Lamaforca Village is situated directly on the sea. To arrive, follow the SS 379 Bari-Brindisi (E16) road and exit at Torre Pozzella – Ostuni – Lamaforca, then follow the directions to Lamaforca heading towards the sea for approximately 1 km. From churches to castles, from historical city centres to rural architecture, from sea coasts to local culinary specialities, the warm Mediterranean climate creates a vision of a region full of tradition and history.

The region of Puglia has been built upon a rich historical tapestry, starting with the Illyrian people of Magna Graecia, Messina and Roman, to the continually bloody invasions of the Lombards, Saracens, Byzantines, Normans, Anjous; Aragonese and Bourbons. The region of Puglia offers tourists a rich and varied experience from the historical and artistic point of view, also because the monuments and other historical places of interest are often unique.

TORRE SANTA SABINA (2 Km)

Saint Sabina Tower, dating from the 16^th century (a preceding tower dates back to the 13^th century), is star shaped with embattled crowns and the four corners pointing towards the compass points: it was originally a defensive building built on the seashore at the beginning of the 16^th century in a village and port which has an ancient historical tradition. Placed along the ancient Roman Traiana road, seat of a postal station, which took the name of ad Speluncus, for the many grottos which are found in this particular place.

CAROVIGNO (8 Km)

Important remains of megalithic structures, massive constructions roughly squared, can be seen both north and west of the village. The medieval centre (la Terra) has interesting urban characteristics, along some tracts of the Aragonese city wall (15^th – 16^th centuries). The city wall has three gates, la Porta Brindisi, la Porta Nouva and l’Arco Prete.

The major monument is the Dentice di Frasso Castle, built in the 14^th and 15^th centuries and restored in 1906. A fortified building already existed there in the 12^th century, with triangular towers at the top (the northern tower is almond shaped, which is rare in Italian military architecture, which calls to mind the presence of Francesco di Giorgio Martini. Next to the castle is the church of Saint Anna, built by the Imperial family in the 17^th to 18^th centuries, which functioned as a private chapel for the feudal lords. It was later renovated in the Romanesque Revival style.

The Parrocchiale, dedicated to the Assumption, renovated in 1837, maintains the original 15^th century rose on its right side as well as on the left side of the apse of the left aisle. The internal apse has the particular characteristic of having ten interior niches carved on two sets of orders. Above the main altar is a Solimenesca cloth depicting the Last Supper (18^th century).

The Church of Carmine is next to the Town Hall. Inside are frescoes dating from the 18^th century, depicting the Last Supper and Saint Elijah in the desert, as well as Saint Lawrence amongst the martyrs Leonard and Stephen, an 18^th century oil painting.

4 km east of the village, the sanctuary of the Madonna of Belvedere can be found, restructured in 1875 in place of a Basilian monastery, in which a crypt can be found at the bottom of 47 steps.

The ciborium dates from1501 and is inscribed with the name of Giovanni Lombardo of Ostuni and the name of the person who commissioned the ciborium, Pirro de Loffredo. On a side altar, there is an ancient fresco, frequently repainted, with the sweet face of the Madonna, much venerated by the people of the town in the week following Easter. Other frescoes are from the late Byzantine period.

OSTUNI   (8 Km)

The most unique characteristic of the historical centre which fascinates tourists is the white houses, coated in lime to the roofs. This method of whitening homes, dating from the medieval period, has its origin both from the large quantities of lime available in the area and from the need to create greater brightness in the small side roads and restricted spaces of medieval towns. The brightness comes from both direct and reflected light. This is the reason why Ostuni is known as the White City or the Crib City and which renders the town instantly recognisable and unforgettable to visitors. In 2009 and 2010, the town was awarded the prestigious Blue Flag and 5 sails status of Legambiente for the cleanliness of the coastal water and for the quality of services offered.

In the historical centre of Ostuni, there are the following churches:

The Concathedral of Ostuni is situated at the top of the highest hill. Work began on the Concathedral in 1435 and was finished sometime between 1470 and 1495. It has a beautiful characteristic Gothic façade, divided into three pilasters. The front is opened by three elegant ogival portals (in the lunette of the median, there is a bas-relief showing the Madonna and Child in Glory), each topped by a rose, with the centre rose having 24 rays, notable for its size and wealth of carvings. Other beautiful roses are in the heads of the transept. At the end of the left aisle is a wooden altar dating from 1734 with busts of saints Oronzo, Biagio and Augustine.In the Apse, there is a richly carved walnut chancel (17^th century). In the right aisle, there is the tomb of Bishop Filo (1720) and in the last chapel there was a Madonna and Child with Saints, by Jacopo Palma il Giovane, which was stolen.. The Chapter Archives has more than 200 scrolls dating from 1137.

The Carmelite Monastery of the 18^th Century, to which is annexed the Baroque Church of the martyr, Saint Vito (1750-1752), also known as the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, has a curved facade with broken pediment, a central window and a rich multi-coloured tiled dome. Of particular interest inside is the large 16th century wooden pulpit and the tomb of Cone Luchino Del Verme (1747) as well as the sumptuous Baroque altars of Francesco Morgese (1763), with paintings by Domenico Lettieri (1760) which are preserved in the adjacent Pre-Classical Civilizations Museum of the southern Murgia.

The church of St James of Compostela or of the saints Cosmas and Damiano, built in 1423, the church of St. Francis of Assisi, a medieval foundation, but having a facade dated 1882: the church of the Holy Spirit (1637) has a beautiful Renaissance portal bas-relief of the fifteenth century, displaying a late Gothic style.