Otranto is the eastern-most town in Italy. It sits on the Adriatic coast in the province of Lecce in Puglia. It occupies the site of an ancient Greek city. Otranto was a city and an important port in Roman times and has had a turbulent past.
These days it is a pretty seaside town popular with tourists. The sun was out for our visit.
We walked along the boardwalk to the old town.
Cafes and restaurants sit on top of the ramparts and offer lovely sea views.
There is a beach of sorts. There are better beaches just outside the town.
The centre of the town is within the defensive walls, adding to its charm.
Once inside the walls a lively street scene unfolds. There are interesting shops, cafes and restaurants dotted amongst the old buildings.
On the edge of town we found the remnants of Torre Matta tower.
The huge 5 sided Castello Argonese was rebuilt by Alphonso II of Naples in 1495 – 98. Originally it had a single entrance via a draw bridge over a moat.
The Otranto Cathedral was consecrated in 1088. It has a spectacular mosaic floor, rose window and a crypt supported by 42 marble columns.
The figures on the roof are well weathered.
The cathedral was closed when we were there, but I found a fuzzy old photo of the crypt I took 10 years ago on a previous visit.
We were lucky to see Otranto on a sunny day…the rain returned soon after. I can see it would be a good base for a stay in Puglia.