BORGO VECCHIO
New city composed of a cathedral of blond stone and small white houses.
Small white houses surrounding a blonde stone cathedral that dominates the city, this is what Ostuni looks like from afar. Piazza Libertà, where the neoclassical-style Municipio, the church of St. Francis and the obelisk of Sant'Oronzo stand, is the nerve centre of Ostuni. From here the Via Cattedrale leads into the historic centre to a small square bordered by the cathedral and the bishop's palace on the top of the hill. Halfway up the hill you will cross the Chiesa delle Monacelle on the left. Walking through the narrow streets at right angles to Via Cattedrale, you can take a tour of the old town with its white houses, arches and nooks and crannies and, appearing at every corner, postcard panoramas of the valley. Along Via Bixio Continelli you will come across the Church of Santiago de Compostela and then, below, the Porta San Demetrio, the old city gate from the Aragonese period. In this all-white setting, the cats, the green or blue shutters, the purplish pink of the bougainvillea and the fruit displays make up a wonderful palette of colours. The lanterns add an extra touch of charm for a walk in the park. The Viale Oronzo Quaranta can finally be reached, which goes around the city following the layout of the ancient walls, which have been converted into housing estates, but whose structure and circular towers are still clearly visible. The walk also offers a beautiful panorama of the plain covered with olive trees.
