Free walking tours in Brindisi and what to see

Must-sees

Brindisi is an Adriatic port city in Puglia, known since antiquity as a gateway to the East. Its natural harbour reaches into the city in arms, and the seafront promenade around it is the best place to start. Beside it are the Roman columns, which tradition links to the end of the Via Appia, and the Virgil Steps. The old town has Piazza Duomo, with the cathedral and the archaeological museum, and the narrow streets of the San Pietro degli Schiavoni quarter.

Look out too for the round church of San Giovanni al Sepolcro, and on the outskirts Santa Maria del Casale, with a two-coloured stone façade and medieval frescoes. A launch crosses the harbour to the Monument to the Italian Sailor, shaped like a rudder, with views over the city. On an island at the harbour entrance stands the reddish Castello Alfonsino. To the north, the Torre Guaceto reserve combines beaches, dunes and protected seabeds.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free tours in Brindisi. What is on offer are private tours of the centre and activities on the water: boat trips around the harbour, sunset kayaking and try-dives. There are also scenic light-aircraft flights. Many travellers use the city as a base for a day trip to Alberobello, Ostuni and Locorotondo, with trulli, white towns and the Itria Valley.

How long to spend

A day is enough for the centre, the seafront and the crossing to the sailor monument. With two days you can add Santa Maria del Casale, an activity on the water or an afternoon on the beach at Torre Guaceto. If you stay longer, Brindisi is well placed for getting around: Ostuni and the Itria Valley to the north, and Lecce and the Salento to the south, both a short distance away.

Where to stay

The most practical area is the historic centre, between the station, the corso and the seafront, with hotels, guesthouses and apartments. Everything is within walking distance and there are restaurants and nightlife. If you arrive by ferry, the port area is convenient; if you fly, the airport is very close to the city. For a few days at the beach, the north coast and the countryside have masserie and rural houses for those travelling by car.