# Ostuni, the White Town: walled old town and cathedral

What to do en Itria Valley · Itria Valley

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/apulia/itria-valley/things-to-do/ostuni-white-town · Revisado: 2026-11-12

- Duración: 1 h 30
- Temporada: All year; very crowded in August
- Para quién: All ages; slopes and steps

An hour and a half through Ostuni's whitewashed old town, on a hilltop 8 km from the sea, to the 15th-century Gothic cathedral; free.

What it is
Ostuni is the White City: an old town of whitewashed houses that covers the top of a 229-metre hill, about 8 km from the Adriatic Sea. The Normans built the medieval city around the summit, with a castle, of which only remains survive, and a wall with four gates that still encircles it. From a distance, above the olive groves, it looks like a single white patch; from inside, it is a maze of stairs, arches and alleys.
It is on the edge of the Itria Valley, already looking to the coast, and in summer it fills up: from about 30,000 residents in winter it becomes many more in August.
The walk
Go up the streets that climb from the main square, at the foot of the old town, towards the top of the hill. Do not follow a map: the lanes cross and you always end up at the top. At the summit is the cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, from the 15th century, in flamboyant Gothic style, with a great rose window on the facade. Beside it is the bishop's palace. On the way you will see the doorways of the palaces of the city's noble families.
Then go down the other side towards the wall: from the walks that surround it you see the plain of ancient olive trees stretching to the sea. On the coast, Bona Sforza, Duchess of Bari and Queen of Poland, had towers built in 1539 against Turkish attacks, and some are still standing.
In the old town there is also a museum of pre-classical civilisations, with finds from the caves of the area: we have not been able to verify its hours from an official source, so ask in the town.
Getting there and parking
Ostuni is a little over an hour from Bari by car, about 84 km, and about half an hour from Martina Franca. Brindisi airport is about 25 km away. The old town does not admit cars: park in the car parks in the lower part, outside the wall, and walk up with time to spare. It has a station on the Bari to Brindisi train line, down on the plain and outside the town.

## Cómo llegar y contacto

- Coordenadas: 40.731, 17.5774

## Cerca de aquí

- [Osteria del Tempo Perso](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/apulia/itria-valley/where-to-eat/osteria-del-tempo-perso), a 438 m
- [Masseria Il Frantoio](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/apulia/itria-valley/where-to-stay/masseria-il-frantoio), a 5.6 km
- [Park Hotel San Michele](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/apulia/itria-valley/where-to-stay/park-hotel-san-michele), a 20.2 km
- [Baroque Martina Franca: gates, Palazzo Ducale and San Martino](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/apulia/itria-valley/things-to-do/baroque-martina-franca), a 20.2 km
- [Vineyards and Itria Valley white wine tasting at I Pàstini](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/apulia/itria-valley/things-to-do/tasting-at-i-pastini), a 21.0 km
- [A walk through Locorotondo, the round town above the valley](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/apulia/itria-valley/things-to-do/locorotondo-old-town-walk), a 21.1 km
- [Bina, ristorante di Puglia](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/apulia/itria-valley/where-to-eat/bina), a 21.2 km

## Consejos

### Go up early or at sunset
In summer, at midday the white dazzles and it is very hot on the slopes.

### Wear comfortable shoes
It is all steps and polished stone.

### Dine in the old town
Osteria del Tempo Perso is a few metres from the cathedral, in an old oven dug into the rock.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### Why is it called the White City?
For its whitewashed houses, which cover the whole old town.

### How much time do I need in Ostuni?
An hour and a half for the old town and the cathedral; half a day if you stay for lunch.

### Is it near the sea?
Yes, about 8 km from the Adriatic coast.

### Can I drive up to the old town?
No. Park below, outside the wall, and walk up.

Destino: [Itria Valley](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/apulia/itria-valley.md)