 Introduzione
Come Si Arriva
Plane
The Airport in Brindisi is around 35 kms from Lecce and 80km from Otranto, with flights directed from Rome and Milan. You can also reach Bari by means of RYANAIR from London. From Bari to Lecce you can take a bus or train.
Train
You can easily reach Lecce from any main Italian city. From Lecce you can reach Otranto by train (Ferrovie Sud-Est) or by public and turistic bus (Salentoinbus).
Car
Take the A14 motorway and come off at the Bari Nord exit and follow the signs to Brindisi and Lecce along the SS16. When you reach Lecce, follow the signs to Maglie. From the Maglie by-pass, take the exit for Otranto.
History and Culture
In the 8th century, it was for some time in the possession of duke Arechis II of Benevento. It remained in the hands of the Byzantine emperors until it was among the last cities of Apulia to surrender to the Norman Robert Guiscard in 1068, and then became part of the Principality of Taranto.
In 1480, the Turkish fleet landed nearby and took the city and its fort. The Pope called for a crusade, with a massive force built up by Ferdinand I of Naples, among them notably troops of Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus, despite frequent Italian quarreling at the time. The Neapolitan force met with the Turks in 1481, thoroughly annihilating them and recapturing Otranto. However, in the two battles, the city was utterly destroyed, and has never since recovered its importance since the sack of Otranto by the Turks, in which 12,000 men are said to have perished ? among them, Bishop Stephen Pendinelli, who was sawn to death; the “valley of the martyrs“ still recalls that dreadful event. On other occasions, as in 1537, the Turks landed again at Otranto, but they were repulsed.
In 1804, the city was obliged to harbour a French garrison that was established there to watch the movements of the English fleet. Under the French name of Otranto is was created a duche grand-fief de l'Empire in the Napoleonic kingdom of Naples for Joseph Fouche, Napoleon's minister of Police (1809).
Chiese e Musei
The Cathedral, consecrated in 1088, a work of Count Roger I adorned later (about 1163), by Bishop Jonathas, with a mosaic floor; it has a rose window and side portal of 1481. The interior, a basilica with nave and two aisles, contains columns said to come from a temple of Minerva and a fine mosaic pavement of 1166, with interesting representations of the months, Old Testament subjects, etc. It has a crypt supported by forty-two marble columns. The same Count Roger also founded a Basilian monastery here, which, under Abbot Nicetas, became a place of study; its library was nearly all bought by Bessarion.
San Pietro
In a side street in the upper part of the town is the little church of San Pietro (10th-11th centuries), with a Byzantine dome and frescoes, depicting the saints and scenes of the life of Christ, including one of the last supper, it is one of the most important Byzantine monuments in the Salento.
Historical buildings and monuments
The Aragonese Castle was erected from Ferdinand of Aragon between 1485 and 1498, Its construction was consequent to the Turkish invasion of 1480. The castle has one trapezial structure with three circular towers for three sides, Torre Alfonsina, Torre Ippolita and Torre Duchessa. From this vantage point, on clear days, you can see straight across the Ionian sea to Albania.
Places of Interest
From Otranto the coast road continues, running inland for part of the way and then winding its way along the coast, to Santa Cesarea Terme (56m/185ft), a popular resort, charmingly situated above the sea. It has four springs of sulfureous water (36°C/97°F) in large caves in the cliffs.
Eventi
Lecce celebrates its patron saint, St Oronzo, from the 24th to the 26th of August. On this occasion the town puts on its Sunday best: processions, illuminations and fireworks.
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Pagina iniziale
Guida Turistica di Otranto
Double room - Da 180€
Double room - Da 40€
Suite - Da 85€
Apartment - Da 50€
Apartment - Da 70€
Double room - Da 65€