Ostuni, Centrico Storico

Continuing my Italy adventure!

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

Once we'd got settled into our wicked apartment we decide to venture into Ostuni for the day and have a look at the 'Centrico Storico' which I assume means historic centre. It turned out we were just a three minute amble away from the wonderful old town with it's winding streets and mediterratean charm. This street led from the central piazza up towards the cathedral and was imaginatively titled Via Cattherdrale. I'll leave to figure out what that means.

I took a lot of photos today but I particular liked this. Ostuni is simply wonderful, the houses are mostly white giving it the nickname 'the white city'. Every nook and cranny provides another find, be it a shop or resturant, a bar or just somebodies home and balcony. every turn gives something to look at, something to do and something to experience. At the top of the winding hill sits the catherdal, perhaops modest on the outside my Italian standards but just as glorious on the inside as you'd imagine.

Once we'd walked in the city we made our way around the wide path at the base of the hill taking in views that stretched 8km out to the sea, 8km predominately taken up with olive groves and quaint little villas. This is Italy, beautifully unspoilt and without the crass commercialisation of the modern world. I saw no McDonalds in Ostuni, no KFC and no big supermarket. The traditional greengrocer still peddles his wares from one room with his whole shopfront open - the only place that looked fully professional was a shop selling olive oil made there in Ostuni.

That's how life should be.

Oh yeah and at 1pm everyone shuts up shop and buggers off home for a snooze and some food with the family. Lovely.