When you are a solo traveller who doesn't like to bother strangers to take photos for you, you return back home with lots of photos of vistas, street scenes, monuments, animals but you are mysteriously missing from the bulk of them. Although I have never heard 'no I won't take your photo', I feel always reluctant to ask for it. Furthermore, nine times out of ten, the photo doesn't come up even remotely the way I had envisioned in my mind. It was the case of the photo above that was taken at a small town named Ostuni, a genuine example of Mediterranean architecture.
If you look at the map, you notice a distance longer than the usual. In fact, it relates to two days. Let me guide you firstly to Cisternino that boasts a small, utterly charming old town centre.
Ostuni is the second destination, famous for the dazzling effect of its whitewashed houses.
The old town is beautiful, as pristine white as any Greek island village. If you have been to a Greek island before, you will agree that the comparison makes sense. You will notice the concentric streets that wind around like a buckled corkscrew as we are climbing the steep slopes and stairs from top to bottom.
We can walk slowly as it will not be long before we have seen everything there is to see in Ostuni, excluding the Romanesque Cathedral that is closed on this day.
Let's leave the town and continue our driving along the road bordered by olive groves. We will stop at a perfectly octagonal castle perched atop a hill, which is now a UNESCO site. The interior is bare but it's worth walking outside. Don't you like to breathe the peaceful and true rural scenery, a big contrast to the built-up areas along the nearby coast.
Back to the coastal area, we are now at Trani, the sort of place to wander along lanes and admire harbour views. The one really important thing to see is the cathedral, which dominates the seashore from a spectacular position at the water's edge.
We are about to enjoy the last day of our discovery of Puglia. Meanwhile, I wish you a wonderful weekend...
Let's leave the town and continue our driving along the road bordered by olive groves. We will stop at a perfectly octagonal castle perched atop a hill, which is now a UNESCO site. The interior is bare but it's worth walking outside. Don't you like to breathe the peaceful and true rural scenery, a big contrast to the built-up areas along the nearby coast.
Back to the coastal area, we are now at Trani, the sort of place to wander along lanes and admire harbour views. The one really important thing to see is the cathedral, which dominates the seashore from a spectacular position at the water's edge.
We are about to enjoy the last day of our discovery of Puglia. Meanwhile, I wish you a wonderful weekend...
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The photos are really mesmerizing as well as the whole area... you captured really a genuine example of Mediterranean architecture...
ReplyDeleteHi Viera! Very kind comment... thanks!
DeleteA delightful stroll in beautiful surroundings. It maybe be many years old and not only beautiful but also so clean. ( I have always been a fuss pot and can't see me changing now.) lol.
ReplyDeleteWe have old buildings here but I wouldn't take photos of most of them because they are not taken care of, even the streets leave a lot to be desired. Worn out and tired with discarded litter from those who just don't care. Not all of them of course and I don't think the reconstruction going on everywhere is not to blame in part.
Roads and motorways seem to always have work being done on them and it is a hazard going out at the moment.
Have a great weekend Belita.
Huggles.
Hy Shayna! Every place I visited in Puglia was clean and inviting.... quite different from Rome which made me feel disappointed with the trash I often saw not placed in the bins, while I had to walk with some care....many potholes everywhere which posed a serious hazard for walkers... Unbelievable!!!
DeleteThe more I travel, the more I realize that in general, the globalization covers a wide range of aspects, not McDonald's, only... The first time I travelled to Japan and later on to other Asian countries I was shocked with the trash that littered the streets as if the city garbage collectors had gone on a strike for several days...Nowadays, the same 'scene' is seen in other places...
Thanks for the visit and your words! Hugs back at you....
Magnificent white buildings, decorated with bits of color here and there. I wish your photographer had been able to put the lovely background of Ostuni in the picture of you, but it is still delightful to see you smiling with the olive groves behind you.
ReplyDeleteHi Benni! You know, I can never have the ambition of finding a kind photographer at the right place...
DeleteThanks for the visit and your kind words...
The photos are gorgeous. Italy is definitely on my bucket list.
ReplyDeleteHi KB! It's nice to see you back on here. Thanks so very much for your kindness... If you have never been to Italy, you better visit it when you have an opportunity to do it...
DeleteAnother wonderful part of your journey. Usually there is one place that stands out as the most interesting or beautiful, but on this trip all the places are equally interesting and beautiful!! Cisternino, with it's little courtyards and alleyways, is beautiful, and I have to agree with you about Ostuni, it's very much like a Greek island town. This area is one I really must visit sometime in the future!! The castle and the cathedral at the water's edge were both impressive in their own right. I'll be sad when the journey comes to an end, as I've enjoyed it so much!!
ReplyDeleteHi Mitch! Although all the places were much the same, yet I always found something different which made each visit a good one. No need to be sad by now, we haven't reached Rome, yet... Glad to read you've been enjoying the itinerary...
DeleteThanks for the visit and words...
It looks that you wandered a lot during this trip, the more you can travel the more you see...
ReplyDeleteThis part is very peculiar and beautiful indeed, but now I'm waiting to look how you captured Salento :)
So sorry, Edoardo, I didn' have time to go to Salerno...Next time, I hope..
DeleteHehehe... I wrote Salento, south of Lecce ;-)
DeleteI think it's a wonderful photo of you, you look relaxed and happy, very beautiful! I'm glad you include one of you now and then! I love the white washed buildings and the added splashes of colors with all the healthy blooming and green plants. Again another set of photos that capture so many interesting places and things!
ReplyDeleteHi Monica! Always kind... Whenever I'm travelling I feel happy and relaxed. Even if I am travelling in Portugal, the same happens. Thanks for your visit and comment...
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