Otranto - Otranto

Otranto (Otrantu in Salento dialect) is a municipality of 5,742 inhabitants, in province of Lecce.

To know

This small town has become one of the main tourist destinations in Puglia, representing a real gem to discover: from the medieval walls of its historic center to the beautiful sands of the Adriatic coast.

The mosaic of Otranto

The mosaic The large floor mosaic was made between 1163 and 1165 by a group of artists led by Pantaleone, a Basilian monk from the monastery of San Nicola di Casole. The iconographic program develops through scenes from the Old Testament, from knightly cycles and from medieval bestiaries, from Alexander's novel. The images, arranged along the development of the Tree of Life, trace the human experience from original sin to salvation. Among the images there is also a famous theme of medieval sacred iconography, that of the ascension of Alexander the Great on an aircraft towed in the sky by two griffins, an allegory of pride that had great fortune in the Christian West.

When to go

From a meteorological point of view, Otranto is part of the eastern Salento area which has a Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and hot humid summers. Based on the reference averages, the average temperature of the coldest month, January, is around 17.1 ° C, while that of the hottest month, August, is around 26.1 ° C. Precipitation, frequent in autumn and winter, is around 387 mm of rain / year. Spring and summer are characterized by long periods of drought.

Background

The first settlement was founded by the Messapi, the native population of the Salento peninsula, probably with the name of Odra. It was then rebuilt by the Greeks who renamed it Hydrus (Ὑδροῦς - meaning "water"), becoming one of the centers of the Magna Grecia. After the Roman conquest the city was called Hydruntum and soon became an important commercial port, thanks to its position in the easternmost point of Italy.

During the third century A.D. Hydruntum it welcomed a Jewish community that contributed to the cultural growth of the city, in which one of the most important libraries in Europe was built. In the 12th century this community had about 500 families, who continued to receive protection under the dominion of Emperor Frederick II, who made the capital city of the Terra d'Otranto justiciarate part of the Kingdom of Sicily.

In 1480 Otranto was conquered by Ottoman troops, who beheaded about 800 civilians who refused to deny their Christian faith. The siege lasted 13 months and ended with the liberation of the city thanks to King Ferdinand I of Naples. Otranto had been reduced to a pile of rubble and its era of splendor was definitively finished, leaving Lecce with the role of cultural center of the area.

In the 16th century, despite further attacks by the Saracens, the city resisted and rose again, becoming an economic center.

In the postwar period, wetland drainage led to a resumption of agriculture and tourism has developed over the past 50 years and has become increasingly important as an economic factor.

How to orient yourself

The Old Town of the city is located within the walls. Immediately outside them is the promenade and the marina. While the rest of the city develops internally and along the north coast.

How to get

By plane

• 40.65805617.9466671 Salento Airport (BDS), Contrada Baroncino, Brindisi (Reaching Otranto from Brindisi airport takes more or less an hour.). International airport about 95 km from Otranto. 

By car

From Toast, you get onto the , arrived at Lecce enter the Tangenziale Ovest and continue along the to the Adriatic Sea.

Along the Adriatic coast, the tortuosa leads from north to south to Santa Maria di Leuca, you can also take the is via Castro / Tricase.

On boat

• 40.14633818.4958062 Otranto tourist port, Lungomare Terra d'Otranto, 7. 

On the train

• 40.1494818.4816423 Otranto station. The city is served by the South East Railways (FSE) via a branch line that connects with Shirts on the Lecce-Gagliano line. The Station of Lecce it is the closest (about 45 km) among those that make national service with Trenitalia, from this you can get to Otranto by train with the FSE or by bus.  

How to get around

On foot it is certainly the best way to visit the city.

By public transport

• Salento by bus, Extra-urban bus service active only in the summer period.. 

By car

• Pay attention to the various ZTL scattered throughout the area (especially the one to access the historic center).
• There is a fixed H24 speed camera on the Otranto coast - Torre Sant'Andrea.
• The various beaches on the coast north of Otranto have parking problems, you have to use the various authorized parking lots to avoid fines.

The parking lots are generally paid. Further details are available here. Below is a list of the main car parks.

• 40.14729618.4863154 John Paul II car park, via Giovanni Paolo II. € 0.50 / h with maximum daily rate € 12.00 (Jul 2020). unguarded 
• 40.14621518.4864095 Sant’Antonio car park, Via Giovanni Paolo II. € 0.50 / h with maximum daily rate € 12.00 (Jul 2020). unguarded 
• 40.14223918.4954026 Via Orte parking, Via Orte. € 0.80 / h with maximum daily rate € 7.00 (Jul 2020). Thu-Mar. 
• 40.14337118.486877 Central Catona Parking, Via Catona. Flat rate of 5.00 Euro per day (Jul 2020). 
• 40.14045118.4913118 Via Renis car park, Via Renis, ☎ 39 347 185 2818. Flat rate of € 3.00 per day for cars and € 6.00 per day for campers (Jul 2020). 
• 40.14011818.4928719 Minerva parking, Via Memorie, 14. Flat rate of € 3.00 Mon-Fri and € 5.00 Sat-Sun (Jul 2020). 

What see

• 40.145818.4911 Cathedral of the Annunciation (Cathedral of Otranto), Basilica Square, ☎ 39 0836 801437. Mon-Sun 7: 00-12: 00/15: 00-19: 00. An important church consecrated in 1088 and built on the remains of a Messapian village, one domus Roman and an early Christian temple. It represents an interesting mix of Byzantine and Romanesque elements and contains a huge mosaic floor, relics of martyrs and a crypt reminiscent of the Mezquita of Cordoba.  

• 40.14564818.4926392 Church of San Pietro, Via San Pietro. It is one of the most representative medieval buildings in the South of the Byzantine construction tradition. The sacred building probably represented the first basilica of the city, elected metropolis in 968 and directly dependent on the patriarchal see of Constantinople. Its dating has long been the subject of debate among scholars, but from the analysis of the structure, the frescoes and the inscriptions in Greek, it seems to be attributable to the IX-X century.  

• 40.14454218.4923653 Aragonese castle, Piazza Castello, ☎ 39 0836 210094, @[email protected]. € 3 (Jul 2020). Mon-Sun 10: 00-22: 00. A majestic fortress with three cylindrical towers and imposing flying buttresses, deeply strengthened after the siege of 1481. It is possible to visit the courtyard, various rooms, the roof and even the cellars. The fortress inspired the first Gothic novel in history, The Castle of Otranto, by Horace Walpole (1764) and the libretto of a comic opera, Le Baron d'Otrante (1769) by Voltaire.  

• 40.14644118.4905894 Tower and Porta Alfonsina, Largo Porta Alfonsina (in front of the Porta Terra). The main gate of the city, between the two majestic towers "Ippolita" and "Duchessa", dedicated to King Alfonso II of Naples, liberator of the city from the Turkish invaders. 

• 40.1464118.4902435 Door Earth, Via Vittorio Emanuele / Largo Porta Alfonsina. The oldest gate of the historic center, a sober arch about 10 m high, in the western part of the medieval walls. 
• 40.14530818.4934716 Torre Matta (Torre del Celso). Two towers from different eras nestled one inside the other. 

• 40.14529218.4923737 Civic clock tower, via Immacolata. 

• 40.14553618.4907978 Diocesan Museum (Lopez palace), Basilica Square (in front of the Cathedral), ☎ 39 0836 801133, @[email protected]. Closed. It is possible to admire treasures from the Cathedral and other churches of the diocese of Otranto: vestments, paintings, sculptures and the remains of a mosaic from the 4th century AD. It is located inside the Lopez Palace, built during the period of the Spanish government. 
• 40.14675318.490649 Monument to the Heroes and Martyrs, Promenade of the Heroes. It consists of a bronze statue of a woman holding the flag and the cross, a symbol of Christianity defended to death by nearly 800 citizens, killed by the Ottoman invaders in 1480. 
• 40.14873618.48533410 Caves of San Giovanni (catacombs of San Giovanni), Via S. Giovanni, 32. They date back to the early Christian age. It is an underground complex, located on the hill of San Giovanni, which probably belonged to the Jewish or early Christian community, well represented in Otranto in the first centuries after Christ. The catacombs were used as a necropolis. 

• 40.14952118.48722211 Church of the Madonna dell'Altomare, Via Punta, 2/3. Built in the seventeenth century, it was rebuilt in 1744 as the epigraph on the facade recalls. Perched on a tufaceous spur that descends directly into the sea, it is dedicated to the Holy Spirit. The interior, with a single nave, presents the altar dedicated to the Virgin. All the decorations recall the maritime tradition: the mosaic floor is decorated in the center with a star of seafaring tradition, surrounded by Savoy or eight knots. All the furnishings, even the lighting, recall the themes of the sea: from the seahorse to the dolphin, from the anchor to the shell, the latter which combines a double symbolism: linked to the sea on the one hand, linked to the iconology of other. 

• 40.13949218.49408612 Church of Santa Maria dei Martiri, SP87, ☎ 39 0836 802749. It was built on the hill of Colle della Minerva in 1614 in memory of the massacre of the 800 Christians, "Martyrs of Otranto", after the conquest by the Turks in 1480; a convent of the Order of San Francesco di Paola is attached to the church building.  
• 41.06215717.08730913 Church of Santa Maria del Passo, Piazza Marinai D'Italia, 14-24. The small church of Santa Maria del Passo dates back to the 16th century. Located halfway between the city and the Colle della Minerva, it was built to commemorate the passage in 1480 of the eight hundred Otranto who were led by the Turks to the hill to be slaughtered. Of simple manufacture, it has a single rectangular room with a barrel vault characterized by an apse bearing the sixteenth-century image of the Virgin. 

• 40.14287518.49196114 Crypt of the Eternal Father, Via Ottocento Martiri. The crypt of the Eternal Father dates back to the 10th-11th century. Located near the Colle della Minerva, it is entirely carved out of the rock and is accessed via a staircase. The hypogeum consists of a main room with an altar communicating with other rooms supported by monolithic pillars. Along the walls, entirely frescoed, the stone seat is distributed. 
• 40.13979118.4872115 Tomb of Carmelo Bene, Via Antonio Primaldo, 124 (Municipal cemetery of Otranto. The tomb is found entering on the left by scrolling the row of perimeter chapels and the fourth last of the path on the right, on the outside it is written fam. Bleve.). The remains of the actor Carmelo Bene (his body was cremated) are kept at the family tomb over which furious family quarrels broke out upon his death. 

Outside the built-up area

• 40.10742218.51987816 Punta Palascia lighthouse (ex Torre Palascia or Torre Pelagia), Provincial Road 87 (Capo d'Otranto, eight the base of the Navy), ☎ 39 328 8310000, 39 328 0993732, @[email protected]. Full € 3, reduced € 2 (Jul 2020). Wed-Sun 10: 00-12: 00 and 16: 00-20: 00, Mon-Mar 16: 00-20: 00. White cylindrical lighthouse 32 meters high located in the easternmost point of Italy. Along a path it is possible to climb over the two-storey caretaker's house and admire the wonderful view of the Adriatic Sea. Inside there is also the Museum of Ecology of Mediterranean Ecosystems which can only be visited by booking by writing to: [email protected]  
• 40.08583318.48861117 Sant'Emiliano Tower, SP87 (south of the city, near the Grotta del Pastore / Grotta di Sant'Emiliano). Along the entire coast of Salento there are numerous coastal towers built in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries to protect the rural population from Saracen invasions.  
• 40.18305618.47305618 Torre Santo Stefano (Torre Chianca).  
• 40.22490318.46435119 Fiumicelli Tower. One of the hundreds of towers that are found on a regular basis along the entire Salento coast.  

• 40.18918.44620 Alimini lakes. There are two lakes, the one connected to the sea is Lake Alimini Grande and is salty, while the small Lake Alimini is freshwater and is protected.  
• 40.14166718.50527821 Torre del Serpe.  
• 40.137518.50916722 Torre dell'Orte (Torre dell'Orto).  

• 40.13419218.48911923 Hypogeum of Torre Pinta. Located under the tower of the same name in the Valley of Memories, it was discovered in 1976. The hypogeum, of which there is no sure historical date, could date back to the Neolithic and subsequently expanded and exploited in various periods for various functions. It has a Latin cross plan - probably due to the Basilians who transformed it into a place of worship - consisting of a corridor (dromos), with a barrel vault pierced by many small cells, ending in a spherical compartment. The cells, most likely, were intended to house the cinerary urns of the dead. In correspondence with the spherical compartment, which leads into three apsed rooms, a dovecote tower rises, built in the 17th century to replace the collapsed vault. Near the entrance there is a small circular room hosting a fireplace. 

• 40.13166718.50055624 Pond in the former bauxite quarry, SP369, Contrada Orte (near the monument to Pope John Paul II). free. A small lake born from an abandoned bauxite quarry, characterized by an impressive red color of the soil, surrounded by the Mediterranean scrub. In recent years it has become a popular place for all tourists.  
• 40.12999118.48885725 Crypt of San Nicola. Located in the Valley of Memories, a place of historical importance due to the presence of an ancient rock village, the crypt of San Nicola is carved into the rocky walls of the valley and probably dates back to the 10th-12th century. The crypt is made up of three naves, divided by pillars, ending with small semicircular apses. Traces of Byzantine frescoes and inscriptions in Greek are still visible. 
• 40.120218.496226 Monastery of San Nicola di Casole (a few kilometers south of the city). It was built in 1098 and inhabited by the Basilian (Greek) monks. The library with Greek and Latin texts was considered one of the most complete, until it was completely destroyed in 1480 following the invasion of the Turks; today only ruins remain.  

• 40.082918.45627 Church of the Madonna della Serra (in the extreme south of the municipality, on the ancient Via Appia Calabro-Salentina on the high ground of the Ferrarii Mountains). The country church, so called because it is positioned on the top of a hill (Monti Ferrari) which belongs to the so-called Salento greenhouses, is made up of a cubic building of the seventeenth century. Characterized by a barrel vault with lunettes and the presence of wall frescoes, among which that of the owner stands out. A few meters away you can see an ancient Roman road with paving. 
• 40.082718.484528 Cave of the Deers (in Porto Badisco). Closed to the public. Grotta dei Cervi is an important natural coastal cave, located in the bay of Porto Badisco. Discovered in 1970, the cavity contains an invaluable archaeological heritage: its ancient inhabitants have left numerous pictorial remains on the walls, images of men, ritual figures, hunting scenes and animals. The graffiti is made with a mixture of ocher and bat guano, and the importance of the site has prompted the permanent closure of the cave.

The archaeological finds and fossils found constitute the main nucleus of the Alca di Maglie Paleontological Museum.  

Events and parties

• Feast of the Holy Martyrs. August. Patronal feast. 
• Feast of Madonna dell'Alto Mare. September. Religious and civil holiday. 
• Alba dei Popoli. New Year. A series of initiatives on New Year's days to celebrate the first dawn of Italy. 

What to do

• 40.12827218.4861271 Tumara riding club, Via Vicinale Sant'Emiliano, ☎ 39 338 313 8122. 
• 40.14729118.4972292 Hydra Excursions by boat, Via del Porto, ☎ 39 389 78 07 073, @[email protected]. Excursions through the highlights of the Adriatic coast such as caves, inlets and sandy beaches of Salento. Fruit and snacks available on board. 
• 40.10241618.5075743 Drive along the coast. Take the and discover the wonders of the coast. 
• 40.14623118.4890534 Rest in the shade of the trees. The public gardens between Via Vittorio Emanuele and the seafront are a good place to rest your feet after a walk in the historic center. 

Beaches

• 40.19990718.4593525 Balnearea Beach Otranto, Contrada Alimini. Mon-Sun 7: 00-21: 00. Lido, beach, restaurant and lounge bar. 
• 40.148618.48716 Otranto beach. City beach. 
• 40.19231418.4642697 Bay of the Turks (a few kilometers north of Otranto). It is a beach made up of sandy cliffs, some of which can only be reached on foot. It takes its name from the place where, according to tradition, the Turkish warriors landed during the siege of the city of Otranto in the 15th century.  
• 40.1452118.4938128 Beach of the tourist port (next to the marina). It seems incredible but the water of Otranto is so clean that it also allows swimming next to the boats of the tourist port. 

Shopping

The entire old town is filled with small shops selling souvenirs, local crafts and textiles. Take a walk in 40.14588318.4919181 Corso Garibaldi to find all kinds of typical products and various clothing stores.

• Most of the tourist shops are located in the old town.

How to have fun

Night clubs

• 40.14720418.4900941 Mistral, Via SS. Martyrs (in front of the monument to the martyrs), ☎ 39 320 613 7590. Excellent cocktails on a pier surrounded by the waters of Otranto. It is one of the most popular lounge bars in the city for quality and location. 
• 40.14528918.4932562 Spinnaker, Via Bastione Pelasgi, 12, ☎ 39 329 166 8165. Expensive cocktails. Mon-Sun 16: 00-04: 00. Panoramic lounge bar facing the roof of the Torre Matta. 

Where to eat

Average prices

• 40.14657718.4901331 The Beautiful Idrusa, Promenade of the Heroes, 1, ☎ 39 0836 801475. 19:00-24:00. Pizza and Apulian cuisine in a cozy restaurant under the walls of the historic center. 

High prices

• 40.14504618.4914692 The other Mustache, Via Cenobio Basiliano 23 (in the historic center, on the road between the castle and the cathedral), ☎ 39 0836 801636, @[email protected]. Tue-Sun 12: 30-14: 00 and 19: 00-23: 00. Italian cuisine, creative without betraying its roots, in a very traditional setting. 

Where stay

Moderate prices

• 40.23242418.4581451 Frassanito International Campsite. 

High prices

• 40.16736118.467512 Otranto Koinè hotels, Via Alimini. 4 Star Hotel in Otranto 
• 40.1689518.4657963 Gabriella Hotel, Via Alimini. 4 Star Hotel near Alimini Lakes 
• 40.16876218.45934 Masseria Muzza, Location Alimini Serra 2. 
• 40.14622118.491215 Palazzo Papaleo Hotel, Via Rondachi, 1 (Behind the cathedral), ☎ 39 0836 802108. A 5-star hotel in the heart of the historic center. 

Safety

How to keep in touch

Post office

• 40.1472918.48686410 Italian post, Via Papa Giovanni Paolo II, 2, ☎ 39 0836 800249. Mon-Fri 08: 20-13: 35; Sat 08: 20-12: 35. 

Keep informed

• Official site of the Diocese of Otranto. Official site of the Diocese, here you can find information on the churches. 
• 40.14514718.49067511 Proloco Otranto, Via G. M. Laggetto, 30, ☎ 39 0836 806585, @[email protected]. 09:00-13:00/17:00-21:00. Proloco site, useful for knowing the events. 

Around

• 40.131118.471512 Crypt of Sant'Angelo. 
• Melendugno
• Gallipoli - on the west coast of Salento on the Ionian Sea.
• Santa Maria di Leuca - 60 km away, about 1 and a half hours by car, is the city on the southern pint of the Puglia.

Itineraries

• Coastal towers of Salento
• Coastal caves of Salento
• Adriatic Green Corridor is the cycle path that runs along the Adriatic coast. It has a length of 1300 km and connects Trieste with Santa Maria di Leuca, along the Italian Riviera with the richest beaches dedicated to seaside tourism.

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Otranto
• Commons contains images or other files on Otranto
• Wikiquote contains quotes from or about Otranto

Usable : the article respects the characteristics of a draft but in addition it contains enough information to allow a short visit to the city. Use i correctly listing (the right type in the right sections).