# Ostuni > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ostuni > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ostuni.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostuni > Source revision: 1332179365 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) City in Apulia, Italy For the wine region, see [Ostuni DOC](/source/Ostuni_DOC). Comune in Apulia, Italy Ostuni Comune Comune di Ostuni Panorama of Ostuni Coat of arms Ostuni Location of Ostuni in Italy Show map of Italy Ostuni Ostuni (Apulia) Show map of Apulia Coordinates: 40°44′N 17°35′E / 40.733°N 17.583°E / 40.733; 17.583 Country Italy Region Apulia Province Brindisi (BR) Frazioni Abate Marchionne, Abate Ventura, Abbadia, Abbadia dell'Olio, Acquarelle, Agnano, Aia Grande, Alberodolce, Badessa, Bagnardi, Barbagianni, Baugli, Bilanciara, Boccadoro, Boezio, Boezio di Sopra, Brancato, Brizido, Brucella, Bugello, Calaprico, Calavetta, Calcagni, Camastra, Camere, Campanile, Campanili-Trinchera, Cannano Andituro, Cannelora, Cantone, Cantrapa, Cappelluzzo, Cappuccini 1, Cappuccini 2, Carella, Carestia, Carlo di Sotto, Carmine, Carmine di Vallegna, Casalini, Casamassima, Casamatrona, Casieddi, Castel Pagano, Caterina, Cavallerizza, Cavallo Stazione, Cavallo Fierro, Certosa, Cervarolo, Cervillo, Cesaresei, Chianchizzo, Chiobbica, Chiobbica Mariedda-Mariello, Cicciariello, Cicerali, Cicerone, Ciminiere, Cimino, Cinera, Ciosso, Citrignano, Citro, Ciurbino, Ciurbo, Ciurbo di Sotto, Cocchiarale, Colagiovanni, Colombo, Concadoro, Concezione, Conella, Conenna, Confergola, Corona, Corvetta, Costa Merlata, Cotugno, Cresimaro, Deserti, Deserto Parco Monsignore, Difesa di Malta, Difesa S.Salvatore, Donna Gnora, I Due Trappeti, Falgherl, Fantese, Fiataturo, Fichera, Fierro, Fiorentino, Fiume Morelli, Foggia di Sauro, Foggiali, Foggianuova, Fogliarelle, Fontanelle, Fonte, Fontenuova, Fontevecchia, Formicola, Fragno, Fumarola, Fuori Fuoco, Galante, Galizia, Garzia, Genovese, Ghiacci, Giancola, Giardino, Giorgetta, Giovannarolla, Giovanniello, Givanni Fasano, Gorgognolo, Grava delle Ciole, Gravina, Gravinella, Greco, Grisiglio, Grotta, Grottone, Grotta Figazzano, Guappi, Guardariello, Impiccato, Impisi, Indelli, Intendente, Isola, La Chiusa, La Fica, La Grotta, La Rascina, La Rosara, Lama dei Peroni, Lama di Maggio, Lamacavallo, Lamacoppa, Lamacornola, Lamaforca, Lamagentile, Lamardilla, Lamasanta, Lamasanta piccola, Lamatroccola, Lamie della Chiesa, Lamiola, Lamiola Piccola, Lapadula, Larascina, Lardagnano, Le Case, Le Gorgole, Le Taveme, Leoci, Lettica, Li Cuti, Li Verani, Libertini, Lo Rizzo, Lo Rizzo Elaiopolio, Locopagliaro, Luogo Freddo, Macchialieto, Madonna della Grata, Magno, Malandrino, Mangiacarta, Mangiamuso, Mangiarizza, Maramondo, Marangia, Marcello, Maresca, Martano, Martellotti, Martucci, Marzio, Maselli, Masseria Colucci, Masseria Fagioulo, Masseria Intelli, Masseria Nuova, Masseria Tutosa, Mastro Francesco, Matiero, Mazzapiecore, Mezzo Prete, Milogna, Minchiullo, Mingucci, Mogale, Molillo, Molino a Vento, Monacelle, Montalbano, Monte, Monte Caruso, Monte La Morte, Monte Michele, Monte Sasso, Monte Torto, Monte Ugenti, Montelarena, Montereale, Monticelli, Monticelli ai Monti, Morone, Morredda, Morrone, Mulino, Musone, Padolecchia, Palombaro, Paolotti, Paracampo, Paradiso, Parco Grande, Parco Paolino, Parco Piccolo, Parco Piccolo Monsignore, Pascarosa, Pecoriello, Pentima la Volpe, Pentone, Peraro, Peschiera, Petardi, Petrono, Pezza Anglani, Pezza Caldaia, Pezza Cruda, Pezza La Spina, Pezze di Ferro, Piatone, Pilone, Pinto, Pioppi, Pisciarulo, Pizzicucco, Polinisso, Porcara, Porta Nova, Portarino, Puntore, Quattropere, Ramunno, Rapida Roscia, Refrigerio, Rialbo, Ricupero, Rienzo, Rodio, Rosa Marina, Salinola, San Benedetto, San Biagio, San Calare, San Domenico, San Eligio, San Giovanni, San Leonardo, San Lorenzo, San Martino, San Paolo, San Paolo Piccolo, San Salvatore, Santa Filomena, Santa Lucia Piccola, Santa Maria La Nuova, Santa Maria La Strada, Santa Nanna, Sant'Andrea, Sant'Angelo, Sant'Antonio, Sant'Antonio Abate, Sant'Arpino, Santavarva, Santo Scalone, Santo Stefano, Santoro, Sant'Oronzo, Santuri, Satia, Scaglione, Scategna, Schiavone, Scopinaro, Sessana, Sessana Grande, Sessana Piccola, Settarte, Solari, Soluco, Sorbole, Spagnulo, Spartacavalluzzo, Specchialieta, Specchiaruzzo, Spennati, Spirito Santo, Stazione, Tamburroni, Tamburroni di Spalluto, Teologo, Tolla, Torre Bianca, Torre Pozzella, Traghetto, Trappeto del Diavolo, Trappeto Trappeto del Monte, Trappeto Nuovo, Trinchera, Urselli, Vadaperto, Valente, Vallegna, Vigna Nuova, Villa Vecchia, Villanova, Zampignola, Zingariello. Government • Mayor Angelo Pomes (Center-left coalition) Area [1] • Total 223 km2 (86 sq mi) Elevation 207 m (679 ft) Population (30 September 2025)[2] • Total 29,885 • Density 134/km2 (347/sq mi) Demonym Ostunesi Time zone UTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST) Postal code 72017 Dialing code 0831 Patron saint Orontius of Lecce Saint day August 26 Website Official website **Ostuni** ([Ostunese](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ostuni_dialect&action=edit&redlink=1): *Štunë*; [Salentino](/source/Salentino_dialect): *Štuni*) is a city and *[comune](/source/Comune)*, located about 8 km from the coast, in the [province of Brindisi](/source/Province_of_Brindisi), region of [Apulia](/source/Apulia), [Italy](/source/Italy). The town has a population of about 30,000 during the winter, but can swell to 200,000 inhabitants during summer, being among the main towns attracting tourists in Apulia. It also has a continuous British and German immigrant community and an industrial zone. The region is a producer of high quality olive oil and [wine](/source/Ostuni_DOC). ## History [Saint Orontius](/source/Orontius_of_Lecce)' column The region around Ostuni has been inhabited since the [Stone Age](/source/Stone_Age). The town is reputed to have been originally established by the [Messapii](/source/Messapii), a pre-classic tribe, and was nearly completely destroyed by [Hannibal](/source/Hannibal) during the [Punic Wars](/source/Punic_Wars). Later it was re-built by the [Romans](/source/Ancient_Rome). Little is also known about the etymology of the name Ostuni. According to one theory, the name could derive from [Messapic](/source/Messapic_language). Others think it derives from the Greek *Astu néon* ("new town"). It could derive from the Latin *Hostium Unio*, which indicates "a group of people of different origins".[3] Sacked after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, in 996 AD the town became part of the Norman County of [Lecce](/source/Lecce). The Normans built their medieval town around the summit of the hill (229 m), with a castle (only remains can be seen) and [city walls](/source/Defensive_wall) with four gates. From 1300 to 1463 it was part of the [Principality of Taranto](/source/Principality_of_Taranto) and from 1507 (together with what is now the *[frazione](/source/Frazione)* of Villanova and [Grottaglie](/source/Grottaglie)) passed to [Isabella](/source/Isabella_of_Aragon%2C_Duchess_of_Milan), Duchess of [Bari](/source/Bari), wife of [Gian Galeazzo Sforza](/source/Gian_Galeazzo_Sforza), Duke of [Milan](/source/Milan). Under Isabella's rule, Ostuni thrived during the [Italian Renaissance](/source/Italian_Renaissance). Isabella protected humanists and people of art and letters, including bishop Giovanni Bovio. She died in 1524 and Ostuni passed as a dowry to her daughter [Bona Sforza](/source/Bona_Sforza), wife-to-be of [Sigismund I of Poland](/source/Sigismund_I_of_Poland), King of [Poland](/source/Poland). During Bona Sforza's government, Ostuni continued to enjoy a stable rule. In 1539 she had towers built along all the shoreline as protection against anticipated attacks from Turks who controlled the Balkans. These towers (still extant, including Pozzella Tower, the Pylon, Villanova and others), were garrisoned and communicated using fiery beacons. ## Main sights Rose window of [Ostuni Cathedral](/source/Ostuni_Cathedral) The "Old Town" is Ostuni's citadel built on top of a hill and still fortified by the ancient walls. Ostuni is commonly referred to as "the White Town" (*La Città Bianca* in [Italian](/source/Italian_language)) for its white walls and its typically white-painted architecture. Monuments in their own right, the town's largest buildings are the [Ostuni Cathedral](/source/Ostuni_Cathedral) and the Bishop's Palace, together with a number of palazzi of local aristocratic families: Aurisicchio, Ayroldi, Bisantizzi, Falghieri, Ghionda, Giovine, Jurleo, Marseglia, Moro, Palmieri, Petrarolo, Sansone, Siccoda, Tanzarella, Urselli and Zaccaria. In the surrounding countryside there are typical Pugliese "masserie", fortified large estate-farms, one of which, San Domenico, was once held by the [Knights of Malta](/source/Knights_Hospitaller). ## Sport Ostuni has the club [Ostuni Calcio 24](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ostuni_Calcio_24&action=edit&redlink=1) (now in [Promozione Apulia](/source/Promozione)) that plays in the [Stadio comunale "Nino Laveneziana"](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stadio_comunale_%22Nino_Laveneziana%22&action=edit&redlink=1). ## Tourism Ostuni is the fifth city in Italy by percentage of British residents and the first for sale of houses and villas. Starting from 2010, Ostuni and its nearest towns were characterized by so many arrivals from foreign countries, that some local and national newspapers coined a new term, "salentoshire" to describe this phenomenon, taking the term from the useful "chiantishire", taken for the similar phenomenon that has characterized Tuscany some years ago. - The white walls of Ostuni - View of Ostuni - The white walls of Ostuni, with a view towards the Adriatic - A typical street in the old town ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-wikidata-16139ca327c50d72c40d8c5fd3abe706b989650e-v20_1-0)** ["Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011"](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224). Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Population from [ISTAT](/source/Istituto_Nazionale_di_Statistica) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Comune di Ostuni - Storia"](http://www.italiapedia.it/comune-di-ostuni_Storia-074-012). *Italiapedia.it*. Retrieved September 5, 2022. ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Ostuni](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ostuni). - [Official website](https://www.comune.ostuni.br.it/) - [Information about Ostuni on German Reisemagazin](https://reisemagazin-online.com/ostuni-ein-traum-in-weiss/) - [Concise Guide of Ostuni](https://www.italyscapes.com/location/apulia/ostuni/) v t e Apulia · Comuni of the Province of Brindisi Brindisi Carovigno Ceglie Messapica Cellino San Marco Cisternino Erchie Fasano Francavilla Fontana Latiano Mesagne Oria Ostuni San Donaci San Michele Salentino San Pancrazio Salentino San Pietro Vernotico San Vito dei Normanni Torchiarolo Torre Santa Susanna Villa Castelli Authority control databases International VIAF GND National United States Czech Republic Israel Geographic MusicBrainz area Other Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ostuni](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostuni) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostuni?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.