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Home > Travel Italy > Italy Destinations > Ostuni
Ostuni
Italy, officially the Italian Republic is a Southern European country. It comprises the Po River valley, the Italian Peninsula and the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. It is shaped like a boot and for this reason Italians commonly call it lo Stivale, the boot, or due to its prevalent peninsular geographical nature, la Penisola, the Peninsula. Italy is called, Il Belpaese, Italian for beautiful country by its inhabitants, due to the beauty and variety of its landscapes and for having the world's largest artistic patrimony; the country is home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Rome is its Capital city and incidentally its largest city as well.
Ostuni is a small city in the province of Brindisi in Puglia, a region in southeastern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Otranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south, Italy. With a population of 32,819, as of 2004, it is situated about 8 kilometers from the coast. Its main economic activities include tourism, known for its nearby pristine beaches, as well as a vibrant olive and grape agri-business. Ostuni has an area of 223 square kilometers and a population density of 144 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Ostuni area has been inhabitated since the stone age. The town is reputed to have been originally established by the Messapii, a pre-classic tribe. The so-called Old Town is Ostuni's citadel build on the top of a hill and still fortified with the ancient walls. Ostuni is commonly referred to as the White Town or La Citta Bianca, in Italian, for its white walls and its typically white-painted architecture. The town's largest buildings are the Cathedral and the Bishop's Palace, alongside with a few palazzi.
The city's patron Saint is Saint Oronzo. Each year a three day festival is held from the 25th to the 27th of August in his name. Outside the town, in the country's landscape there is the typical presence of the Pugliese masserie, fortified large estate-farms, among which San Domenico, a masseria once held by the Knights of Malta.
As it is often regarded as among the most beautiful parts of Italy, it is one of the most visited places amongst the most die-hard travelers the world over.
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