Buy a Villa or Country House in Ostuni, Puglia's White City

Ostuni's whitewashed old town sits on a hill above the plain of olive groves, with the Adriatic coast a short drive away and the Itria Valley, with its conical trulli, to the west. Brindisi airport is the closest, and Bari is the other main gateway. Summers are hot and busy, and winters are quiet, so visit outside the season too.

Nearby, Carovigno is a neighbouring hill town and Brindisi the nearest city. Lecce, Taranto, Bari and Matera are further-afield destinations in Puglia and Basilicata, each worth a day trip, but they are separate markets.

Foreigners can buy in Italy subject to reciprocity rules for non-EU citizens. Costs include registration tax (2% on a primary residence, 9% on a second home, based on the cadastral value for resales), notary fees and an agent's commission, often around 3% plus VAT from each side. Purchases from developers carry VAT instead.

For rural property, have a geometra (surveyor) check that the cadastral plan matches the building and that extensions have permits. Water rights, access easements and restrictions on agricultural land matter for olive-grove estates. Read our Italy page, the financing guide and the consultation guide.