Ostuni is a hilltop town in Puglia, in southern Italy, known for the whitewashed buildings of its historic center and the olive groves that surround it. The town occupies the final slopes of the Murge plateau, with the old quarter, known as La Terra, rising above the surrounding countryside. Narrow lanes, stairways, arched passages, and small squares wind between lime-covered houses, while the higher streets provide views across the olive plain toward the Adriatic Sea. The nearby coast includes Marina di Ostuni and the small harbor of Villanova.

Ostuni’s historic identity is closely tied to its defensive position and agricultural landscape. The medieval center retains sections of its old fortifications, including several surviving Aragonese towers. At its highest point stands the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, distinguished by its Gothic forms and large rose window. The Church of San Vito Martire is another important landmark, while the narrow streets around La Terra contain traditional homes, small courtyards, and workshops. Whitewashing remains a defining feature of the townscape and gives Ostuni its familiar nickname, the White City.

The countryside around Ostuni is dominated by olive trees, including numerous ancient and monumental specimens, along with dry-stone walls, trulli, masserie, and former underground oil mills. The nearby Regional Natural Park of the Coastal Dunes extends along the Adriatic between Torre Canne and Torre San Leonardo, protecting dunes, wetlands, rural paths, and old olive groves. Along the coast, sandy beaches and rocky stretches alternate around small bays and coves. The landscape also contains natural ravines known as lame, where rock formations, caves, vegetation, and historic rural structures can be found.

Food in Ostuni reflects Puglian farming and olive-growing traditions. Extra virgin olive oil is central to the local cuisine, with Ostuni included in the production area for Collina di Brindisi PDO olive oil. Typical regional foods include orecchiette pasta, cavatelli, fresh cheeses, vegetables, legumes, and bread made from durum wheat. The surrounding countryside also contains historic masserie and underground olive mills that document the importance of oil production. The combination of whitewashed architecture, ancient olive trees, rural farm buildings, and proximity to the Adriatic gives Ostuni a landscape closely connected to the agricultural traditions of Puglia.