Otranto

Introduction

Otranto is one of the most popular towns for tourists of Salento, there is a special atmosphere around it. It is lovely to have a walk in its historic centre, along the streets full of souvenir shops, restaurants, bars and cafes, along the embankment always full of people, tourists from the whole world, to go down to the port through Porta a Mare (Gate to the Sea) or go up the ancient walls and to admire lovely a panorama of the sea port (when the visibility is good, it is even possible to see Albania, as it is exactly in front of Otranto. It is beautiful also in the evening, and it becomes so romantic with lots of street lights.

Otranto is the most eastern town of Italy, in fact, Salento was previously called Terra d’Otranto (Land of Otranto), and it is the first place in Italy, where the sunrise appears. To be exact, The Lighthouse Faro della Palascia (which is 5 kilometres far from Otranto) marks the most easterly point of the Italian mainland. The Old Town of Otranto was declared by UNESCO as ‘Heritage witness to a culture of peace’.

Horace Walpole named his book The Castle of otranto (the first gothic novel), the castle is also mentioned in the book of Bram Stoker The Lady of the Shroud.

Neighbourhoods

Otranto can be a great base for vacation, as it has lots of possibilities for sightseeing near it, for example Porto Badisco, Zinzuluza cave, Castro, Santa Cesarea Terme, Torre Pinta, Alimini Lakes, Torre dell’Orso and Porto Miggiano.

Sights and Activities

Among the most important sights there are The Aragonese Castle (15th century, it is open to the public and hosts different exhibitions from time to time), The Cathedral (with enormous mosaic pavement of 1166 depicting the Tree of Life, with a crypt supported by 42 marble columns, and downstairs behind the glass there are 800 skulls and bones of martyrs), Basilica of San Pietro (with Byzantine frescoes), Piazza del Popolo, the Clock Tower, Porta a Mare, Porta Terra and Torre Alfonsina.

Events and Festivals

Otranto also hosts a lot of Festivals and Sagras, one of the most popular is Jazz Festival, which takes place every year in August.

Keep Connected

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

Post

Post Italiane is the national postal services of Italy and has quite an efficient network of postal offices and reliable postal services. Standard letters and postcards (up to 20 grams) cost €0.39 to send within Europe and the Mediterranean countries outside Europe and €0.41 to all other destinations throughout the country. Up to 50 grams, prices start at €0.52 for Europe, €0.62 for other areas. Packages start at €1.55 within Europe, and around €2.50 for other countries. Post office business hours in Italy are from 8:30am to 2:00pm from Monday to Friday, with closing times at Saturday and the last day of the month at 12 noon.

External Links