Otranto, Puglia, Italy

Otranto, Puglia, Italy

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Otranto, Puglia Italy

In spite of the great development of buildings, Otranto preserves an almost intact historical center, which shines in all its splendor protected by the fortifications overlooking the south shore of the natural harbor. The natural entrance to the historical center is the Porta Alfonsina, in memory of Alfonso, Duke of Calabria, who liberated the city from Turkish domination. A series of alleys lead us to the Otranto Cathedral, a jewel of Romanesque-pugliese architecture, built in 1080-88 and also known as Catedrale dell'Annunziata. The gabled façade is dominated by a Gothic-Arab style rosette from the 15th century and a Baroque portal from 1764. Its austere interior, with three naves, is decorated with a 17th-century ceilings in gilded wood and by 14 Granite columns. In the Chapel of the Martyrs, to the right of the main altar, the bones of the victims of the Turkish massacre are preserved. The masterpiece, however, is depicted on the ground in a beautiful mosaic in bright colors by the priest Pantaleone (1163-1166), depicting scenes from the Bible and medieval epic cycles. Beneath the apse is the wide crypt, supported by a jungle of columns with capitals of different periods and Byzantine frescoes. Near the cathedral, we find the Diocesan Museum, which displays a collection of fabrics and liturgical objects, statues and paintings belonging to the church, as the fifteenth century baptismal font. We can also observe interesting fragments of a late-Roman mosaic found under the muscled pavement. The main street of the village is Corso Garibaldi, vibrant and crowded, which rises in the direction of the town square, or Piazza del Popolo, with the Torre dell'Orologio (Clock Tower) dating from 1779. From here you reach San Pietro , A Byzantine church that dates back to the X-XI century, and was for many years the seat of Greek worship. The exterior looks austere; In contrast, the interior is a plant in Greek cross, inserted inside a square, and very decorated. Marked by three small ships supported by eight columns, the church has its walls and vaults covered with frescoes depicting biblical scenes. The cannon vault of the ship to the northwest is adorned by the "Last Supper" and the "Lavatory of the feet".
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Recommended airport
Casale (BDS)
Points of interest
Nearby destinations
  • Salento a 46.59 km
  • Ugento a 37.49 km
  • Gallipoli a 43.68 km