Published on: 9 April 2013 | Last updated: 14 March 2018
This section of the tour swings inland, through the Puglian olive country before climbing to the white cities of Ostuni, Cisternino Locorotondo and Martina Franco and then the world Heritage-listed city of Alberobello. These cities are on an altopiano - the land rises sharply from the coastal plain, and then levels off again.
Although The modern outskirts of Ostuni aren’t especially attractive, the centro storico - gleaming white on the hill-top - is dazzling. From Ostuni the route passes through two other graceful, elegant, white-painted hill-top towns Locorotondo and Martina Franca, before arriving in Alberobello.
Alberobello is famous for it’s Trulli - conical houses made using drystone construction. There are plenty of Trulli in the surrounding countryside and in some ways I preferred these to the Trulli in Alberobello itself. Many of the Trulli in Alberobello have been turned into luxury accommodation (although some are available at more reasonable prices).
Day rides
The area is a really good spot for day-rides, head for the minor roads between Alberobello, Martina Franca and Locorotondo.
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Distances | |
---|---|
Porto Cesareo - San Pancrazio Salentino | 21 kms |
San Pancrazio Salentino - Ostuni | 66 kms |
Ostuni - Cisternino | 15 kms |
Cisternino - Locorotondo | 11 kms |
Locorotondo - Alberobello | 18 kms |
If you want to see what they look like inside and admire the ingenuity of the construction (not to mention enjoying a really good meal, head for the Ristorante La Nicchia on the outskirts.
If you are in Alberobello at Easter don’t miss the Passione Vivente on the evening of Good Friday when local people re-enact the Passion of Christ - with a procession through the streets of Alberobello, to each of the stations of the cross (marking events in the procession to Calvary). Despite the fact that the actors are amateur, it’s an impressive and even moving event even for non-believers.
More information
Places to stay
Transport and services
Articles in this series
- Puglia Grand Tour – Overview
- Puglia Grand Tour – 1
- Puglia Grand Tour – 2
- Puglia Grand Tour – 3
- Puglia Grand Tour – 4
- Puglia Grand Tour – 5
- Puglia Grand Tour – 6
- Puglia Grand Tour – 7
- Puglia Grand Tour – 8
- Puglia Grand Tour – 9 – onward connections
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