Surroundings
The Valle d’Itria welcomes you in the endless rows of vineyards and olive groves, here you can restfully live immersed in the scent and flavour of the past.
The Valle d’Itria welcomes you in the unparalleled expanses of olive trees, grown in a red earth that smells and makes the landscape a succession of wonderful coloured effects.
Also known as the Valle dei Trulli, it spreads between the Apulian provinces of Bari, Brindisi and Taranto and includes the cities of Alberobello, Carovigno, Castellana Grotte, Ceglie Messapica, Cisternino, Fasano, Locorotondo, Martina Franca, Noci, Ostuni, Putignano, San Michele Salentino, San Vito dei Normanni and Villa Castelli.
“La città Bianca”
Ostuni
Also known as the White City, due to its characteristic historic centre that was once entirely painted with white lime, today only partially.
Renowned tourist centre, it received the Blue Flag and the five sails of Legambiente for the clear water of its coast and for the quality of services offered, becoming the city with the cleanest sea in Italy from 1994 to 2017. Moreover, in 2005, the Puglia Region recognized the city as a “tourist resort”.
Art and gastronomy
Ceglie Messapica
Ceglie Messapica is known to be today the gastronomic capital of the Alto Salento. The International Centre for Mediterranean Gastronomy is located here and a refined catering circuit, aiming at recovering the ancient flavours, has developed in the city.
The town, which boasts the recognition of cities of art and gastronomy, is among the oldest in the region and was founded around the fifteenth century BC.
The territory is characterized by the trulli, the farms, the olive groves and the karstic caves.
Baroque and culture
Martina Franca
Martina Franca is famous for its beautiful old town dominated by many Baroque palaces of particular interest, such as the Palazzo Ducale, and for the cathedral, the Basilica of San Martino. Known for the Baroque architecture and the music festival of the Valle d’Itria, of which it is the capital, it rises on the southern slopes of the Murgia, on the border of the provinces of Brindisi and Bari.
Ancient village
Cisternino
It overlooks the Valle d’Itria, in the so-called Murgia dei Trulli. It is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Italy because of its historic centre, full of narrow alleys and houses clinging to each other, creating unique architectural views. It is also famous for its so-called “ready cookers”, butchers with attached strictly wood-burning oven, and room to taste the exquisite meat, accompanied by a good glass of local wine.