What to see in Ostuni in 2 days: itinerary in the white city through alleys, olive groves and sea
Guide to what to see in Ostuni in 2 days: from the panoramic white city to the beaches of Rosa Marina, through farmhouses, olive presses and the olive grove hinterland.
Why Ostuni deserves 2 days
Ostuni, the White City, rises across three hills at 229 metres above sea level like a mirage amid millennia-old olive groves. But stopping at the old town postcard would be reductive: the hinterland hides underground olive presses, fortified farmhouses and countryside producing Italy's finest extra-virgin oil. Two days let you experience both souls of the city.
Plan your trip: where to stay in Ostuni, where to eat in Ostuni and how to get to Ostuni.
Day 1: The white city
Morning — Old town and Cathedral
Start from Piazza della Libertà with the Column of Sant'Oronzo. Climb Via Cattedrale between whitewashed houses and arches. The Cathedral (15th century) has a Gothic facade unique in Puglia — the 24-rayed rose window is a masterpiece of balance. Behind the cathedral, the viewpoint commands the olive plain all the way to the sea.
Hidden gem: the Museum of Pre-Classical Civilizations on Via Cattedrale houses Delia, the skeleton of a pregnant woman from 25,000 years ago — a prehistoric find of worldwide importance.
Afternoon — Alleys, arches and staircases
Ostuni is explored without a map, by getting lost. The alleys change perspective at every step: staircases that seem endless, hidden courtyards with curled-up cats, blue doors on white walls. Pass the Church of San Vito Martire (rococo facade) and descend toward the Jewish quarter — the oldest in the city.
Walking route: Cathedral → Via Tanzarella Vitale (the most photogenic) → Arco Scoppa → Church of the Holy Spirit → La Terra quarter → Piazza della Libertà.
Evening — Piazza della Libertà and dinner
Aperitivo in Piazza della Libertà has the rhythm of Puglia: slow, convivial, with taralli and olives. Dinner in the old town: bombette (capocollo rolls), broad bean puree with chicory, Ostuni burrata (the creamiest).
Day 2: Sea, olive groves and farmhouses
Morning — Marina beaches
Ostuni's marina is 8 km from the centre (summer shuttle bus or car). The best beaches: Pilone (natural dunes with junipers), Costa Merlata (coves between rocks), Torre Guaceto (protected nature reserve with exceptional snorkelling — limited entry, book online).
Hidden gem: Camerini beach, reachable only on foot through an olive grove — 200 metres of sand with no beach clubs.
Afternoon — Underground oil presses and farmhouses
Visit an underground frantoio: oil presses carved into tufa used until the 19th century for lamp oil production. Frantoio Ferraro beneath the old town is the most accessible. Then head to Masseria Brancati or Masseria Il Frantoio (4 km) for a tasting of monovarietal Ogliarola oil.
The Plain of Monumental Olive Trees (road to Carovigno) hosts trees 1,000-3,000 years old — some with trunks 10 metres in circumference.
Evening — Countryside and food festivals
In summer the contrade around Ostuni organize sagre almost every evening: stuffed focaccia, grilled fish, Primitivo wine. Ask the Pro Loco for the calendar. Otherwise, dinner at a farmhouse overlooking the valley.
Practical tips
- Day 1: approximately 4 km but with continuous ups and downs (centre entirely uphill)
- Day 2: car or bicycle needed for sea and countryside
- Torre Guaceto: entry by bike or shuttle, no cars (protected reserve)
- The white of the houses is quicklime: bring sunglasses, the glare is intense
- September is the perfect month: warm sea, olive harvest begins, tourists gone
