-Europe.Italy.Brindisi-
The ship docked at 13:00 at Brindisi , it provided a free shuttle to the entrance of the port and back again.
We were on a short stop and made no plans for hectical sight seeing , so we took our time from the port to walk by the promenade and explore the city on our own.
Note: This post contains affiliate links where I may earn a commission from at no extra cost to you. I promise that I am only endorsing products I use myself and trust in. This support in turn helps me sustain this website to bring you more travel tips. Win-win right Let’s support each other!
Table of Contents
Some ways of seeing Brindisi
However if you would like to do some sight seeing, the Brindisi express is right where the shuttle bus drops off passengers and here is the link.
The promenade of Brindisi near to Port. On the left the booth with the funny roofs representing Trullo (huts common in this region) with people queueing is for Brindisi Express.
There are other options too such as a horse and carriage ride.
What we saw in Brindisi
We decided to give the other tours a miss and just explored around near the port.
Promenade Lungomare Regina Margherita
Here are some shops and one of the first stops we made was at Betty’s cafe where we stopped for a very very good Italian cappuccino for a reasonable 2,50 Euros at the bar. I had a gelato but it was too sweet to be good. There was a fridgeful of yummy italian desserts which i gave a miss. Dont ask me how but I managed it.
We walked on catching the sights of some buildings as well as churches all clearly signposted.
*Note: in South Italy they have their siesta times where most shops are closed after lunch and only reopens about 15:30pm.
Monumento al Marinaio d'Italia (National Monument to the Sailor)
The original monument was commissioned in honour of fallen soldiers in World War I. Their names carved in marble slabs at the base. Years later after the Second World War, the statue of the Virgin was placed in the niche. The dedication to fallen Navy soldiers in the WWII was also added later.
It was free to enter and take the elevator up in 2019 – but a photo ID was required for the control.
Colonne Romane
The two Roman columns that were considered the emblem of the city. Today, only one is intact and the other leaving only the base after a major earthquake. The fallen column is reportedly in Lecce.
Piazza Santa Teresa
The baroque church of Santa Teresa has some important art inside. The square with the same name is a nice one overlooking the blue waters from its position.
The war memorial monument stands in this Piazza as a dedication to the fallen in the First World War.
Brindisi Cathedral (Basilica Cattedrale de Giovanni Battista )
The original Cathedral was destroyed in a big earthquake and was rebuilt almost completely. The outside in my opinion is more impressive than the inside. However it does contain relics from the past, one of it is the partial mosaic floor tiles.
Palazzo Granafei Nervegna
Further on, is the Palazzo Granafei Nervegna which houses excavations and also the top portion of the fallen Roman column that was described earlier.
Area Archeologica di San Pietro degli Schiavoni
Across the road is the Teatro Verdi , a modern looking theatre which is suspended to be able to appreciate the Roman ruins below. Talk about a real overlap between past and present!
Tempio di San Giovanni al Sepolcro
Of all the temples in my opinion, a must visit is the Tempio di San Giovanni al Sepolcro. It contains frescoes, mosaic floors , columns with intricate carvings, a truly historical site to behold and best of all the entrance is free!
*Note-2023: There is now an entry fee for the church – 3 Euros but do check before going.
A summary of our D-I-Y in Brindisi
I did prior research into what to see in Brindisi so it was rather decided from the start to do it on our own due to the proximity of the places that I mentioned above. It was a leisurely walk around and perfect as we had a short stop and it cuts out the stress of doing long trips in such a short time frame. Honestly Puglia itself is worth a trip to explore at a slower pace.
I want to remind again that in South Italy they have siesta time , usually from 12:30 – 15:00 and this is when shops and businesses are closed. This will affect your sightseeing so it is best to plan in advance.
It is nice for me when we have a stop at somewhere like Brindisi – there was plenty of time to take in the sights and absorb some of the culture and most importantly to enjoy some of that wonderful Italian coffee!
Just Pin It!
Related posts you might like...
