Staying in Brindisi

A little town where locals take their afternoon siesta to heart, Brindisi is a great place to stay if you want to bask in some peace and quiet.  Traditionally a stopover for travelers hoping to catch a ferry to Greece or Albania, Brindisi has enough character and warmth that it might pull you over to stay for just a couple more days.

If you just need to pass time till your ferry docks, you can hit the shops for some tasty local dishes.  Be wary, though, that most restaurants (and shops) are likely to be closed between 2 PM and 5 PM for the locals’ afternoon nap.  At such times, you can soak in the sights at the beautiful harbor or drive your car hire around historic local spots like the Araganese Castle, the Duomo and the town center.

Should you have a bit more time on your hands, you can drive 40 km southwest of the town to Francavilla Fontana and admire the Baroque architecture of its churches and palatial mansions.  Lecce, around the same distance southeast of the town, should have plenty of bars and a busy nightlife if you’re thinking of staying till the next day.  You can even hit the sandy beaches of Gallipoli south of Brindisi for a brief escape before you board out of the country.

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Brindisi Harbour

If you arrive in Brindisi by boat before maybe hiring a car and touring the surrounding area, your first experience of this fantastic town will be Brindisi’s wonderful natural harbour, which is regarded as one of the safest in the Adriatic.  Brindisi has always been considered as a gateway to the East, and has for centuries occupied a pivotal and important position as a sea link from Italy to Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean.

As Brindisi developed throughout the middle ages, the city forged strong trading links with many other cities throughout the Mediterranean and the Adriatic and grew into a large and prosperous port, as can clearly still be seen by the modern visitor – The sturdy sea-walls and bustling docks still as much in evidence today as they would have been centuries ago.  The natural amphitheatre which Brindisi occupies makes it one of the most picturesque cities in this particular part of Italy, and an essential stopping-off point whether you’re arrive by boat or hire-car.

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Brindisi Cathedral

Brindisi’s most striking architectural sight is surely the impressive Cathedral, also known as St. John’s the Baptist Church, which was constructed between 1098 and 1132.
It has since been almost entirely rebuilt to this original design following its collapse during an earthquake in. Just as rewarding to the visitor as the building itself are the stunning interior mosaics from the 12^th century which line the walls of this grand old church.

Rich in artistic history as well as architectural significance, Brindisi cathedral also contains numerous renowned and valuable paintings, sculptures and religious artefacts from down the centuries, which are on display in the magnificent sacristy, altars and chapels.  One such chapel open to visitors is the chapel of St Teodoro, the patron saint of Brindisi itself, which is an exquisite example of 12^th century Romanic architecture and stonework.

A few paces from this chapel is Brindisi cathedral’s imposing bell tower, which was eventually completed in 1795, and which can be seen from across this charming and much admired city.  Another is a long line of sights not to be missed during your visit.

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Brindisi Ferry

Park your car and take a trip aboard the little ferry that leaves from the Brindisi waterfront at the bottom of the pedestrian-only street and goes across the Pigonati Channel. Across the water are good views of Castello Svevo built in 1227 and the Italian Sailor’s Monument - built in 1933 and stands 54 meters tall and known as “The Big Rudder”. The side across from central Brindisi also has a long sea wall that goes out into the ocean. We didn’t walk it but saw others doing so as our ferry was docking. (I wanted back to the car for a rest!!) A stroll along the seawall - Porticciolo turistico - would have been a nice thing to do but we had no idea how far away it was from the monument and park on that side. Also on this side is the S. Maria Del Casale - a 13th century convent church. Be sure to pick up a map of Brindisi from the tourist info centre located on the central Brindisi waterfront side near the Roman Columns.

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