Tourists for a week - Part 4

Ostuni, about 1 hour from Bari, is also know as the "white city" because all of the buildings within its fortified walls are painted white giving it a classic Greek island feel. Standing on top of a hill the town is prominant from miles away and has commanding views over the sea about 12 kilometres away.


The region around Ostuni has been inhabited 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-built by the Greeks, the name Ostuni deriving from the Greek Astu néon ("new town").

Ostuni was acked after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, in 996 AD the town became part of the Norman County of Lecce.

In 1539 the town had towers built along all the shoreline, as protection against anticipated attacks from the Turks who controlled the Balkans. These towers (still existing, including Pozzella Tower, the Pylon, Villanova and others), were permanently garrisoned and communicated through fire beacons.

Main Road


City Wall




The region is well know for its olive oil which is quite outstanding. We purchased a bottle but it only lasted a week. So good for slalds and bread.