What to see in Brindisi in 2 days: complete itinerary

What to see in Brindisi in 2 days

Brindisi has been Italy's Gateway to the East for millennia: crusaders departed from here, and the Via Appia ended here. Its natural harbour shaped like a stag's antlers is one of the most spectacular in the Mediterranean. This Apulian city, often rushed through en route to Greece, deserves an in-depth stay.

Day 1: The harbour and the historic centre

Morning

Start from the **Roman Column** on Lungomare Regina Margherita, the terminal point of the Via Appia. The surviving column (its twin is in Lecce) marks where travellers embarked for the East. The Virgil staircase descends to the port: the poet died in Brindisi in 19 BC.

Walk along the **Lungomare Regina Margherita** bordering the inner harbour. The view of boats and the Alfonsino Castle on Sant'Andrea island is magnificent. Reach the **Italian Sailor Monument**, the great stone rudder standing 54 metres tall: from the top the panorama encompasses the city, port and Adriatic.

Afternoon

Enter the historic centre visiting the **Cathedral** (11th-12th century, rebuilt in the 18th century) in Piazza Duomo, one of Puglia's most elegant squares. Next door, the **Ribezzo Provincial Archaeological Museum** houses Roman bronzes and the Messapian section.

Continue to the **Church of San Giovanni al Sepolcro**, a Templar jewel from the 12th century with circular plan and medieval frescoes. Nearby, the **Church of Santa Lucia** hides a cycle of 13th-century Byzantine frescoes in an underground crypt.

Hidden gem: Via Colonne leads to the **Sciabiche** quarter (old fishermen's district), with low white houses and silent alleys opening onto the harbour.

Evening

Aperitivo on the Lungomare watching the sunset over the harbour. Dinner of raw seafood (octopus salad, sea urchins, raw prawns) in the centre's trattorias. The local wine is Negroamaro.

Day 2: The castles and the coast

Morning

Visit the **Swabian Castle**, fortress commissioned by Frederick II in 1227, now home to the Italian Navy (visits by reservation). The imposing walls and moat tell centuries of history. Continue to the **Tancredi Fountain** (1192), where crusaders watered their horses before embarking.

Reach the **Alfonsino Castle** on Sant'Andrea island (connected by a walkway) for a unique view of the harbour entrance. This 15th-century Aragonese fort controlled access to the city.

Afternoon

Head to **Punta del Serrone**, a coastal park minutes from the centre with rocky beaches and crystal-clear water. It's where locals swim without leaving the city.

Alternative: visit the **Church of Santa Maria del Casale** (3 km outside the city), a masterpiece of Apulian Gothic with a bichrome striped facade and a breathtaking 14th-century Last Judgement inside.

Hidden gem: the **Commenda Quarter** preserves the church of San Benedetto with an intact 11th-century Romanesque cloister, one of the finest in Southern Italy.

Evening

Final stroll along the **Lungomare** from the Roman Column to the Sailor Monument at sunset. Dinner in the old quarter with orecchiette with turnip tops and Apulian bombette.

Recommended walking routes

• **Monumental route** (3 km): Roman Column → Cathedral → San Giovanni al Sepolcro → Santa Lucia → Swabian Castle → Lungomare
• **Coastal route** (4.5 km): Sailor Monument → Alfonsino Castle → Punta del Serrone

Practical tips

• The Sailor Monument is open daily (small fee to climb)
• Santa Maria del Casale is reachable by car or bus (3 km from centre)
• Brindisi is an ideal base for visiting Ostuni, Lecce and the Itria Valley
• The port connects by ferry to Greece, Albania and Turkey

Further reading

• [Where to stay in Brindisi](/guida/cosa-vedere-a-brindisi-in-2-giorni)
• [Where to eat in Brindisi](/guida/cosa-vedere-a-brindisi-in-2-giorni)
• [How to get to Brindisi](/guida/cosa-vedere-a-brindisi-in-2-giorni)