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Brindisi, a picturesque city located in the Apulia region of southern Italy, is a destination rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. Nestled on the Adriatic Sea, it has served as an important port for centuries, connecting Italy with Greece, the Balkans, and the wider Mediterranean. Its strategic location made it a significant hub during the Roman Empire, and today, the city continues to be a gateway for travellers and trade. Visitors to Brindisi are greeted with a unique blend of ancient charm and modern vibrancy, making it an appealing destination for tourists seeking both history and relaxation.

One of the most striking features of Brindisi is its historic centre. The city’s layout reflects its long past, with narrow cobblestone streets weaving between old buildings that have stood for centuries. Architecture enthusiasts will find much to admire, from Roman columns to Baroque churches. Among the most notable landmarks is the Church of Santa Maria del Casale, a stunning example of Romanesque-Gothic architecture, renowned for its intricate frescoes and elegant design. Another must-see is the Roman Column, a monument that marks the end of the ancient Via Appia, one of Rome’s most important roads, symbolizing Brindisi’s role as a key connection point in antiquity.

The port of Brindisi remains a central part of city life. Its harbours bustle with activity, serving both commercial shipping and passenger ferries that connect Italy with destinations across the Adriatic Sea, including Greece. Walking along the waterfront, visitors can enjoy the scenic views of the sea, dotted with fishing boats and larger vessels. The harbour area also features a variety of cafes and restaurants, allowing travellers to savour local cuisine while taking in the maritime atmosphere. Seafood plays a significant role in Brindisi’s culinary tradition, with fresh fish, octopus, and shrimp featured in many traditional dishes, often accompanied by locally produced olive oil and wine.

Brindisi is also surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes. The coastline offers pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters, perfect for swimming and sunbathing. Inland, the region is dotted with olive groves, vineyards, and charming countryside, providing opportunities for hiking, cycling, and exploring small towns. These landscapes reflect the city’s connection to the land and its agricultural heritage, offering a serene contrast to the busy port and urban centre.

Cultural life in Brindisi is vibrant, with numerous festivals, exhibitions, and performances throughout the year. The city celebrates its maritime heritage, religious traditions, and artistic achievements, giving visitors a glimpse into local customs and community spirit. Museums and galleries showcase everything from ancient artifacts to contemporary art, ensuring there is something to capture the interest of every traveller. Overall, Brindisi offers a compelling combination of history, culture, and natural beauty. Its strategic location, architectural treasures, lively port, and inviting landscapes make it a unique and enriching destination. For anyone exploring southern Italy, Brindisi provides both a window into the past and an opportunity to enjoy the warmth and charm of the Adriatic coast.

Worth a Visit

Corso Umberto I is one of the main thoroughfares in the city of Brindisi, a vibrant coastal town in southern Italy, steeped in ancient history and Mediterranean charm. Stretching from the central train station toward the heart of the city, Corso Umberto I serves not only as a vital urban artery but also as a gateway for visitors arriving to explore Brindisi’s cultural, historical, and commercial offerings. With its elegant facades, wide sidewalks, and lively atmosphere, the street captures both the energy of modern Brindisi and echoes of its illustrious past. Originally laid out during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Corso was named in honour of King Umberto I of Italy, a monarch who reigned during a time of national consolidation and modernization.

Piazza Santa Teresa is one of Brindisi’s most evocative and historically rich squares, situated in the heart of this ancient port city on Italy’s Adriatic coast. Though modest in size compared to grander Italian piazzas, its quiet elegance and layered past give it a distinct charm that draws both locals and visitors alike. Surrounded by architectural remnants that span centuries, the square is a living testimony to Brindisi’s complex history, a crossroads of Mediterranean cultures, commerce, and faith. The piazza takes its name from the adjacent Church and Monastery of Santa Teresa, an 18th-century Baroque complex built by the Discalced Carmelites. The church’s elegant façade, with its balanced proportions and decorative details, stands as a focal point of the square.

The Colonne Romane (Roman Columns) in Brindisi stand as iconic symbols of the city’s ancient past and its crucial role in the Roman Empire. Positioned dramatically at the top of a broad staircase overlooking the inner harbour, these towering marble columns once marked the end of the Via Appia, the legendary Roman road that connected Rome to the south-eastern tip of Italy. For centuries, travellers, merchants, soldiers, and pilgrims arriving by sea would see the columns as a sign that they had reached the gateway to Rome, or, for those departing, the last glimpse of imperial civilization. Originally a pair, only one of the two columns remains fully standing today. The second collapsed in the 16th century and part of it, specifically the capital, was later gifted to the city of Lecce, where it now adorns Piazza Sant’Oronzo.

Piazza Duomo in Brindisi is one of the city’s most historically and architecturally significant spaces, a serene, elegant square that reflects centuries of religious, civic, and cultural development. Located within the ancient heart of Brindisi, this piazza has long served as a focal point of spiritual and administrative life, anchoring the community both symbolically and physically. Unlike the more commercial or bustling squares found elsewhere in the city, Piazza Duomo possesses a quiet dignity, its open expanse framed by some of Brindisi’s most important monuments. At the centre of the square stands the Cathedral of Brindisi, or Duomo di San Giovanni Battista, originally constructed in the 11th century and later rebuilt following the earthquake of 1743.

Photo Gallery of Walk 1 – Stazione, Corso Umberto I to Chiesa di San Paolo Eremita
Approximately 1.80 km – 1.12 miles

The walk sarts at Brindisi Stazione, Corso Umberto I – Corso Umberto I – Piazza Cairoli – Via Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour – Corso Umberto I – Piazzetta Fornaro – Via Conserva – Via S. Lorenzo da Brindisi – Corso Umberto I – Piazza del Popolo – Corso Roma – Piazza Vittoria – Via Ferrante Fornari – Piazza Mercato – Via Ferrante Fornari – Via Santi – Via dei del Balzo – Largo de’ Calò – Via Marco Pacuvio – Tempio di San Giovanni al Sepolcro, Via S. Giovanni al Sepolcro – Via Marco Pacuvio – Via Giovanni Tarantini – Piazza Dante – Vico De’ Vavotici – Chiesa di San Paolo Eremita, Via Annibale de Leo

Photo Gallery of Walk 2 – Vico De’ Vavotici to Via Thaon De Revel Paolo
Approximately 0.00 km – 0.00 miles

The walk starts in Vico De’ Vavotici – Piazza Dante – Via Annibale de Leo – Piazza Santa Teresa – Monumento ai Caduti d’Italia, Piazza Santa Teresa – Via Annibale de Leo – Piazza Santa Teresa – Via Pasquale Camassa – Via Lenio Flacco – Piazzale Lenio Flacco – Viale Regina Margherita – Via Colonne – Colonne Romane, Via Colonne – Piazza Duomo – Via Colonne – Viale Regina Margherita – Via Lenio Flacco – Via Thaon De Revel Paolo