{"id":2028,"date":"2026-10-09T14:24:20","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T18:24:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pugliaperfect.com\/?p=2028"},"modified":"2026-10-11T11:52:06","modified_gmt":"2026-10-11T15:52:06","slug":"otranto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pugliaperfectvacations.com\/de\/otranto\/","title":{"rendered":"Otranto"},"content":{"rendered":"

Otranto by the Sea<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Head to the picturesque seaside town of Otranto, which boasts a beautiful beach, a charming old town with great shopping, and the stunning Otranto Cathedral with its famous mosaic floor.<\/p>\n

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Things to do in Otranto<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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1. Visit the Aragonese Castle<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One of the best selling features is the beautiful panoramic views of the castle walkways.\u00a0 This is a town that needed great fortification…<\/p>\n

Today’s castle of Otranto was built after a massacre in 1480. Otranto was flourishing with more than 20.000 inhabitants, but they were invaded by an Ottoman fleet of 128 ships.\u00a0 According to some historians 12.000 people were killed and 5.000 enslaved. Eight hundred who refused to convert to Islam were beheaded. You can still hear stories about the martyrs of Otranto and see their skulls in the Cathedral.<\/p>\n

The novel \u2018The Castle of Otranto<\/a>\u2019 by Horace Walpol. was published in 1764, and was named by happenstance because the name sounded frightening, but it\u2019s widely regarded to be the first Gothic novel.<\/p>\n

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2. Explore the Otranto Cathedral<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Otranto Cathedral was founded in 1068 on the remains of a Messapian village. It highlights different architectural styles including Byzantine, early Christian and Romanesque elements. In 1480, the Turks damaged and briefly transformed the church into a mosque. In the right nave, in seven large cupboards are preserved the bones of the Holy Martyrs of Otranto. These are the remains of nearly eight hundred people massacred by the Turks for refusing to renounce their Christian faith.<\/p>\n

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Otranto Cathedral- One of the cases displaying the bones of the 800 martyrs<\/em><\/p>\n

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\"Otranto<\/p>\n

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The story of Samson\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The story of Adam and Eve being evicted from the garden<\/em><\/p>\n

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Dating from 1163 to 1170, the floor mosaic covers 600 square meters, and is one of the largest and best preserved Mosaics in Europe.\u00a0 \u00a0This Masterpiece was intricately designed to depict the Bible, patrology and history of man, starting from the expulsion from the Eden of Adam and Eve to the Last Judgement.\u00a0 A legible inscription tells us that Gionata, the Arch-Bishop over the Archdiocese of Otranto commissioned the work, and a high priest, Pantaleone was the designer and architect of the beautiful floor.\u00a0 Pantaleone’s name was often linked to the Abby of St Nicholas in Casole- and Abby known for great wisdom and culture.<\/p>\n

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Cathedral crypt<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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The Cathedral crypt winds under the apse, the presbytery and part of the hall.\u00a0 It is a miniature of the famous Cistern of Theodosius or the Mosque of C\u00f3rdoba. The crypt is built on 42 columns of differing styles.\u00a0The year of origin dates back to the\u00a011th century or earlier.<\/p>\n

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3. Relax on the beaches <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Otranto is known for its beautiful beaches with crystal-clear waters, perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports.\u00a0 The city offers gorgeous swimming and sunbathing spots, excellent restaurants and bars, seawall walks, and a real sense of the southern Italian ‘Dolce far niente’ – The sweetness of doing nothing.\u00a0 Two beaches to consider:<\/p>\n

Lungomare<\/a> <\/strong>No sand here- Concrete platform<\/p>\n

Spiaggetta Del Molo<\/strong><\/a> \u00a0Clear shallow water with fine beach sand- popular with families<\/p>\n

Private Lidos – <\/strong>Popular throughout Puglia<\/em><\/p>\n

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Private beach clubs in Italy- often referred to as ‘lido<\/em>‘, ‘bagno<\/em>‘, or \u2018stabilimenti balneari\u2019,<\/em> come in various styles and degrees of luxury. You may have to pay an entrance fee to access them and their facilities.\u00a0 The fee may include the rental of your own lounger and umbrella for the day.\u00a0 There are often restaurants and\/or bars that accompany the facilities.<\/p>\n

They are not resorts, though they may be similar, and are rarely attached to a hotel. Some can be basic and focused on families, others may be focused on luxury clientele or younger 20-30 somethings.<\/p>\n

Not every single beach in Italy has a beach club, but popular tourist beach towns are likely to have at least one.<\/p>\n

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Tips for Private Lidos<\/strong><\/h2>\n