Collecting: classic travel posters gain a following
17 July 2025
Driving: Nouveau riches; the Beaujolais Run
24 July 2025Puglian perfection
Suspended between the blue of the sea and the white of Ostuni lies an Italian dream.
Words: Dan Hayes
S et in a restored 14th-century nunnery, boutique hotel Vista Ostuni is scheduled to open this summer in the historic Puglia town from which it takes its name.
Designed by Milan-based Roberto Murgia Architetto (RMA) and featuring 28 rooms and suites, the property will offer high ceilings, a year-round spa and a south-facing pool terrace whose wall echoes the defences that still circle Ostuni’s famed old town.
In a nod to its former religious incarnation, the hotel also has a first-floor cloister, complete with glass ceiling, where those of a meditative inclination can engage in a little quiet contemplation.
Another attraction will be green spaces featuring native plants attuned to the local climate. The work of Belgian landscape designer Erik Dhont, these have been compiled with both sustainability and a sense of local history in mind.
Commenting on the restoration, Bianca Passera, chairwoman of hotel owners Vista, said: “We have honoured the rich heritage of both the property and the town of Ostuni by incorporating sustainable Italian materials and resources. Collaborating with skilled Italian artisans, we have preserved the essence of the space while working alongside visionary architects to create a fresh perspective.”
Gourmands can meanwhile look forward to a culinary offering helmed by Michelin-starred chef Andrea Berton that comprises fine-dining option Berton al Vista; Bianca Bistrot, an all-day restaurant with garden views; the cosy Library Bar; and a rooftop cocktail venue, offering impressive views of the Apulian countryside and the signature white buildings of Ostuni’s hilltop old town.
A stone’s throw from Ostuni’s medieval cathedral, the building housing Vista Ostuni has already enjoyed a long and varied career. Erected in the 1300s as a convent, it would later become a boarding school for underprivileged and orphaned local girls before moving on to a 20th-century stint as a tobacco factory.
In its heyday, this operation employed around 600 female cigar makers who, according to local legend, would use their inner thighs to roll the perfect cheroot.
Room rates at Vista Ostuni start from €1,500 (£1,250) per night. The property is 37km (20 miles) from Brindisi airport, which offers direct flights to London during the summer.