It's no secret that Italy occupies almost the entire Apennine Peninsula, which resembles a boot in its shape. The Puglia region is located on the Salintina peninsula and is considered its heel.
Puglia is located in southeastern Italy and has the longest coastline among the mainland regions of the country. The main city of the region is (Bari), which is located from (Roma), the capital of Italy, at a distance of 430 km.
4 million people live in Puglia, and its area is 19 thousand km2. The main language is Italian, but French and various dialects are also widespread here: Tarantino, Franco-Provencal, as well as Italian-Ruman, derived from Greek, Arbere (a mixture with Albanian) and some others.
The region includes six provinces:
- Foggia (Provincia di Foggia) - north;
- Barletta-Andria-Trani - between Foggia and Bari;
- Bari (Provincia di Bari) - in the center;
- Brindisi (Provincia di Brindisi) - between Bari and Lecce, in the east of the region;
- Taranto (Provincia di Taranto) - between Bari and Lecce, in the west of the region;
- Lecce (Provincia di Lecce) is the southernmost province.
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In the southeast, Apulia is washed by the Adriatic Sea (Mare Adriatico), in the southwest - by the Ionian Sea (mar Ionio). Both bodies of water are part of Mediterranean Sea(Mar Mediterraneo). In the west, Puglia is bordered by the regions (Campania) and (Basilicata), in the north - with Molise.
There are not many mountains here: 53% of the territory is occupied by plains, 45% - by hills. The most high point of the region is the limestone mountain of Monte Cornacchia, which is 1152 m high. It is located in the northwest of the region in the Monti Dauni mountains.
There are two national parks on the territory of the region - Gargano (Parco nazionale del Gargano) and Alta Murgia. There are also 11 regional parks, 24 nature reserves. At the same time, forests occupy only 7.5% of the region's area. This is the lowest rate in Italy.
In the north of Puglia, towards the Adriatic Sea, the Ofanto rivers, which are 170 km long, and the Cervaro, 93 km long, flow. Among the large rivers, one can also highlight the Carapelle, which is 98 km long, and the Candelaro (70 km).
History
The name Apulia translated from ancient Greek means "exodus". But the local lands were inhabited much earlier than the ancient Greeks came here. On the territory of the region, a skeleton of a Neanderthal man was found, which lived here 250-187 thousand years ago. He is known as the Man of Altamura (L'Uomo di Altamura) because he was found near this city.
In the VIII Art. BC. Greeks settled on the lands of Apulia. At that time, the Apula and Messap tribes lived here, so the Greeks began to call the local residents Yapigs. The main settlement was Taranto, which became a major trade center.
The Romans came here in the III century. BC, after the Greeks lost to the Italian tribes. But they also had to fight the Samnites. When the resistance was broken, the Romans began to settle down, and in honor of the ancient inhabitants of the region they named the region Apulia.
During the times, the region flourished. Brindisi became the largest seaport of the Romans on the shores Adriatic sea, and lived in it 100 thousand people. All Roman trade with the countries located in the east went through Brindisi and Taranto. Roads were built in the region, which connected big cities and Rome. The main export commodities were wheat and olive oil.
In 216 BC. the Battle of Cannes took place on the banks of the Aufid River (modern Ofanto), during the course of the army of Hannibal from Carthage, the vastly superior Romans were completely defeated. This battle was included in the list of the bloodiest battles in the history of mankind in terms of the number of soldiers killed per day.
In the V century. the fall of the Western Roman Empire took place, and the Ostrogoths settled on the territory of Apulia. After that, the area passed from hand to hand for a long time, and therefore military operations almost did not stop here until 1861, when Puglia became part of the united Italy (Regno d'Italia). Since then, there has been relative calm, which has created conditions for the normal development of agriculture, which is still flourishing.
Climate
What attracts people to Puglia since ancient times? First of all, this is the sea, sandy beaches and a typical Mediterranean climate.
There are more sunny than cloudy and cloudy days, snow is a rare occurrence. The monthly weather in Puglia is as follows:
- January: during the day 7 ° С, at night 1 °, sun - 12 days, rain - 3 days;
- February: 8 ° С during the day, 2 ° С at night, sun - 8 days, rain - 4;
- March: 12 ° C during the day, 4 ° C at night, sun - 14 days, rain - 4;
- April: 17 ° С during the day, 6 ° С at night, sun - 14 days, rain - 5;
- May: 20 ° C during the day, 8 ° C at night, sun - 18 days, rain - 6;
- June: during the day 25 ° С, at night 12 ° С, sun - 22 days, rain - 6;
- July: during the day 29 ° С, at night 14 ° С, sun - 28 days, rain - 3;
- August: during the day 29 ° С, at night 14 ° С, sun - 29 days, rain - 2;
- September: 24 ° C during the day, 12 ° C at night, sun - 19 days, rain - 4;
- October: 18 ° С during the day, 9 ° С at night, sun - 14 days, rain - 5;
- November: 13 ° С during the day, 6 ° С at night, sun - 11 days, rain - 5;
- December: during the day 8 ° С, at night 2 ° С, sun - 16 days, rain - 2;
Such weather and long beach line attracts tourists from all over the world.
The beach season begins in June, when the water temperature warms up to + 22 ° С. But some daredevils start swimming in May at a sea temperature of + 17 ° C. Ends beach season in September. Although the water is cold in October, it is good time for sightseeing in Puglia.
Cities and landmarks
Puglia is a region with a long history. There is something to see here, therefore tourism is very well developed here. Castles, ancient temples, museums, National parks and nature reserves, olive groves attract the attention of people from all over the world.
Bari
The province of Bari is located on the Atlantic coast. North of it - Barletta-Andria-Trani, in the south - Taranto and Brindisi. It is the most populated province of Puglia with over 1 million inhabitants. It is in this province that the city of Altamura is located, near which the remains of a man two thousand years ago were found.
In the main city of the region, Bari, at 13 Largo Abate Elia, (Basilica di San Nicola) is located. This temple appeared in the XI-XII centuries. for storing the relics of St. Nicholas, who were brought to the city in 1087. They are located in the crypt, which can only be entered by organized groups of pilgrims by prior arrangement.
This basilica should not be confused with the church of St. Nicholas (Chiesa di San Nicola), which was built in Bari at the beginning of the last century in the style of Russian architecture of the 15th century. and belongs to the Moscow Patriarchate. It is located at Corso Benedetto Croce, 130, and is also known as the Patriarchal Compound of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Tourists will definitely like the symbol of the city, the Norman-Swabian Castle (Castello Normanno-Svevo), the construction of which dates back to the XII century. The burgundy and white Teatro Petruzzelli with statues at the top looks original, which is the fourth largest temple of Melpomene in Italy. Such artists as (Luciano Pavarotti), Carla Fracci (Carla Fracci), Eduardo De Filippo performed here.
Brindisi is located in the south of Bari, in the east is the Adriatic Sea. The length of the coast is 81 km, while partly it consists of beaches, partly of their rocks. Large rivers do not flow through the province, but there are many freshwater lakes.
The main city of the province is Brindisi. It is a major seaport. The history of Brindisi dates back to the ancient Romans, and it was from here that they traded with the countries that are located in the east. In 40 BC. in this city the military leader Marcus Antonius and the founder of the Roman Empire (Octavianus Augustus) reconciled, and twenty years after this meeting, the poet Virgil (Publio Virgilio Marone) died in Brindisi.
During the reign of the Romans, 100 thousand people lived in the city. It lost its significance during the Middle Ages, when trade moved to Bari. Nevertheless, the path of the crusaders to the Holy Land began from here.
Currently, there are not many old buildings here. Basically, these are churches, a castle by the sea Castello svevo (Brindisi), a sea fort. There is also an antique column that signified the end (lat.Via Appia). It was the most important public road from Rome.
Taranto is located south of Bari and Lecce, west of Brindisi. Its shores are washed by the waters of the Ionian Sea. There are both plains and hills. The height of the highest hill, Monte Angiulli, is 440 m.
The main city of the province is Taranto. It was founded by the Spartans in the VIII century. BC. Their descendants lived here for several centuries, until the Romans captured the city, selling 30 thousand inhabitants into slavery. They also turned Taranto into a large seaport, which it is to this day.
Many ancient buildings have been preserved here. Here you can find not only christian temples, but also places of pagan cults, the remains of a Greco-Roman necropolis and burial chambers. Of course, there are castles, defense forts (Castello Aragonese, Fortezza de Laclos), numerous museums. Among them is the underground Spartan Museum (museo spartano di Taranto), where you can see the history of the city from the day it was founded until the 18th century.
Barletta-Andria-Trani
Barletta-Andria-Trani is the youngest province in the region. It is washed by the waters of the Gulf of Manfredonia, which belongs to the Adriatic Sea. In the south - the province of Bari, in the north - Foggia. This province is governed by three cities at once - Trani, Barletta and Andria. The first two cities are located on the coast, and therefore are considered resorts, the third is from the sea in the distance.
There are a lot of palaces and churches in Barlet. Among them are the Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica di S. Maria Maggiore), the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Basilica del Santo Sepolcro). You can also highlight defensive structures - walls, gates and the castle of Barleta (Castello di Barletta). Its construction dates back to the XII century. Another attraction of the city is the huge statue of the Roman emperor, which is known as the Colosso di Barletta.
The city of Trani is also interesting. Here are Cathedral St. Nicholas Pelegrino (La Cattedrale di San Nicola Pellegrino), the Church of Santa Maria di Colonna (La chiesa di Santa Maria di Colonna) and the adjacent monastery. The Swabian Castle (Castello svevo) is notable. Also in Trani there are several towers of the XI century, city gates and a lot of palaces.
In Adria, you can look at the city gates, castles, see the clock tower from the time of Francesco II del Balzo, who lived at the end of the 15th century. You can also book a tour of the undergrounds and caves of the city, where in medieval times people lived and worshiped God.
Lecce
Lecce is the southernmost and easternmost province of the region, which is entirely located on the Salentina peninsula. Its uniqueness is that it has access to both the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea. It is mostly plain, with few hills in the south, la Serra dei Cianci.
The coastline is 222 m, sandy beaches are constantly replaced by rocky cliffs. Along south coast There are many caves in the Adriatic Sea, among which is the Grotta Zinzulusa. This cave goes at least 250 meters deep, and during the excursion you can see stalactites, stalagmites, several lakes of crystal clear water. Also, bats and sea inhabitants live here, which you will not find anywhere else.
The capital of the province of Lecce bears the same name. There are many ancient cathedrals, castles, forts and towers. There is also an amphitheater with 25,000 seats. It was built in the 1st-2nd centuries. AD
Foggia
Foggia is the northernmost province of Puglia, washed by the waters of the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the least arid provinces in the region, as the Ofanto rivers flow here, which is a natural border with Barletta-Andria-Trani, and Fortore. The province is notable for the fact that 50% of the tomatoes from the entire Italian crop are harvested here.
The main city of the province bears the same name. He suffered from repeatedly. Nevertheless, many historical buildings have been preserved here. Among them are the Cathedral (la Cattedrale di Foggia), the National Monument Church of the Crosses (La chiesa delle Croci), and the Church of St. Thomas (la Chiesa di San Tommaso), the oldest basilica in the city, built in the XI century. You can also go to the city of Leccera, where the Staufen fortress (Fortezza svevo-angioina) rises on a hill, and there is also an antique amphitheater.
Resorts
One of the most popular resorts Puglia is located in Lecce Marina di Andrano. Rocky shores, numerous bays, clear sea water attract tourists here from all over the world. The most famous beaches are Zona Grotta verde and Zona Botte. One of them is the location of the beautiful La Grotta Verde cave.
Another resort in the province of Lecce, Gagliano del Capo, is in no less demand among tourists. It is located almost in the southeast of the province at an altitude of 150 m above sea level. In addition to the beaches, there are many cliffs and several interesting historical caves. Diving enthusiasts can go to Porto Cesareo.
But for people who prefer thermal springs, Santa Cesarea Terme will do. This resort is also located in this region.
(Ostuni) in the province of Brindisi boasts a beautiful coastline. One of the most popular holiday destinations is Monopoli in the province of Bari, where there are twenty-five beaches.
Lovers to combine beach and leisure can go to the Gargano Peninsula in Fuji province. This place is called "the spur of the Italian boot". Here is located national reserve: there are not only beaches, but also mountains, caves, as well as the salt lakes of Lezina and Varano, which are separated from the sea by a narrow strip of land.
Folklore
Despite the fact that the beach season in Puglia lasts from June to September, you can safely go here at other times of the year. Here you can see not only the sights, but also visit various festive events, including:
- 01.17: Carnival in Massafra (Taranto);
- 17-18.01: Celebration of fire in Novoli (Lecce);
- 02.14: "Orange" day of St. Valentine in Vieste (Foggia). Here two holidays coincided on the same day - Valentine's Day and the Orange Festival;
- 18-19.03: Tables of San Giuseppe in Giurdignano (Lecce). During these days central square transforms into a large restaurant, the tables of which are decorated with flowers and an icon of St. San Giusepe. Before dinner, people pray, food is sanctified;
- 04/28: Sagra (festival) of wine and bagels in (Alberobello), the city of trulls;
- 7-9.05: Feast of St. Nicholas in Bari;
- Third Sunday in June: Festival in Fasano (Brindisi), dedicated to the victory over the Turks in 1678;
- July: Red Onion Day at Acquaviva delle Fonti (Bari), the most popular vegetable in the area;
- Late July: Octopus Days in Fasano and Torre Canne (Brindisi), as well as a local cutlet festival in Grottaglie (Taranto);
- Early August: Feast of local beer in Leverano (Lecce);
- Second Sunday in August: Tournament of Knights in Oria (Brindisi);
- Late August - September: Festival of Locals in Taranto;
- Third Sunday in October: Feast of Calzone in Acquaviva delle Fonti (Bari) - on this day you can taste the local closed pizza in all interpretations;
- 5-6.11: Noci Wine and Chestnut Festival (Bari)
- December - January: Presepe “Living” is celebrated everywhere. Presepe is Jesus' manger, created by the hands of folk craftsmen. This is the period of the widespread celebration of Christmas.
This information can be taken into account when planning a trip to Puglia. They will help you develop your route so that the journey is as interesting and fun as possible.
Winemaking
Winemaking traditions go back to the ancient Greeks, who in the VIII century. BC. brought here the grapevine and the technology of making wine. Nowadays vineyards in Puglia occupy 100 thousand hectares, and not long ago inexpensive varieties were produced here. But the excellent climatic conditions and fertile soil helped to improve the quality of wine and strengthen the leading position.
Now Puglia produces 17% of all wines in the country.
Their advantage is an excellent price-performance ratio. The Castel del Monte experts are highly rated. 22 varieties of wines are produced under this brand.
- Gravina and Gioia del Colle in Bari;
- Brindisi in Brindisi;
- Alezio, Galatina, Copertino, Leverano in Lecce;
- San Severo, Rosso di Cerignola in Foggia.
Like olive oil, wines in Puglia are served with many dishes local cuisine.
How to get there
Puglia can be reached by car, bus, train, air and water.
Between the main city of the region, Bari, other regions and provinces, there is a very well developed railway and bus service... The same applies to seaports: they are equipped in all cities that are located on the coast.
The province has three airports where passenger flights arrive. One is located in Bari, and is named after Pope Karol Wojtyła: Aeroporto internazionale di Bari "Karol Wojtyła". it international Airport and it accepts flights from Germany, Great Britain, Romania.
The second airport is located in Salento (Brindisi) and is called L'Aeroporto di Brindisi-Papola Casale. International communication is also established here: people fly here from Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, England.
Another airport is located in Foggia. This is Aeroporto di Foggia "Gino Lisa". It is used for domestic flights, as well as for helicopter flights to the Isole Tremiti Islands, which belong to this commune and to the Gargano resort.
Located on the Adriatic coast Salentine Peninsula.
Otranto is the most eastern city Italy, a little to the south is the easternmost Italian point, where two seas meet - the Ionian and the Adriatic.
This area was inhabited as early as the XII-XI centuries. BC, the Messapian tribes founded their colonies here on the shores of the fertile Adriatic.
In 266 BC. Salento conquered Ancient Rome. Otranto received a new name - Hydruntum, and became an important transport center, through which the roads connecting Brindisi and Taranto passed, and ships were based in the city port. When the Roman Empire split in two, Otranto, like the others southern cities, went to Byzantium. A period of even greater prosperity began. Otranto became a cultural and political center, the Land of Otranto - that is how Salento became known. After the Norman conquest in 1068, the port of Otranto did not lose its strategic importance, ships arrived here from Venice, Greece, Armenia. Life was in full swing, but in 1480 events occurred that turned the usual course of time.
The Turkish fleet was caught in a violent storm and was forced to seek refuge in the harbor. Here Muhammad II came up with the idea to conquer the south of Italy, uniting it with the Muslim south of Spain. The Turks attacked and eventually conquered. Thousands of residents died, many were taken into slavery, those who refused to convert to Islam were executed. And only in 1481 Alphonse of Aragon, Duke of Calabria, released. For protection from the Turks, walls and a castle were erected. But he could not regain the lost role either on the political scene or on the cultural one. Lecce took over.
Pirate raids became more frequent, and the star of Otranto was slowly declining. Until the middle of the XX century. fishing and vegetable growing were the main occupation of local residents, but at this time a tourist boom took place, beautiful coasts with the purest water were rediscovered, preserved medieval streets and old houses.
Historical Center Otranto in 2010 was taken under the protection of UNESCO.
The Aragonese castle and the Romanesque cathedral are two main attractions of the city, but usually they go to such small towns for a special atmosphere, for a time that has stopped somewhere in the Middle Ages and does not want to leave the narrow cobblestone streets where he rarely looks Sun.
Otranto. Apulia. Italy.
Otranto. Apulia. Italy.
However, the Cathedral of Otranto is a treasure in southern Italy.
It was built during the Norman period in the 11th century. and it has two amazing features.
First, the mosaic floor, made in 1163-65. and preserved intact, carrying to us the mosaics of the Basilian monk Pantaleone with the image of the Tree of Life, scenes from the Old Testament and the Gospel, military campaigns and gladiatorial battles. The frescoes are not so elegant, but powerful and sincere, they could well be the envy of a modern artist of naive art.
Secondly, the cathedral contains the relics of the Holy Martyrs, who were executed by the Turks after refusing to convert to Islam (for details, see the historical part). The relics are kept in a separate chapel, which is opened during the service.
Other churches in Otranto include: St. Peter's Church, which houses works of art from the Byzantine period; Church of Madonna del Altomare, built in the 18th century.
Otranto is famous for its the cleanest beaches and the fact that there are many ancient crypts not far from the city.
) are called White City... Unlike the rainbow-colored Ligurian houses in the Cinque Terre, here white is a symbol of coolness, austere elegance and purity. White color- the most powerful weapon against the exhausting summer sun. Ostuni prides itself on excellent olives, delicious almonds and excellent wine. However, the main pride of this ancient city- the sea. It is rightfully considered the cleanest in Italy. This is why this traditionally agricultural area has become a priority center over the past 50 years. beach tourism in Italy.
international tourist centre Rose Marina(map) is a clear confirmation of this. More than a thousand houses drowning in greenery in style dispersed hotel(albergo diffuso) every year become a summer home for tens of thousands of tourists from Sweden, England and Germany. However, there are also seaside villages nearby. Monticelli, Marina di Ostuni, Villanova and Diyana Marina... And not far away is the famous homeland of the trullo, one of the attractions of Puglia.
Ostuni - photo gallery:
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Beaches in Monopoli
Monopoly - photo gallery:
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The best beaches in Otranto
Otranto - image gallery:
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Leuca resort in Puglia
If you are interested in seeing the world under the heel of an Italian boot, if you want to know and photograph the place where the exact border between the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea passes, you will have to climb up to the lighthouse Punta Meliso in the town of Castrignano del Capo. Leuca is considered a quarter of this city and is divided into two parts: Marina di Leuca on the coast and Santa Maria di Leuca on the mountain. The fame of this interesting geographical point in Italy led to the fact that the town-quarter itself became the subject of the administrative claims of two Italian communes. This dispute undoubtedly fueled interest in Leuca, but thousands of tourists are not up to bureaucratic procedures: there is a beautiful sea, unique landscapes and the romance of the Italian South. Take advantage of this. To climb to the lighthouse, you only have to climb 254 steps.
Fellonike beach- one of the most famous in this area. If you want variety in the beach program, visit also Marina di San Gregorio and Torre Vado.
Leuca - photo gallery:
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Gallipoli - beaches and hotels
Founded by the ancient Greeks, the city of Gallipoli (map), like other cities in the Italian South, was a tasty morsel for conquerors of all times and peoples. It looks like the last conquerors were foreign tourists. There is a lot to see and photograph in Gallipoli. Starting from the Aragne castle and fortress walls and ending with churches, palaces and quiet streets of the old city.
The best beaches in Gallipoli are located in the southern zone of the city. Baia Verde will remind you of Caribbean islands... Starting from Lido San Giovanni, you will find many kilometers of coastline that ends at Lido Pizzo... There are beaches in the northern part of the city Rivabella and Padula Bianca.
Gallipoli - image gallery:
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Conclusion
Puglia offers the opportunity to relax at a reasonable price and learn a lot about life in the south of Italy. It depends on you how rich your stay in this Italian region will be. Your main weapon is the natural curiosity of the traveler. Your main ally is hospitable and friendly locals... Your protector in the summer is the emerald sea.
When we drove into Otranto (Italy, Puglia) I didn't know anything about this city yet. I didn't even know about him horrible and bloody history that changed his face forever. His scary tale forever assigned this white city name: CITY OF MARTYERS.
How often has this happened to you: planning a vacation, choosing what you can visit nearby, where to eat deliciously and what you can buy so good, but somehow you are not interested in anything else? After all, my mouth is full of worries ...
Sound familiar?
This also happened to me this year, when we again went to Puglia (more precisely, to the town), but this time on Salento Adriatic Coast... I didn't even really think about the cultural program this time if not for one book...
The beautiful Salento coast in Otranto
I do not know what drove me when I chose books to read in the library on vacation. As usual, I tried to take several books of different genres. This novel "Otranto» just fell under my feet when I tried to pull out some other book.
Without hesitation, I immediately put it in a pile of selected books. I didn't even read the annotation or flip through it, as I usually did with other books. Something really drove me ...
This novel has not easily changed my vacation, it introduced me to Otranto in a completely different way than travel guides and guidebooks do. He introduced me to this city on the other side: with a dark, bloody, unhealed wound that hurts herefrom August 14, 1480.
From the date when 800 residents of Otranto were brutally killed the besieged occupiers - the Turks, and their bodies were mercilessly left under the sun for a whole year.
Here - on the hill of Minerva, 800 inhabitants of Otranto were killed
Only a year later, in 1481 After the liberation of Otranto, the bodies of the unfortunate martyrs were buried. So far around the city there is a legend, what the bodies did not succumb to decomposition, and not a single animal or bird of prey touched a single body.
Whether this is so or not, who knows ...
I want to believe that this is so ... Probably because I still continue to believe in miracles, in good and evil and also that good always wins... It wins even at a very high cost.
After all, the unfortunate inhabitants of Otranto, left to their own devices, did not bow down before the hordes of thugs - the Turks. Despite the fact that almost all residents died, they were not defeated.
Otranto today
Today walking in narrow whites the streets of Otranto, you seem to hear nothing. Only beauty, tranquility, the uniform sound of the sea behind the bastions and the dazzling southern sun even in October.
White streets of the old center of Otranto
But no, no, but somewhere in the depths of the maze of streets you suddenly distinguish ghostly silhouettes and hear a groan...
It's all the same moan of restless souls unfortunate Martyrs of Otranto ...
UNESCO has recognized Old city object cultural heritage for the "message of peace" that his monuments carry.
You can start your walk around the city from the Lungomare degli Eroi promenade adjacent to the old town. After passing the monument to the Martyrs of Otranto by the sculptor Antonio Bortone, go down the stairs and enter the city through the Porta Alfonsina gate. It is worth looking into the Aragonese castle and the cathedral with a remarkable mosaic floor and the remains of 813 Christian martyrs who were beheaded by the Turks in 1480.
View of Otranto from the Lungomare degli Eroi promenade © Tango7174 / Wikimedia CommonsIn the immediate vicinity of the city, there is a lake with emerald green waters, which hides among the pale pinkish hills of a former bauxite mine, and a lighthouse at Cape Punta Palacia, which meets the first Italian dawn every year.
A little further south is Porto Badisco, where, according to legend, the hero of the Trojan War, Aeneas, landed. There, on the walls of the grotta dei Cervi cave, which is called the "Sistine Chapel of the Neolithic", mysterious ancient pictograms have been preserved.
What to see
Otranto castle
The Aragonese Castle is a defensive citadel of the city of Otranto, now transformed into Cultural Center, where many exhibitions and other international events take place.
This fortress was attacked, repaired and rebuilt more than once. After the siege of 1067, it was rebuilt, and the famous attack of the Ottoman Turks in 1480 led to the fact that the castle was expanded by adding towers with positions for artillery.
Walking among the majestic fortress walls, you can carefully consider architectural features towers of Alfonsin, Duquesse and Hippolytus, the Diamond Edge Bastion and the Triangular Hall, designed with innovative fortification solutions that make the entire Otranto Castle one of the most significant monuments of military architecture of its era.
Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata
The magnificent Cathedral of Otranto, dedicated to the Annunciation and erected in the Norman era on the site of the settlement ancient people Messapov, a Roman mansion and an early Christian temple.
When in 1480 the Ottoman military leader Gedik Ahmed Pasha took the city by storm, the medieval building of the cathedral was converted into a mosque, destroying all the frescoes of the 13th century. 813 Christians who refused to convert to Islam were beheaded; now their remains are kept in the unusual chapel of the Holy Martyrs.
The building has the typical features of the 12th century Puglia architectural style. These are semicircular arches supported by columns with exquisitely finely carved Corinthian capitals. The main attraction of the cathedral is, of course, the magnificent mosaic floor, a masterpiece created by the monk Pantaleone in 1163-1165. and depicting the Tree of Life.
The crypt of the cathedral is very interesting with its beautiful marble columns, which adorn the capitals of both late antique, Byzantine and early medieval origin, as well as those dating back to the time of the construction of the temple; many of them are decorated with images of animals and human busts.
Port of Otranto
The port of Otranto is a spacious harbor partially covered by the San Nicola pier; there are three main berths, oriented towards the northwest, west-north-west and north-west, as well as several smaller marinas.
Cape Palacia and Sant'Emiliano Tower
The snow-white lighthouse on the rocky promontory of Punta Palacia near Otranto is the point from where you can watch the Adriatic Sea meet the Ionian Sea. This is the most east coast Italy, where you can admire the magnificent colors of the dawn.
The sea here has been awarded the prestigious European Blue Flag award and 5 sails from the Italian environmental association Legambiente. However, this section of the coast is difficult to step, and it is almost impossible to swim here: steep rocky shores hang high above the crystal clear and deep waters deep blue. They are, however, ideal for diving and small boat trips from the port of Otranto.
The lighthouse offers breathtaking views, and around it, among the thickets of Mediterranean bushes, there are many steep and steep paths, as well as trekking routes.
Between Cape Punta Palacia and Porto Badisco lies one of the wildest places on the peninsula - the Sant'Emiliano Tower. Here you can swim at the foot of the rocky coast, on which stands watch tower; the beach here is very wild, and the sea is blue and immediately very deep, and it is quite difficult to approach it.
Walls and bastions
The fortifications that surrounded Otranto are well preserved and can tell a lot about the city's centuries-old history, rich in important events.
The oldest gate of the old city is called Porta Terra; from here go the grandiose walls that stretch parallel to the coast, with bastions that were rebuilt in such famous architects like Francesco di Giorgio Martini.
One of the best panoramic points is the Pelazgi bastion, from where the port is visible; it is also the key to local nightlife, especially in summer. In general, there are many restaurants, bars and other establishments along the walls where you can taste local fish dishes and other traditional delicacies.
Kitchen
Otranto's traditional cuisine is as old as the city itself; the local gastronomic tradition is, of course, based on the products that are produced here.
"Tayedda"
First courses include tayedda (rice, potatoes and black mussels), fish soup, spelled soup with seafood and sea ruff, tagliolini pasta with artichokes, country style pizza and pizza with potatoes.
The latter include stuffed meatballs (polpettone), fried meatballs, pittule (yeast dough balls fried in boiling olive oil) and, of course, fish, which is cooked here in many different ways.
Side dishes - grilled eggplant with garlic and mint, fried green peppers, fried peppers with onions and tomatoes, stuffed tomatoes.
Stuffed meatballs ("polpettone")
For sweets - almond cake, ricotta cake and struffoli (tiny balls of dough fried in olive oil, covered with warm honey, laid out in a circle and sprinkled with candied fruit).
How to get there
By plane
By car
A16 motorway - Bari Nord exit. From Bari: Superstrada Brindisi-Lecce; from Lecce: take the tangenziale Ovest exit towards Otranto.
By train
State railways(Ferrovie dello Stato) - from Lecce train station. detailed information: Trenitalia.
