Ostuni, Italy: Wanders in Puglia’s Magical ‘White City’ in the Off Season

The Cathedral has a large rose window and magnificent ceiling, and inside the Cathedral, one Chapel is dedicated to the patron saints of Ostuni: Saint Blaise, Saint Augustine, Saint Orontius, and Saint Irene. All of these saints are venerated because of their connection to the earth, protecting the crops from rain, hail, pests and storms.

I’m surprised to learn that Ostuni was once part of Lecce and even shares the same saint, Saint Orontius, whose imposing statue is in the main square (as it is in Lecce). In the surrounding countryside there are farms called ‘masserie’, one of which, San Domenico, was once held by the Knights of Malta, another place on my low season travel itinerary. The more we travel, the more we connect the dots. Small world, isn’t it?

Special thanks to Kathy Wood from European Experiences for her advice on Puglia. Kathy leads women’s tours to this area which you can learn about here.

How to get to Ostuni

Train: The Ostuni train station is an easy 5-minute bus ride away from the stop near the old town (2 euros, cash only). The train from Florence took about 7 hours, with one change at Bari Station. Find a trip on Trainline.

Bus: Upon arrival at the train station, there is a shuttle bus that brings you right into the old town.

Plane: There are two airports close to Ostuni – Bari, and Brindisi. I flew from Bari to Palermo, but there are also flights from Brindisi on RyanAir. Bari is a wonderful seaside city with lots to see. Find a flight here. 

Rental car: You don’t need a car in town but it’s helpful for day trips. Rent one here.