Places to visit in Puglia

 

Interesting places to see in Puglia

The position of Ostuni is ideal for whoever is interested in visiting other interesting places in Puglia. Alberobello is at just 33 km from Ostuni (about 40 min), Martina Franca at just 24 km (30 min drive), Lecce, the Baroque town, at only at 75 km (50 min drive), Polignano a mare is at only 53 km (about 45 min). Otranto and Gallipoli are only at about one hour and 30 minutes away. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Matera, known as the City of the Sassi, is at only 141 km from Ostuni. Added to these there are also beautiful castles, cathedrals and prehistoric remains spread all around Puglia that should be visited.

 

Alberobello

Alberobello is a town famous for its cone-shaped houses called trulli, today part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The main areas of the city, Monti and Aia Piccola, are entirely built of trulli perched on the hills. A stunning setting that never fails to enchant and that must be seen. Find out more about Alberobello

 

Lecce the Baroque town

Lecce is rightly acclaimed as one of the capitals of the Baroque, a style which here has acquired unrivalled originality and exuberance thanks to the skills with which local architects and stonemasons worked the soft, malleable pink-tinged local stone. During the XVI, XVII and XVIII centuries, the town was embellished with monuments, in particular churches and palaces, of great artistic worth. Find out more about Lecce

 

Martina Franca

Martina Franca, located on a high slope of the Murgia hills called Monte San Martino, is a city famous for its Baroque buildings such as the palaces Panelli, Blasi and Motolese, for the splendid Basilica of San Martino, and for other churches in the Baroque style scattered inside its characteristic old town. The city is also famous for the lyric/classical music festival of the Valle d'Itria, usually held in late July. Find out more about Martina Franca

 

Polignano a mare

Polignano a mare stands overlooking the sea on a steep, rocky cliff cut by a deep gorge. During the Middle Ages it was a fortified town and during the XVI century it was politically affiliated to Venice. Because of the karst nature of its cliff a number of caves have formed, some of these were inhabited by prehistoric men. Find out more about Polignano a mare

 

Grottoes of Castellana

The caves of Castellana are located near the town of Castellana Grotte. These are Italy's most famous caves and one of the main attractions of Puglia. It is possible to visit several caves, each with its own name such as the Grotta Nera (Black Cave), the Cavernone dei Monumenti (Monuments Cave), the Grotta della Civetta (Owl Cave) and the most wonderful one the Grotta Bianca (White Cave). Find out more about Grottoes of Casellana

 

Otranto

Otranto, situated on the Adriatic coast of Salento peninsula, is an ancient town that recently became part of the World Heritage as a Site Messenger of Peace. It also is a member of the club 'The most beautiful villages in Italy'. Of great interest is the Cathedral of the Annunciation with a beautiful mosaic, made between 1163 and 1165 by the monk Pantaleon. Find out more about Otranto

 

Gallipoli

Gallipoli is located along the west coast of the Salento peninsula, jutting out into the Ionian Sea and divided into two parts: the village on the mainland and the old town on a small island. There are here interesting buildings and religious architecture of the Baroque period such as the Cathedral, the church of St. Agatha and the church of San Francesco di Paola. Also the Greek fountain built around the third century BC, believed to be the oldest fountain in Italy. Find out more about Gallipoli

 

Brindisi

Throughout history Brindisi has always functioned as a point of embarkation to Greece and Asia. The name of Brindisi comes from the Messapian 'brunda' (deer head) reflecting the shape of its port which is made up of two branching enlists. The town was an important port to the east during the Romans. Unfortunately little is left of this great history apart from a column located by the port witch marked the end of the Appian way. Find out more about Brindisi

 

Bari

Bari is the capital of Puglia and the second most important city in Southern Italy. It is today a big and modern city but its old town, located on a small limestone promontory, holds some interesting churches, such as the Basilica of San Nicola. The promontory was chosen by prehistoric peoples as the location for a village which gathered prestige during the era of the Peucetii. Find out more about Bari

 

Taranto

Although Taranto origins go back to the 706 B.C. and it became the most important city of Magna Grecia little has survived of its splendid glory, palaces and monuments. Still, there is a good reason to visit Taranto and that is to see its National Archaeology Museum. Here it is possible to follow the whole cycle of the history and art of Grecian Taranto and of Puglia during the Classical age. Find out more about Taranto

 

Matera

The town of Matera is located at just 141 km from Ostuni. Matera, known as "The City of the Sassi", has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, its renowned ancient old town: the "Sassi di Matera" cave dwellings, and to the Park of the Rupestrian Churches. Matera has also been named European City of Culture for the year 2019. Find out more about Matera

 

Castles in Puglia

Apulia's unique strategic position as the last outpost of Western Europe made it necessary, for the people who settled here, to defend themselves against invasions. They did this by building fortifications and towers. The most famous and important Puglia castles date from the Norman and Swabian eras, but there are also Angevin fortresses and noble residences from the Aragonese. Discover the casles of Puglia

 

Cathedrals in Puglia

All the cultures which through the centuries established themselves in Puglia, from the Lombard to the Byzantine and the Normans, Swabian have all left their mark. The essence of these cultures is concentrated in their cathedrals, churches and sanctuaries. These religious buildings are vital to an understanding of the artistic and historical development of the region. Discover the cathedrals of Puglia

 

Prehistory in Puglia

Puglia was already inhabited in prehistoric times. Dolmens, menhirs and specchie are all scattered in the region. From the dolmens of Bisceglie and Melendugno to the menhirs of Giudignano and San Martano, there are many fascinating megalithic constructions that should be seen. Discover more about prehistory in Puglia