Last year Brindisi inaugurated a new cruise terminal which successfully berthed its first cruise ship, MSC Magnifica on her maiden visit. The building houses ticketing area, baggage handling, Customs and Border Agency area and security operations. The project was developed by the Port Authority of Brindisi at an investment of €300,000 and involved the renovation of an existing building located in the heart of the port and close to the main streets of the city centre.
The port, located in southern Italy in Apulia, welcomed around 150,000 passengers in 2015 however this year there will be a downturn in numbers as main customer MSC Cruises has dropped the destination in favour of repositioning tonnage to the Caribbean. However positive news is MSC Cruises’ is planning weekly calls in 2017 which will lead to an increase in cruise visitors to the region.
Popular tourist attractions within 30 to 60 minutes’ drive from the port include the unique city of Alberobello whose centre is listed by UNESCO World Heritage of Humanity due to the ‘Trulli’ houses and the stunning city of Ostuni famous for its whitewashed houses and small roads, alleys and arches.
