. A fashionable city with its beaches about ten kilometers from the nightlife of the village and its charming taverns. The "white city" is also known Ostuni, with the typical color of the houses of the ancient Terra district, the ancient village fortified city.
The Co-Cathedral is located on the highest point of the city, built in the 15th century, it has a beautiful facade in late Gothic forms; on the main facade there are three portals surmounted by a rose, the rose window placed on the central portal made up of 24 finely carved rays stands out. The interior has a Latin cross with three naves redone with eighteenth-century shapes, the Baroque side altars are very interesting. Next to the Cathedral, one in front of the other, there are also two beautiful eighteenth-century buildings: the Bishop's Palace and the Seminary, connected by a stone bridge called "the Loggia".
Also in Piazza Cattedrale, inside the former Carmelite Monastery of Santa Maria Maddalena dei Pazzi, there is the "Museum of the pre-classic civilizations of the southern Murgia". Inside the museum is the skeleton of a woman who has kept the remains of the fetus on her lap, buried 28,000 years ago and found during an excavation campaign at the cave of Santa Maria di Agnano. In addition to the Woman from Ostuni, exhibits referring to the Neolithic, Messapic and medieval periods from the surroundings of Ostuni are on display. Annexed to the monastery is the Church of San Vito Martire, one of the most important monuments of Ostuni with its rococo lines.
Inside the historic center, in addition to the famous white-colored houses, there are numerous noble palaces, an example is the Baroque Palazzo Zevallos, residence of the Neapolitan feudal lords who harassed the city for almost two centuries.
Other beautiful church monuments in the historic center are: the seventeenth-century Church of the Holy Spirit with the beautiful Renaissance portal and the Church of San Giacomo di Compostela built in 1423.
From its 20 meters the Spire of S. Oronzo stands out in Piazza Libertà. With the statue of the protector on the top, it is an ex voto erected in 1771 as a thank you for having preserved the city of Ostuni from the '700 plague. A few kilometers from the city there is also the Sanctuary dedicated to the Saint, built in the 1600s near a cave where he had found refuge. On the left of the church you take a staircase that leads to a source believed to be miraculous.
Ostuni is also very famous for its sea, the city has received several times the Blue Flag and the Five sails of Legambiente; the city with the cleanest sea in Italy has been defined. The coast is 20 kilometers long, including different environments: long beaches, small coves between the rocks, beautiful dune sites and Mediterranean scrub. Costamerlata beach is the most famous, a beautiful bay of fine sand with shallow waters and crystal clear waters; the beaches of Diana Marina and Rosa Marina are also very beautiful and popular, also with very light and soft sand; on the beach of Monticelli instead there are stretches of rocks and low rocks with higher backdrops than the others; among the most popular beaches there is also the Pilone beach, completely immersed in the Mediterranean scrub.
The countryside is dotted with Fortified Masserie whose construction spread between the 16th and 17th centuries; among all the best known are: Masseria Rialbo di Sopra which is also the oldest, Masseria Spagnulo and Masseria Santo Scalone.
OSTUNI: WHAT TO SEE
Historic center "La Terra"
Concattedrale
Bishop's Palace and Seminary
Former Carmelite monastery
Museum of the pre-classic civilizations of the southern Murgia
Church of S.Vito Martire
Zevallos palace
Church of the Holy Spirit
Church of S.Giacomo di Compostela
Spire of S. Oronzo Sanctuary of S.Oronzo
Costamerlata bay
Diana Marina beach
Rosa Marina beach
Monticelli beach
Pilone beach
Fortified farms
The Co-Cathedral is located on the highest point of the city, built in the 15th century, it has a beautiful facade in late Gothic forms; on the main facade there are three portals surmounted by a rose, the rose window placed on the central portal made up of 24 finely carved rays stands out. The interior has a Latin cross with three naves redone with eighteenth-century shapes, the Baroque side altars are very interesting. Next to the Cathedral, one in front of the other, there are also two beautiful eighteenth-century buildings: the Bishop's Palace and the Seminary, connected by a stone bridge called "the Loggia".
Also in Piazza Cattedrale, inside the former Carmelite Monastery of Santa Maria Maddalena dei Pazzi, there is the "Museum of the pre-classic civilizations of the southern Murgia". Inside the museum is the skeleton of a woman who has kept the remains of the fetus on her lap, buried 28,000 years ago and found during an excavation campaign at the cave of Santa Maria di Agnano. In addition to the Woman from Ostuni, exhibits referring to the Neolithic, Messapic and medieval periods from the surroundings of Ostuni are on display. Annexed to the monastery is the Church of San Vito Martire, one of the most important monuments of Ostuni with its rococo lines.
Inside the historic center, in addition to the famous white-colored houses, there are numerous noble palaces, an example is the Baroque Palazzo Zevallos, residence of the Neapolitan feudal lords who harassed the city for almost two centuries.
Other beautiful church monuments in the historic center are: the seventeenth-century Church of the Holy Spirit with the beautiful Renaissance portal and the Church of San Giacomo di Compostela built in 1423.
From its 20 meters the Spire of S. Oronzo stands out in Piazza Libertà. With the statue of the protector on the top, it is an ex voto erected in 1771 as a thank you for having preserved the city of Ostuni from the '700 plague. A few kilometers from the city there is also the Sanctuary dedicated to the Saint, built in the 1600s near a cave where he had found refuge. On the left of the church you take a staircase that leads to a source believed to be miraculous.
Ostuni is also very famous for its sea, the city has received several times the Blue Flag and the Five sails of Legambiente; the city with the cleanest sea in Italy has been defined. The coast is 20 kilometers long, including different environments: long beaches, small coves between the rocks, beautiful dune sites and Mediterranean scrub. Costamerlata beach is the most famous, a beautiful bay of fine sand with shallow waters and crystal clear waters; the beaches of Diana Marina and Rosa Marina are also very beautiful and popular, also with very light and soft sand; on the beach of Monticelli instead there are stretches of rocks and low rocks with higher backdrops than the others; among the most popular beaches there is also the Pilone beach, completely immersed in the Mediterranean scrub.
The countryside is dotted with Fortified Masserie whose construction spread between the 16th and 17th centuries; among all the best known are: Masseria Rialbo di Sopra which is also the oldest, Masseria Spagnulo and Masseria Santo Scalone.
OSTUNI: WHAT TO SEE
Historic center "La Terra"
Concattedrale
Bishop's Palace and Seminary
Former Carmelite monastery
Museum of the pre-classic civilizations of the southern Murgia
Church of S.Vito Martire
Zevallos palace
Church of the Holy Spirit
Church of S.Giacomo di Compostela
Spire of S. Oronzo Sanctuary of S.Oronzo
Costamerlata bay
Diana Marina beach
Rosa Marina beach
Monticelli beach
Pilone beach
Fortified farms
Matera
Known with the names of "Città dei Sassi" and "Città Sotterranea", it is known all over the world for the historic Sassi districts, which make Matera one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. The Sassi were recognized on 9 December 1993 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the first site in southern Italy to receive this recognition.
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